How the highest AFL salary compares to Australia's minimum wage

How the highest AFL salary compares to Australia's minimum wage

When people ask about the highest AFL salary, they are usually referring to the top-tier contracts negotiated by elite Australian Football League players. While those figures are not published in a single official source, they are known to be in the millions of dollars per year. For most Australian workers, however, the relevant pay floor is the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. This article explains how to check your own pay against the legal minimum, and how the highest AFL salary sits far above that floor.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage

The Fair Work Commission reviews the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the rate for an adult employee not covered by an award or agreement is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. Casual employees get a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These are before-tax figures. Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings.

Not every worker must receive $26.44 an hour. Junior employees (under 21), apprentices, trainees, and employees with a disability may be paid a lower special national minimum wage. For example, a 17-year-old award-free junior receives 57.8% of the adult rate, which is $15.29 per hour. Award-free apprentices follow rates in the Miscellaneous Award.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

Most employees are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. These instruments set minimum pay rates that are often higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the lowest ongoing classification in a modern award cannot be less than $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026. Some awards have introductory rates for new employees, limited to the first six months, which cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

If you are covered by an award, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool to find your exact minimum rate. Enterprise agreements are registered with the Fair Work Commission and may provide higher rates or different conditions. Always check your award or agreement before assuming the national minimum wage applies.

Survey averages and negotiated salaries

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average earnings data. In May 2026, 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. These are survey averages, not legal minimums. They reflect what people actually earn, including overtime and bonuses.

Negotiated salaries, such as the highest AFL salary, are entirely different. They are set by individual contracts between the player and the club, often with performance bonuses and image rights. The AFL Players’ Association negotiates a collective bargaining agreement that sets minimum pay for players, but the top earners are well above that. The highest AFL salary is not published in a single official source, but it is understood to be in the millions per year. That figure is many times the national minimum wage.

How to check your own rate

If you want to know whether your pay is legal, start by identifying whether you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website has a Which minimum wage applies tool to help. If you are award-free, the national minimum wage is your floor. Compare your hourly rate (before tax) to the relevant minimum. Remember that super is an employer payment on top, not part of your hourly rate.

For a quick comparison, use our Rate tables to see the current national minimum wage and junior rates. If your rate is below the legal minimum, your employer may be underpaying you. You can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice.

Key points to remember

• The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week.
• Casual employees get a 25% loading: $33.05 per hour.
• Award and enterprise agreement rates can be higher.
• Junior, apprentice, and supported wage rates can be lower.
• The highest AFL salary is a negotiated figure far above any minimum wage.
• Superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

This article is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. Always check the official sources: the Fair Work Commission for the national minimum wage order, and the Fair Work Ombudsman for award rates.

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