What is the current national minimum wage in Australia?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This applies to adult employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour.

How do I know which minimum wage applies to my job?

Most employees are covered by a modern award that sets minimum pay rates for their industry or occupation. You can check your award using the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. If no award applies and you are not under an enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage is your floor. Award rates are generally higher than the national minimum.

Does the minimum wage include superannuation?

No. The minimum wage is the gross pay before tax. Superannuation is paid on top by your employer at 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). For example, if you earn the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, your employer must also contribute $3.17 per hour into your super fund.

Minimum wage in USA: How does your hourly rate compare to Australia's pay floor?

As of 1 July 2026, the Australian national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for adult award/agreement-free employees, with higher rates under awards or agreements.

Minimum wage in USA vs Australia: a practical rate check

If you've been searching for the minimum wage in USA, you might be surprised to find that Australia's system works quite differently. Instead of a single federal figure, Australia has a national minimum wage that acts as a safety net, but most workers are covered by industry or occupation-specific awards that set higher rates. This guide helps you compare your hourly rate to the relevant Australian pay floor.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage

The Fair Work Commission reviews and sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the rate for adult employees not covered by an award or enterprise agreement is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on 38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. This is the absolute minimum an award-free adult employee can be paid.

However, not every worker receives this rate. Junior employees (under 21), apprentices, trainees, and employees with disability may be paid a percentage of the national minimum wage. For example, a 17-year-old award-free junior receives 57.8% of the adult rate, or $15.29 per hour. Award-covered employees must be paid at least the rate in their award, which is often higher.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Introductory rates (for the first 6 months or less) cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

If your employer has an enterprise agreement, the base pay rate must be at least equal to the relevant award rate. Always check your award or agreement first — it will likely set a higher minimum than the national figure. Use the Which minimum wage applies tool to find your correct pay floor.

Average earnings: how the average worker compares

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. The average total earnings for all employees was $1,579.20 per week. These are not legal minimums — they are survey averages. If your rate is above the national minimum it may still be below average but that does not mean you are being paid enough. The national minimum is a floor not a target.

Superannuation is paid on top of your pay. Your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary time earnings on top of your gross pay. For example if you earn $26.44 per hour your employer also contributes $3.17 into your super fund.

Practical check: what to do with your hourly rate

Take your hourly rate and compare it to the national minimum. If your rate is at or above $26.44 per hour you are at the legal floor. If you are under you may be underpaid unless you are a junior apprentice or on an introductory award rate. If you are above check your award to see if you are entitled to more. For a full breakdown of different rates see our Rate tables.

Important exceptions and nuances

Junior employees (under 21) award-free: percentages range from 36.8% at under 16 to 97.7% at age 20.
Apprentices and trainees have their own rates based on the Miscellaneous Award.
Supported wages for employees with disability may be a percentage of the national minimum.
State system employees (some WA state public sector and local government) may be covered by state awards instead of the national system.

Always check your specific circumstances. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free resources and a Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate your correct minimum. For more on how these figures are derived, see How the figures work.

Summary

While the minimum wage in USA is a single federal rate, Australia uses a multi-layered system. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is the safety net, but most workers are entitled to more under an award or agreement. Use this guide to check your rate, but always verify with official sources or your employer.