Governor-General Australia salary: how it compares to the national minimum wage

Governor-General Australia salary: a statutory benchmark

The Governor-General's salary is fixed by the Governor-General Act 1974 at $709,017 per year . This is not a minimum wage but a statutory payment from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee. The Governor-General's weekly equivalent is about $13,635 – over 13 times the national minimum.

How the salary is set

The Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Act 2024 raised the salary from $495,000 to $709,017 . The amendment applied from 29 June 2024 but did not affect the incumbent at that time. The salary is not indexed automatically; any change requires further legislation. This contrasts with minimum wage rates, which are reviewed annually by the Fair Work Commission.

Comparison with award and minimum rates

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement that sets a minimum rate at least as high as the national minimum. For award-free employees, the national minimum applies. Junior rates, apprentice rates, and supported wages can be lower. The Governor-General's salary is not subject to these floors; it is a unique statutory office. The Rate tables on this site show the full range of minimum rates for award-free employees, including age-based percentages.

Superannuation

For most employees, superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% are paid on top of ordinary time earnings. The Governor-General's salary is paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund; the Act provides for superannuation benefits for former Governors-General and their spouses, but the current salary itself does not attract an additional super guarantee payment as it is a statutory amount. This is another point of difference from typical employment arrangements.

Why this matters for pay floor comparisons

Understanding the Governor-General's salary helps illustrate the range of pay arrangements in Australia – from the national minimum wage to high statutory salaries. It also shows how statutory salaries are set independently of the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review. The ABS May 2026 survey reported average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. The Governor-General's weekly salary of $13,635 is about 6.5 times that average. For a detailed explanation of how we calculate and compare figures, see How the figures work.

The legal framework

The Governor-General Act 1974 also provides for allowances to former Governors-General and their spouses, tied to the salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court. The Official Secretary and staff are employed under separate provisions with remuneration determined by the Remuneration Tribunal or the Official Secretary. These arrangements are entirely separate from the national minimum wage system.

Key takeaway

The Governor-General's salary is a fixed statutory amount, not a minimum wage. It serves as a benchmark for high-level public office remuneration but has no bearing on the minimum pay floors that apply to most Australian workers. Always check your applicable award or agreement for the correct minimum rate.