What is the minimum wage for a project coordinator?

If you are not covered by an award or registered agreement, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) applies. However, most project coordinators are covered by a modern award such as the Clerks Award or the Professional Employees Award, which sets a higher minimum rate. Check the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database for the correct classification rate. An enterprise agreement can also set a rate above the award.

How does the median project coordinator salary compare to the national minimum?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time hourly earnings for Contract, Program and Project Administrators is $59 per hour, more than double the national minimum wage of $26.44. The median weekly earnings are $2,130. These figures are a survey average and not a legal minimum; your actual pay depends on your award, experience, and employer.

Does superannuation apply to project coordinator pay?

Yes. Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. For example, if your ordinary hourly rate is $59, your employer must contribute an additional $7.08 per hour into your super fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay.

Project Coordinator Salary: Minimum Pay Floor and How Your Rate Compares

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but most project coordinators are covered by an award or agreement that sets a higher rate; the median full-time hourly rate for Contract, Program and Project Administrators is $59 per hour.

Project coordinator salary: legal minimum vs survey average

If you are researching a project coordinator salary in Australia, the first step is to separate the legal pay floor from market averages. The legal minimum depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are award-free. The market average, such as the median reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), gives a benchmark for what others in similar roles earn.

The legal minimum wage for project coordinators

For employees not covered by an award or registered agreement, the national minimum wage applies. From 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Commission set this at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the minimum $33.05 per hour. However, most project coordinators work in industries covered by a modern award. For example, the Clerks Award or the Professional Employees Award often apply. These awards set minimum rates above the national minimum for specific classifications. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that you must check the relevant award to find the correct minimum rate. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award.

Important: Award rates can include introductory or junior rates that are lower than the national minimum. For instance, some awards have a six-month introductory rate of $25.74 per hour. Juniors, apprentices, and trainees also have their own percentage-based rates. Always confirm your classification in the award.

Survey averages: the median project coordinator salary

The ABS, through Jobs and Skills Australia, provides earnings data for the occupation group Contract, Program and Project Administrators (ANZSCO 5111). This group includes project coordinators. The most recent survey (May 2025) shows:

Median full-time weekly earnings: $2,130
Median hourly earnings: $59
Average full-time hours: 42 hours per week

These figures are before tax and do not include superannuation. They are a guide, not a legal entitlement. Your actual salary will depend on your experience, industry, location, and whether you are covered by an enterprise agreement that may pay above the award.

How to compare your rate

To see where your pay sits, start with your hourly or weekly rate. Compare it to:

The national minimum wage – $26.44/h if you are award-free.
The relevant award rate – check the Fair Work Commission database for your classification.
The ABS median – $59/h for full-time project administrators.

If your rate is below the award minimum, your employer may be underpaying you. If it is above the median, you are likely in the top half of earners in this occupation.

Superannuation is on top

Remember that the superannuation guarantee is an employer payment on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12%. For example, on a $59 hourly rate, your employer must contribute $7.08 per hour to your super fund. This is not deducted from your salary.

Award rates vs negotiated salaries

A modern award sets the minimum, but you can negotiate a higher salary. Enterprise agreements often provide better conditions. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help you calculate the minimum for your award. For award-free employees, the national minimum is the floor, but you are free to agree on a higher rate.

Summary

The project coordinator salary landscape has a clear legal floor (national minimum or award rate) and a much higher market median ($59/h). Use the ABS data as a benchmark, but always verify your legal minimum through the Fair Work Commission or Fair Work Ombudsman. Your employer must also pay 12% super on top of your ordinary time earnings.