Australian minimum wage: check your hourly rate against the legal floor

How the Australian minimum wage works

The Australian minimum wage is the legal pay floor for most employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Commission set the adult rate at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a loading of at least 25%, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour.

This rate applies to national-system employees – that is, most private-sector workers in Australia. Some state public sector and local government employees, and a few Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, are covered by state awards instead. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum is your safety net.

How to check your hourly rate

Take your hourly pay (before tax) and compare it with $26.44. If you are casual, compare with $33.05. Remember that your employer must also pay super guarantee of 12% on top of your ordinary time earnings. So a full-time adult on the minimum actually costs your employer about $29.61 per hour including super.

If your hourly rate is below these figures and you are not a junior, apprentice, trainee, or on a supported wage, you may be underpaid. Check whether a modern award or enterprise agreement applies to your job – those can set higher rates, but never lower than the national minimum.

Juniors and other exceptions

Award-free junior employees have their own minimum percentages of the adult rate. For example, a 16-year-old must be paid at least $12.51 per hour (47.3% of $26.44) or $15.64 casual. Apprentices and trainees who are award-free follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Introductory rates for the first six months in a job can be as low as $25.74 per hour.

Always check your specific situation. The Rate tables on this site list all junior and introductory rates.

How the minimum compares with average earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week – about $54.83 per hour. That is more than double the national minimum. The all-employees average total earnings (including part-time) was $1,579.20 per week. These figures show that the minimum wage is a floor, not a typical wage.

Awards and agreements can set higher rates

If you work under a modern award, your minimum wage is likely higher than the national minimum. For example, the Hospitality Industry (General) Award has different rates for different levels. An enterprise agreement can also set higher rates, but it must pass the better-off overall test. The national minimum is the backstop – no legal pay can fall below it.

For more detail on how the figures are calculated, see How the figures work.

Tax and take-home pay

On the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week, your annualised ordinary gross pay is about $52,254.80. With the full tax-free threshold and estimated Medicare levy of 2%, your weekly tax would be roughly $130–$150 depending on your exact circumstances. This site does not give tax advice – use the ATO’s tax withheld calculator for your situation.

Summary

The Australian minimum wage is your legal safety net. Compare your hourly rate with $26.44 (or $33.05 casual) to see if you are being paid correctly. Remember that super is on top, and that awards, agreements, and junior rates can change the figure. If you are unsure which pay floor applies, start with the Which minimum wage applies guide.