Where can I find the exact Monash salary rates for my role?

Monash publishes its salary rates on its enterprise agreements page. You can also check the Fair Work Commission's document for the approved agreement. If you are covered by a modern award instead of the enterprise agreement, the award rate applies. For award‑free employees, the national minimum wage is the floor.

Monash salary: how it compares with the national minimum wage and award rates

Q: What is the current national minimum wage in Australia?

From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, 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 employees in the national system.

Q: How does Monash University's enterprise agreement affect my pay?

Monash University has a current enterprise agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission (Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and Professional Staff) 2024, expiring 30 June 2026). This agreement sets minimum salaries that are higher than the national minimum wage for most roles. Your exact rate depends on your classification (e.g., academic level or professional staff grade) and step within that classification.

Monash University's enterprise agreement sets rates above the national minimum wage; the exact salary depends on classification and step.

What is a Monash salary?

A "Monash salary" refers to the pay an employee receives while working at Monash University. Because Monash is a large public university, most of its staff are covered by an enterprise agreement that has been approved by the Fair Work Commission. That agreement sets minimum rates that are generally well above the national minimum wage. However, the exact figure depends on your role – whether you are academic or professional staff, your classification level, and your step within that level.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage and award rates

For any Australian employee not covered by a registered enterprise agreement or a modern award, the Fair Work Commission sets a national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026 that rate is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Superannuation (the super guarantee) is paid on top of these amounts at 12% of ordinary time earnings.

However, most Monash staff are not award‑free. They are covered either by the Monash enterprise agreement or by a modern award (such as the Higher Education Industry – Academic Staff – Award 2020 or the Higher Education Industry – Professional Staff – Award 2020). Modern award minimum rates are higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the lowest ongoing classification in a modern award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour, but many award rates are above that. Introductory rates (for the first six months) are capped at $25.74 per hour.

The Monash enterprise agreement: a higher floor

Monash University has its own enterprise agreement: the Monash University Enterprise Agreement (Academic and Professional Staff) 2024, approved by the Fair Work Commission and due to expire on 30 June 2026 . This agreement sets minimum salaries that are higher than both the national minimum wage and the relevant modern award rates for most classifications. The exact rates are published on Monash's staff salary rates page .

Because the enterprise agreement is a legally binding document, your Monash salary cannot be lower than the rate specified for your classification in that agreement. If you are a casual employee, the agreement also sets hourly rates that include a casual loading. Remember that super is paid on top of your base salary.

How to check your Monash salary against the floor

If you are a current or prospective Monash employee, you can do a simple check:

Find your classification (e.g., Academic Level A, step 1; Professional HEW 4, step 2).
Look up the corresponding annual or hourly rate in the enterprise agreement salary tables.
Compare that rate to the national minimum wage ($26.44/h) or the relevant modern award rate. If your agreement rate is higher – which it almost certainly will be – then that is your minimum.

If you are not covered by the enterprise agreement (for example, if you are a contractor or work in a role that falls outside its scope), you may be covered by a modern award. In that case, the award rate is your floor. If you are truly award‑free and agreement‑free, the national minimum wage applies.

What about juniors, apprentices, and supported wages?

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies to adult employees (21 and over). Junior employees (under 21) who are award‑free are entitled to a percentage of the adult rate, ranging from 36.8% at age 16 to 97.7% at age 20. Apprentices and trainees have their own rates under the Miscellaneous Award. The Monash enterprise agreement may have its own junior or trainee rates, which must still meet the legal minimums.

Superannuation: an extra payment on top

Whenever we talk about a Monash salary, remember that your employer must pay superannuation on top of your ordinary time earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026. This is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional payment into your super fund.

Summary

A Monash salary is typically higher than the national minimum wage because the university's enterprise agreement sets a higher floor. To know exactly what you should be paid, check the agreement classification that applies to your role. If you are not covered by the agreement, check the relevant modern award. The national minimum wage is the ultimate backstop, but most Monash staff will be paid above it.

For more information, see our Rate tables and Guides.