Minimum wage for 18 year old: legal floor and how it compares

Minimum wage for 18 year old: understanding your pay floor

If you are 18 years old and working in Australia, the minimum wage you are entitled to depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or no award at all. This guide explains the legal minimum for an 18-year-old, how it compares to other rates, and what you should know about superannuation and casual loading.

The legal minimum for award-free 18-year-olds

For employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement (award-free), the Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. However, employees under 21 receive a percentage of the adult rate. For an 18-year-old, that percentage is 68.3%, giving a minimum ordinary hourly rate of $18.06 and a weekly minimum of $686.28 (38 hours × $18.06).

If you work as a casual employee, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the ordinary rate. That means a casual 18-year-old award-free employee must receive at least $22.58 per hour or $858.04 per week (38 hours × $22.58).

These figures apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Superannuation guarantee of 12% must be paid by your employer on top of your ordinary time earnings (including casual loading). So if you earn $18.06 per hour, your employer must also contribute $2.17 per hour into your super fund.

How award rates differ for 18-year-olds

If you work in an industry covered by a modern award, the award may set its own junior rates. These are often a percentage of the award classification rate for your job. For example, the General Retail Industry Award might specify 60% of the adult rate for a Level 1 employee who is 18. That could be higher or lower than $18.06, depending on the award classification. The award rate is the minimum you must be paid, even if it is lower than the award-free junior rate, as long as it complies with the award's terms. However, the award cannot set a rate below the national minimum wage for award-free juniors unless a specific exemption applies (e.g., apprentices or trainees).

To check your award, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website or use the Which minimum wage applies guide on this site. Remember that enterprise agreements can also set higher rates than the award or national minimum.

Comparing the legal minimum to other benchmarks

The legal minimum for an 18-year-old is not the same as a typical or average wage. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that in 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. These figures include adults of all ages and experience levels, so they are much higher than the junior minimum. There is no specific ABS average for 18-year-olds.

If you are negotiating a salary or contract, you can use the legal minimum as a floor. Any offer below $18.06 per hour (or $22.58 if casual) for award-free work is unlawful. For award-covered work, the award rate is the floor. Always compare your pay to the correct instrument.

What about apprentices and trainees?

If you are an 18-year-old apprentice or trainee and not covered by an award, your minimum rates follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Those rates are generally lower than the junior minimum because they reflect a training wage. Check the Rate tables for apprentice and trainee rates.

Key points to remember

• The national minimum wage for an award-free 18-year-old is $18.06 per hour (ordinary) or $22.58 per hour (casual) from 1 July 2026.
• Modern awards and enterprise agreements can set higher rates, and sometimes lower rates if the award explicitly allows it.
• Superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings.
• The ABS average earnings are not a minimum; they are a statistical benchmark for all employees.
• Always check your specific situation: are you award-free or covered by an award? Are you casual or permanent? Are you an apprentice? Use the Guides on this site for more detail.

Three common questions about the minimum wage for 18 year old

(Note: FAQs are listed separately below.)

Final note

This information is for 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. For personalised advice, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or a workplace relations professional.