482 Minimum Salary: How It Compares with Australia's Pay Floors

What Is the 482 Minimum Salary?

The term "482 minimum salary" refers to the minimum pay required for a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa holder. This is set by the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), a figure determined by the Department of Home Affairs, not by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. The TSMIT is a legal condition of the visa, separate from Australia's general pay floors.

The precise TSMIT figure for 2026-27 is not available from the provided search results. It is typically reviewed annually and is often set above the national minimum wage to ensure skilled migrants are paid a genuine market rate.

How It Differs from the National Minimum Wage

The national minimum wage, set by the Fair Work Commission, is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026. This applies to award-free and agreement-free employees in the national system. However, not every worker receives this rate:

• Junior employees (under 21) have special percentages: for example, a 16-year-old gets $12.51 per hour, a 20-year-old $25.84 per hour.
• Apprentices and trainees follow the Miscellaneous Award rates.
• Supported wages may apply for employees with disability.

The 482 minimum salary is a different legal requirement. It applies only to sponsored visa holders and is generally higher than the national minimum wage. Employers must pay at least the TSMIT, and if the role is covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the higher of the award rate or TSMIT applies.

Superannuation is an employer payment on top of the salary. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, so on a $26.44 hourly rate the employer contributes an extra $3.17 per hour into the employee's super fund.

Award Rates and Enterprise Agreements

Most Australian workers are covered by a modern award that sets minimum pay rates for their industry or occupation. These rates are often higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the lowest ongoing classification in a modern award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but many awards have higher base rates plus penalties and allowances.

If a 482 visa holder is employed in a role covered by an award, the employer must pay at least the award rate. If the award rate is below the TSMIT, the TSMIT prevails. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates.

Average Earnings and Market Rates

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. All employees (including part-time and casual) averaged $1,579.20 per week. These figures are much higher than the national minimum wage and give a sense of typical market salaries.

The 482 minimum salary is intended to reflect genuine market rates for skilled occupations. It is usually set around the median or above, though the exact figure is not in the provided data. Employers sponsoring a 482 visa must also meet market salary rates to avoid undercutting local workers.

Key Takeaways

• The 482 minimum salary (TSMIT) is a visa condition, not a general pay floor.
• The national minimum wage is $26.44/h for award-free adults, but many workers are covered by awards with higher rates.
• Juniors, apprentices, and supported employees can be paid less than the adult national minimum.
• Super is paid on top of salary at 12%.
• For award or agreement coverage, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables.

Always check the specific award or agreement for your industry. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides tools to calculate correct pay rates. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.