Is there a minimum wage for CEOs in Australia?

There is no specific minimum wage for CEOs. The national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) applies to all award/agreement-free employees, including CEOs if they are classified as employees. However, most CEOs are covered by an enterprise agreement or individual contract that sets a much higher salary. The Fair Work Ombudsman states that the national minimum wage is the minimum amount an employee can be paid, but a modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate.

How does the national minimum wage apply to a CEO?

If a CEO is an employee and not covered by an award or registered agreement, the national minimum wage applies as the legal floor. For an adult employee, that is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (38 ordinary hours). Casual CEOs receive a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. In practice, CEO salaries are far above these figures. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year; the Ombudsman explains and enforces it.

CEO salary in Australia: legal minimums, award rates, and what the data shows

Q: What about superannuation for a CEO?

Superannuation guarantee is an employer payment on top of ordinary time earnings. For the 2026–27 financial year, the rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. This applies to CEO salaries just as it does to any other employee, provided the CEO is an employee (not a contractor). The Australian Taxation Office administers super guarantee obligations.

CEO salaries are individually negotiated; the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (as of 1 July 2026) is the legal floor for award/agreement-free employees, but CEO roles typically far exceed this.

CEO salary in Australia: understanding the pay floor

When people search for "CEO salary" in Australia, they are often looking for a benchmark figure. Unlike award-covered roles, CEO pay is not set by a minimum wage or a published award rate. Instead, it is determined through individual negotiation, board decisions, or enterprise agreements. This guide separates the legal minimum from survey averages, award rates, and negotiated salaries.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage

Every employee in Australia who is not covered by a modern award or registered agreement is entitled to the national minimum wage. As of 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour.

However, the national minimum wage is a floor, not a target. Most CEO roles are covered by an enterprise agreement or an individual contract that sets a salary well above this level. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that if an employee is covered by an award or agreement, the minimum pay rates in that instrument apply instead of the national minimum wage. For CEOs, that usually means a negotiated salary.

Award rates and CEO roles

Modern awards cover specific industries and occupations, but they do not typically include classifications for chief executive officers. Awards are designed for employees performing defined roles—such as clerical, retail, or hospitality work—not for senior executives. If a CEO is covered by an award (unlikely), the award's minimum rates would apply. Otherwise, the national minimum wage is the only statutory floor.

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database contains minimum rates for award classifications, but no CEO-specific entries exist. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage applies.

Survey averages and the ABS

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average earnings data. In May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, and all employees average total earnings were $1,579.20 per week. These figures include all occupations, not just CEOs. They provide a general benchmark for full-time work, but CEO salaries are typically much higher and are not separately reported by the ABS in a simple median figure.

No public median CEO salary figure is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, ABS, or Australian Taxation Office for this guide. The ATO publishes taxable income distributions, but those are not broken down by occupation in a way that gives a reliable CEO median. Therefore, we cannot state a precise CEO salary figure.

Negotiated salary and superannuation

CEO salaries are negotiated between the employer and the individual, often with input from a board or remuneration committee. These salaries can include base pay, bonuses, performance incentives, and equity. The superannuation guarantee (12% from 1 July 2026) is an employer payment on top of ordinary time earnings. This applies to CEO salaries just as it does to any other employee, provided the CEO is an employee (not a contractor).

For more on how minimum wages work, see Which minimum wage applies. For current rate tables, see Rate tables.

Key takeaways

The national minimum wage ($26.44/h) is the legal floor for award/agreement-free employees, including CEOs who are not covered by an award or agreement.
Award rates do not cover CEO roles; they are for specific industry classifications.
Survey averages from the ABS cover all employees and are not CEO-specific.
CEO salaries are negotiated and typically far exceed the minimum wage.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

If you are a CEO or an employer setting a CEO salary, ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act. The national minimum wage is a backstop; your contract or enterprise agreement will set the actual rate.

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