What is the national minimum wage in Australia from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for adult employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and explained by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

How do I find the correct award or agreement for a specific job?

Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) to identify the modern award that covers the industry and occupation. The award will list minimum pay rates, including classifications, penalties, and allowances. If an enterprise agreement applies, check that document for rates. The award or agreement rate may be higher than the national minimum wage.

Can an employer pay less than the national minimum wage?

No. Employees cannot be paid less than the minimum wage that applies to them, whether from the national minimum wage, a modern award, or an enterprise agreement. Lower rates may apply for juniors, apprentices, trainees, employees with disability, or during an introductory period under some awards, but these are still set by law. The Fair Work Ombudsman enforces compliance.

Patrick Murtagh salary: how to find the right pay floor in Australia

No specific salary for Patrick Murtagh was found in public Australian sources; the applicable pay floor depends on the award or agreement covering the role.

Understanding the Patrick Murtagh salary question

If you are searching for "patrick murtagh salary", you are likely trying to find a specific pay figure. This guide explains how to determine the correct pay floor in Australia and what to do when a precise salary is not publicly available. The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission are the authoritative sources for minimum wages, while the Australian Bureau of Statistics provides average earnings data.

No public figure for Patrick Murtagh

A web search of current Australian public sources—including the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Australian Taxation Office—did not return a specific salary for Patrick Murtagh. Without an award classification, enterprise agreement, or publicly reported figure, it is not possible to state a precise rate. This guide instead explains how to identify the correct pay floor for any role.

The legal minimum wage

The national minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This applies to employees in the national system who are not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. Casual employees get a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

Lower rates apply for juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees with disability. For award-free juniors, the percentages of the adult rate are: under 16: 36.8% ($9.73/h), 16: 47.3% ($12.51/h), 17: 57.8% ($15.29/h), 18: 68.3% ($18.06/h), 19: 82.5% ($21.82/h), 20: 97.7% ($25.84/h). These rates include the casual loading where applicable.

Award and agreement rates

Most employees are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Awards set minimum pay rates for specific industries and occupations, which are often higher than the national minimum wage. For example, some awards have introductory rates for the first six months, which cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week from 1 July 2026. After that, the ongoing classification rate applies, which must be at least $26.44 per hour.

Enterprise agreements can also set rates, but they must pass the better off overall test. The Fair Work Commission approves these agreements. If an agreement exists, its rates apply instead of the award.

How a rate compares with the floor

To compare a salary with the legal minimum, convert the annual or weekly figure to an hourly rate based on 38 ordinary hours. For example, the ABS reports that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, or about $54.83 per hour. This is well above the national minimum. Average total earnings for all employees were $1,579.20 per week.

If you have a specific salary for Patrick Murtagh, you can check whether it meets the applicable award or agreement rate. Without that information, the best approach is to identify the correct award using the Fair Work Ombudsman's tools.

Superannuation and tax

Super guarantee is an employer payment of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings, not deducted from the salary. For the 2026-27 tax year, resident rates apply with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare levy of 2% applies once annualised ordinary gross income reaches $30,000. This guide does not include the low income tax offset, HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Practical steps

Use the Which minimum wage applies page to determine if you are award-free or covered by an award.
Check Rate tables for current national minimum wage and junior rates.
Visit the Guides section for more detailed explanations.

If you are an employer or employee, the Fair Work Ombudsman provides free resources and a Pay Calculator (PACT) to find exact rates. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage and approves enterprise agreements.

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 gives a slightly different number due to rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.

If you are searching for "patrick murtagh salary" and cannot find a public figure, consider that the role may be covered by a specific award or agreement not in the public domain. Contact the employer or check the Fair Work Commission's website for registered agreements.