What is the minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia?

For award-free employees in the national system, the minimum hourly rate for an 18-year-old is 68.3% of the adult national minimum wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $18.06 per hour (or $22.58 casual). If you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the rate may be higher. Always check your award or agreement first.

Does superannuation apply to the 18 year old minimum wage?

Yes. The super guarantee requires employers to pay an additional 12% of ordinary time earnings into a super fund on top of your wages. This applies to all employees, including juniors, unless you earn less than $450 in a month (a threshold that is being removed from 1 July 2026). Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost for the employer.

Can an 18-year-old be paid less than $18.06 per hour?

In limited circumstances, yes. If you are an apprentice or trainee, different rates apply under the Miscellaneous Award or your relevant award. Also, some supported wage systems allow lower rates for workers with disability. However, if you are award-free and not an apprentice, the junior percentage is the legal floor. An employer cannot pay less than that unless a specific exemption applies.

18 year old minimum wage: what you need to know in 2026

For award-free 18-year-olds, the legal minimum is $18.06 per hour ($22.58 casual) from 1 July 2026, but modern awards or enterprise agreements may require a higher rate.

18 year old minimum wage: a practical check

If you are 18 years old and working in Australia, knowing the 18 year old minimum wage helps you check whether your hourly rate meets the legal floor. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. For award-free employees, the rate for an 18-year-old is 68.3% of the adult national minimum. From 1 July 2026, that works out to $18.06 per hour for permanent employees and $22.58 per hour for casuals (including the 25% casual loading).

How the legal minimum is set

The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on a 38-hour ordinary week). Junior percentages apply to award-free employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. The percentages are set by the Fair Work Commission and are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. For 18-year-olds, the percentage is 68.3%, giving the $18.06 rate. These rates apply to national-system employees. Most private-sector workers are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees may be covered by state awards instead.

Separating the legal minimum from other pay concepts

It is important to distinguish the legal junior minimum from other figures you might see:

Survey averages: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. That is an average across all ages and occupations, not a minimum. An 18-year-old’s pay will likely be below that average.
Award rates: If you work in an industry covered by a modern award, the award may set a higher rate than the junior minimum. For example, many awards have their own junior wage scales that can be above the national junior floor. Always check your award first.
Negotiated salaries: Some employers pay above the minimum, especially for skilled roles. Your contract or enterprise agreement can set a higher rate, but never a lower one (unless you are an apprentice or trainee).

Superannuation is on top

Remember that the super guarantee requires your employer to pay an additional 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost for the employer. So if you earn $18.06 per hour, your employer also pays about $2.17 per hour into super. The total cost to the employer is higher than your take-home pay.

How to check your own rate

If you have an hourly rate in mind, compare it to the junior floor. For example, if you are offered $20 per hour as a permanent 18-year-old, that is above the $18.06 minimum. But if you are offered $17 per hour, that is below the legal floor unless you are an apprentice or covered by a special exemption. You can use the rate tables on this site to see the full junior scale for ages under 21.

When a higher rate applies

A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum. If you are unsure which award covers you, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s online tools can help. Also, some employers choose to pay above the minimum to attract staff. The legal floor is just that – a floor, not a ceiling.

Apprentices and trainees

If you are an 18-year-old apprentice or trainee, the junior percentages do not apply. Instead, your minimum wage is set by the Miscellaneous Award (for award-free employees) or by your specific award. Apprentice rates are usually a percentage of the trade rate and increase as you progress through your training.

Summary

The 18 year old minimum wage for award-free employees is $18.06 per hour (permanent) or $22.58 per hour (casual) from 1 July 2026. Super is paid on top. If you are covered by an award or agreement, check that document for your correct rate. For more guidance, see Which minimum wage applies and How the figures work.

Important note

This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. Always consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or a qualified professional for your specific situation.