Is $18.06 the minimum wage for every 18 year old?

No. The $18.06 per hour figure applies only to award-free and agreement-free employees in the national system who are 18 years old. If you work under a modern award or an enterprise agreement, that document sets your minimum pay, and it is often higher. Apprentices and trainees have separate rates under the Miscellaneous Award.

Does the junior rate include superannuation?

No. The $18.06 per hour is the base ordinary-time rate. Your employer must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of your ordinary-time earnings. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional payment into a super fund.

Can an 18 year old be paid less than $18.06?

Only in specific circumstances. If you are an apprentice or trainee, your rate follows the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentage. If you have a supported wage assessment due to disability, a lower rate may apply. Otherwise, the award-free junior rate is the legal floor, and any pay below that is unlawful.

Minimum wage for an 18 year old in Australia: what you need to know

For award-free 18-year-olds, the legal minimum is $18.06 per hour (68.3% of the adult rate), with 12% super on top; award or agreement rates may be higher.

Minimum wage for an 18 year old: the legal floor and what it means

If you are 18 years old and working in Australia, the pay you must receive depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or no agreement at all. For award-free employees, the Fair Work Commission sets a junior percentage of the adult national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, that percentage is 68.3%, which works out to $18.06 per hour (or $22.58 per hour if you are a casual employee, because casual loading is included).

This figure is the legal minimum for an 18-year-old who is not under an award or agreement. It is not a recommended or average wage — it is the floor. Many employers pay above this rate, especially in industries where labour is in demand or where a modern award requires a higher classification rate.

How the junior rate is set

The Fair Work Commission reviews the national minimum wage each year. For 2026-27, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour. Juniors receive a percentage of that adult rate based on age. The percentages are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman and are used when no award or agreement applies. For 18-year-olds, the percentage is 68.3%, giving $18.06 per hour. For 19-year-olds it is 82.5% ($21.82/h), and for 20-year-olds it is 97.7% ($25.84/h). Once you turn 21, you are entitled to the full adult rate.

What about awards and agreements?

Most industries in Australia are covered by a modern award. Awards set minimum wages for each classification, and those rates are often higher than the junior percentages. For example, a retail award might pay an 18-year-old more than $18.06 per hour depending on the job level. Enterprise agreements negotiated between employers and employees (or unions) can also set higher rates. The legal minimum is just that — a minimum. You should check your award or agreement to see your actual entitlement. Our Which minimum wage applies guide can help you find the right instrument.

Superannuation is on top

Remember that the $18.06 per hour is the base rate before super. Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary-time earnings into a super fund. This is not taken from your pay; it is an additional cost to the employer. For an 18-year-old working 38 hours a week at $18.06, the super contribution would be about $82.35 per week.

Casual vs permanent

If you are a casual employee, you are entitled to a casual loading (usually 25%) instead of paid leave. The junior casual rate for an 18-year-old is $22.58 per hour. This includes the loading. Permanent part-time or full-time employees get the base rate of $18.06 per hour plus leave entitlements.

How does this compare to average earnings?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. An 18-year-old working full-time on the junior minimum would earn about $686.28 per week — roughly one-third of that average. This gap reflects both age and experience, but it also shows why many young workers move into award-covered roles or seek higher-paying jobs as they gain skills.

Common misunderstandings

Some people think the adult national minimum wage ($26.44/h) applies to everyone over 18. That is not correct. The adult rate applies from age 21 for award-free employees. Others assume that the junior rate is the same across all industries — it is not. Awards can have their own junior rates, which may be higher or lower than the award-free percentage. Always check the specific award or agreement.

What if you are not in the national system?

Most private-sector employees in Australia are in the national system, covered by the Fair Work Act. However, some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, are covered by state awards. Those state awards may have different junior rates. If you are unsure, the Fair Work Ombudsman can help clarify your coverage.

Next steps

To find out exactly what you should be paid, start by identifying whether a modern award covers your job. You can use the Rate tables on this site to look up common award classifications. If you are award-free, the junior percentages in this guide apply. Remember, the figures here are the legal minimum — your employer may pay more, and you can always negotiate a higher rate.

For more detail on how these figures are calculated and the rounding rules, see our How the figures work page.