Minimum Wage in Aus: 2026-27 Rates, Tax and Super

Understanding the Minimum Wage in Aus

If you are looking for the minimum wage in Aus, the starting point is the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. These figures apply to national‑system employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement.

The Legal Floor vs Other Pay Levels

It is important to separate the legal minimum from other benchmarks:

• National minimum wage – the absolute floor for award‑free adults.
• Modern award rates – many industries have awards that set higher minimums for specific roles. The lowest ongoing classification in an award cannot fall below the national minimum, but introductory rates (first six months) can be as low as $25.74 per hour.
• Enterprise agreements – can set rates above the award or national minimum.
• Survey averages – the ABS reports average weekly earnings, which are much higher than the minimum. For example, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week in May 2026.

Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. This is an additional cost, not deducted from the wage.

Who Gets the Full Adult Rate?

The adult national minimum applies to employees aged 21 and over who are award‑free. For younger workers, junior percentages apply:

• 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)

Apprentices and trainees who are award‑free follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Always check Which minimum wage applies to see if an award or agreement covers you.

Tax and the Weekly Packet

While the minimum wage is a gross figure, the amount you take home depends on tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026‑27 income year, a resident adult earning exactly the weekly minimum of $1,004.90 (annualised to $52,254.80) would pay roughly:

• Tax: using the full tax‑free threshold, the estimated tax is about $6,800 per year (varies with individual circumstances).
• Medicare levy: 2% once annualised ordinary gross exceeds $30,000, so about $1,045 per year.

These estimates exclude the low income tax offset, HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge. Your actual take‑home pay will differ. For a detailed breakdown, see the Rate tables page.

How the Minimum Wage Has Changed

The national minimum wage has increased over recent years:

• 1 July 2023: $23.23/h ($882.80/week)
• 1 July 2024: $24.10/h ($915.90/week)
• 1 July 2025: $24.95/h ($948.00/week)
• 1 July 2026: $26.44/h ($1,004.90/week)

These increases are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual review. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guidance and enforces compliance.

When a Higher Rate Applies

A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum. If you are covered by an award, the award rate is your legal minimum. Similarly, an enterprise agreement may set higher pay. The national minimum is only the fallback for those without any award or agreement.

Limitations of This Guide

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 more details, visit How the figures work or Topics for specific industries.