What is the minimum wage for a change manager in Australia?

There is no single minimum wage for all change managers. The correct minimum depends on the modern award that covers your industry and role. For example, a change manager in professional services may be covered by the Professional Employees Award 2020, while one in administration might fall under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020. If no award applies, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the floor. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool to identify your award.

How does superannuation affect a change manager's total pay?

Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. This means if your base salary is $80,000, your employer must also pay $9,600 into your super fund. Super is not part of your take-home pay but is a mandatory extra cost for employers.

Where can I find the correct award for my change manager role?

Start with the Fair Work Ombudsman's online tools: the Pay and Conditions Tool or the List of awards. Check the coverage clause (usually clause 4) of any award that might apply. Your job title alone does not determine coverage—your industry, duties, and employer type matter. If you are award-free, the national minimum wage applies.

Change manager salary: what is the minimum pay in Australia?

The legal minimum for a change manager depends on the applicable modern award, but the national minimum wage floor is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026.

Change manager salary: understanding the pay floor

If you are researching a change manager salary in Australia, the first question is often: what is the legal minimum I must be paid? The answer is not a single number because change managers work across industries and can be covered by different modern awards. This guide explains how to find the right minimum and how your rate compares to the national floor.

The legal minimum for a change manager

For most employees, the minimum wage is set by the modern award that covers their industry or occupation. The Fair Work Commission reviews award wages each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%. However, the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates (for the first six months or less) must be at least $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

A change manager may be classified under awards such as the Professional Employees Award 2020, the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020, or an industry-specific award like the Banking, Finance and Insurance Award 2020. Each award has its own classification structure and pay rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool can help you identify the correct award and rate.

Award coverage and classification

To determine your minimum pay, you need to know which award applies and which classification level matches your duties. For example, under the Professional Employees Award, a change manager might be a Level 1 or Level 2 professional employee, depending on qualifications and experience. The award rate for that classification is the legal minimum. If your employer has an enterprise agreement, the agreement rate applies as long as it is not less than the award rate.

If you are not covered by any award or agreement, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is your floor. This rate applies to award-free employees who are 21 or over. Junior employees, apprentices, and trainees have different minimum rates.

How the national minimum wage applies

The national minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. From 1 July 2026, the rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These figures are before tax. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top by the employer.

It is important to note that not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and those on introductory award rates can be paid less. For award-free juniors, the percentages range from 36.8% for under-16s to 97.7% for 20-year-olds.

Comparing a change manager salary to averages

While the legal minimum is a floor, most change manager salaries are well above it. The Australian Bureau of Statistics 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. A change manager salary typically falls in the range of $100,000 to $150,000 per year, but this varies by industry, experience, and location. These are survey averages, not legal minimums. Your actual salary is a matter of negotiation between you and your employer, provided it meets the award or national minimum.

What about superannuation?

When discussing a change manager salary, remember that super is an employer payment on top of your gross pay. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For example, if your base salary is $120,000, your employer must contribute $14,400 to your super fund annually. This is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional cost to the employer.

Next steps

To check your own situation, start with Which minimum wage applies to see if you are award-covered or award-free. Then use our Rate tables to compare your hourly or weekly pay to the national minimum. If you are covered by an award, look up the specific classification rate. Remember, the figures on this site are for orientation only and are not a pay determination or legal advice.

For more detailed guidance, see our Guides on award coverage and the How the figures work page for explanations of rounding and calculations.