What is the minimum wage in Australia for 2026?

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a loading of 25%, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and apply to award-free and agreement-free national-system employees.

Do all workers get the same minimum wage?

No. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates can be paid less. For example, award-free juniors under 16 receive 36.8% of the adult rate ($9.73/h), and those aged 20 receive 97.7% ($25.84/h). Modern awards and enterprise agreements may also set higher minimum rates than the national minimum. Always check the applicable award or agreement.

How does the minimum wage compare to average earnings?

The adult national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week is well below the ABS May 2026 estimate of average total earnings for all employees ($1,579.20 per week) and full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($2,083.70 per week). The minimum is a legal floor, not a typical wage.

Minimum Wage Aus: What Is the Australian Minimum Wage in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, with casual loading to $33.05 per hour.

Understanding the minimum wage aus in 2026

When people search for "minimum wage aus", they usually want to know the legal pay floor that applies to most Australian workers. The answer depends on your age, employment type, and whether a modern award or enterprise agreement covers you. This guide explains the national minimum wage, how it differs from award rates and average earnings, and what you must be paid as a minimum.

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult rate (21 and over) is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour ordinary week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave.

Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. So if you earn $1,004.90 in ordinary time, your employer must contribute an additional $120.59 to your super fund.

Who is covered by the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage applies to national-system employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Most private-sector employees fall under the national system. Some state public sector and local government employees, and a few Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, are in the state system and may be covered by state awards instead.

If you are covered by a modern award, the award sets a minimum wage for your classification. The award backstop from 1 July 2026 is the same as the national minimum: $26.44/h or $1,004.90/week for ongoing employees. However, award rates can be higher. Introductory rates for the first six months are $25.74/h or $978.10/week. Enterprise agreements can also set higher minimums.

Junior, apprentice, and supported wage rates

The national minimum wage is not a single rate for everyone. Award-free juniors are paid a percentage of the adult rate:

Under 16: 36.8% ($9.73/h, casual $12.16/h)
16: 47.3% ($12.51/h, casual $15.64/h)
17: 57.8% ($15.29/h, casual $19.11/h)
18: 68.3% ($18.06/h, casual $22.58/h)
19: 82.5% ($21.82/h, casual $27.28/h)
20: 97.7% ($25.84/h, casual $32.30/h)
21 and over: 100% ($26.44/h, casual $33.05/h)

Apprentices and trainees who are award-free follow the Miscellaneous Award rates, not the junior percentages. Supported wage employees may have a productivity-based rate below the minimum.

How the minimum wage compares to other measures

The national minimum wage is a legal floor. It is not the same as average earnings. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, and all employees (including part-time and casual) averaged $1,579.20 per week. The minimum wage of $1,004.90 is about 64% of the all-employees average.

Award rates vary by industry and classification. For example, a retail employee Level 1 may have a higher minimum than the national minimum. Always check your award or agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free tools to find your correct rate.

Superannuation and tax considerations

Super guarantee is paid on top of ordinary time earnings at 12% from 1 July 2026. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional contribution by your employer.

For tax, the 2026-27 resident rates with the full tax-free threshold apply. Medicare levy of 2% is estimated once annualised ordinary gross earnings reach $30,000. The low-income tax offset and other offsets are not included in this model. Salary sacrifice, HELP repayments, and the Medicare levy surcharge are also not considered.

Where to get more information

For a detailed breakdown of rates by age and employment type, see the Rate tables. If you are unsure which pay floor applies to you, the Which minimum wage applies guide can help. You can also explore Guides for award coverage and How the figures work for methodology.

Important notes

This site provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 lands 18 cents lower because of rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.

If you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, those documents set your minimum pay. The national minimum is a backstop only. Always check your specific circumstances with the Fair Work Ombudsman or a qualified advisor.