What is the minimum wage for an accountant in Australia?

For accountants not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the legal minimum is the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026 that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full‑time adult. However, most accountants earn well above this floor. The ABS reports a median full‑time non‑managerial accountant salary of $2,003 per week.

Do accountants get award rates?

Accountants working for accounting firms are not covered by any award and rely on the national minimum wage or a negotiated salary. Accountants employed in certain industries such as banking, finance, insurance, black coal, electrical power, or rail may be covered by an industry award that sets higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that the Miscellaneous Award does not cover professional employees, including accountants.

Accountant salary in Australia: which pay floor applies and what the ABS figures show

Q: How does superannuation affect an accountant's salary?

Superannuation guarantee contributions are paid by the employer on top of the accountant’s ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026 the super guarantee rate is 12%. For an accountant earning the national minimum of $1,004.90 per week, the employer must contribute an additional $120.59 per week into super. For an accountant on the ABS median of $2,003 per week, the employer super contribution would be about $240.36 per week.

Most accountants are award‑free and entitled to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) from 1 July 2026, but the ABS reports a median full‑time non‑managerial accountant salary of $2,003 per week.

Accountant salary: the legal floor and what the data says

When people search for an "accountant salary" in Australia, they often want to know the minimum they can expect to be paid. The answer depends on whether the accountant is covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or is award‑free. This guide separates the legal minimum from survey averages, award rates, and negotiated salaries, and explains how superannuation is paid on top.

The legal minimum for accountants

Most accountants are not covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman states that accountants working for an accounting firm are award‑free. Accountants employed outside accounting firms may be covered only if their employer operates in an industry with an award that includes accountant classifications, such as the Banking, Finance and Insurance Award or the Black Coal Award. Otherwise, the national minimum wage applies.

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full‑time adult employee. This is the legal floor for award‑free accountants. However, an enterprise agreement can set a higher rate. Junior accountants, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less under specific rules – for example, award‑free juniors are paid a percentage of the adult rate (e.g., 68.3% at age 18, which is $18.06 per hour).

It is important to note that the Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, while the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. The rates above apply to national‑system employees; some state‑system employees may be covered by state awards.

Survey averages: what the ABS finds

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, through the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reports a median full‑time non‑managerial accountant salary of $2,003 per week. This equates to about $53 per hour based on a 38‑hour week. The median is the middle point – half of accountants earn more, half earn less. This figure is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It reflects the market rate for experienced accountants, often in professional services, financial services, or public administration.

The ABS also notes that 84% of accountants work full‑time, with an average of 43 hours per week. The median age of accountants is 42 years, and 54% are female. These demographics help contextualise the earnings data.

Award coverage and negotiated salaries

If an accountant is covered by a modern award, the award’s minimum rates apply. For example, the Banking, Finance and Insurance Award includes classifications for accountants, and those rates are typically higher than the national minimum. However, most accountants negotiate a salary above the award minimum. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates.

For award‑free accountants, the salary is a matter of negotiation between employer and employee. The national minimum is the only legal floor. Many employers use the ABS median or industry benchmarks to set competitive salaries. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guidance on award coverage, but it is the employer’s responsibility to determine the correct pay.

Superannuation is extra

Regardless of the salary level, employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. For an accountant earning the national minimum of $1,004.90 per week, the employer adds $120.59 per week into super. For an accountant on the ABS median of $2,003 per week, the super contribution is about $240.36 per week. Super is not deducted from the salary; it is an additional payment.

Key takeaways

The legal minimum for award‑free accountants is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026.
The ABS median full‑time accountant salary is $2,003 per week – a market benchmark, not a legal requirement.
Award coverage is limited to specific industries; most accountants are award‑free.
Superannuation of 12% is paid by the employer on top of the salary.

For more details on which minimum wage applies to your situation, see Which minimum wage applies. To understand how the ABS figures are calculated, visit How the figures work.

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