What is a salary cal?

A salary cal is a tool that helps you calculate your pay rate and compare it to legal minimums. You can use it to check whether your hourly or weekly wage meets the national minimum wage or the award that covers your job.

Does the national minimum wage apply to everyone?

No. The national minimum wage applies only to employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Most employees are covered by an award, which often sets higher minimum rates. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees with disability may have different minimum rates.

How do I know if my award rate is correct?

You can use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool or check the pay guide for your award. Your employer must pay at least the minimum rate for your classification, plus any applicable penalty rates and allowances.

How a Salary Cal Helps You Check Your Hourly Rate Against the Minimum Wage

As of 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 agreement.

Using a salary cal to check your pay

If you want to know whether your hourly rate meets the legal minimum, a salary cal can help you compare your pay to the national minimum wage. A salary cal is simply a calculation that takes your gross pay (before tax) and divides it by your ordinary hours to get an hourly rate. You can then compare that rate to the relevant minimum.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool that acts as a salary cal for award-covered employees. It calculates the minimum pay rates, penalties, and allowances that apply under your award. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage is the floor.

The legal minimum wage

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year in its Annual Wage Review. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee working 38 ordinary hours. Casual employees receive a casual loading of 25%, making the minimum casual rate $33.05 per hour.

These rates apply to employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Most private-sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees may be covered by state awards.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

Most employees are covered by a modern award. Awards set minimum wages for specific industries and occupations. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot be less than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates that apply for the first six months of employment cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, the base pay rate in the agreement cannot be less than the base pay rate in the relevant award. Your agreement may set higher rates.

Junior, apprentice, and trainee rates

Not every worker receives the adult minimum. Award-free junior employees have percentage-based minimum rates: under 16 years old get 36.8% of the adult rate ($9.73 per hour), 16-year-olds get 47.3% ($12.51), 17-year-olds 57.8% ($15.29), 18-year-olds 68.3% ($18.06), 19-year-olds 82.5% ($21.82), and 20-year-olds 97.7% ($25.84). At 21 and over, the full adult rate applies.

Apprentices and trainees have their own rates under the National Training Wage or award provisions. For award-free apprentices, the Miscellaneous Award sets the minimum.

How super fits in

Superannuation is an employer payment on top of your wage. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. Employers must pay super at the same time as wages under the new payday super rules. When you use a salary cal, remember that super is not part of your take-home pay; it is an additional contribution to your super fund.

Comparing with average earnings

The legal minimum is not the same as average earnings. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. All employees (including part-time and casual) averaged $1,579.20 per week. These figures are much higher than the national minimum wage because they include many workers on award or above-award rates.

Your salary cal should compare your rate to the minimum that applies to you, not to the average. If your rate is below the minimum, you may be entitled to back pay.

Practical steps

To check your pay:

Find your award or check if you are award-free. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's resources or Which minimum wage applies on this site.
Determine your classification level in the award.
Calculate your hourly rate: divide your gross weekly pay by your ordinary hours (usually 38 for full-time).
Compare to the minimum rate for your classification. If you are award-free, compare to the national minimum wage.
Remember that penalty rates, allowances, and overtime may increase your entitlement.

For more detailed rate tables, see Rate tables.

Important notes

This guide provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum. Always check the specific instrument that covers your employment.

If you believe you are being underpaid, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for assistance.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.