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

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This rate is set by the Fair Work Commission and applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour.

Could Sarah Abo be covered by a modern award?

It is possible. Many media and entertainment roles are covered by awards such as the Broadcasting and Recorded Entertainment Award or the Media Industry Award. If an award applies, the minimum pay rate in that award (including any penalty rates and allowances) would be the legal minimum, which may be higher than the national minimum wage. Without knowing her specific role and employer, we cannot confirm which award applies.

Does superannuation count as part of Sarah Abo's salary?

No. Superannuation is an employer contribution paid on top of an employee's ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. When comparing a salary to the minimum wage, super is additional and does not reduce the minimum cash pay required.

Sarah Abo salary: How it compares to Australia's minimum wage

Sarah Abo's exact salary is not published; the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026.

Understanding the sarah abo salary question

When people search for "sarah abo salary", they often want to know how much the 60 Minutes and former Today show presenter earns. However, Sarah Abo's exact salary is not publicly available. Unlike some public sector roles, private-sector salaries for journalists and television presenters are typically negotiated individually and are not published by the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, or the Australian Taxation Office.

What we can do is explain the legal pay floor that applies to all Australian employees, including someone in Sarah Abo's line of work. This allows you to make an informed comparison if you have a salary figure in mind.

The national minimum wage as a baseline

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 rate is set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. It applies to employees who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. Most private-sector employees in the national system are covered by an award, which usually sets a higher minimum.

If Sarah Abo is employed under a modern award—for example, the Broadcasting and Recorded Entertainment Award or the Media Industry Award—the minimum pay rate in that award would be the legal floor. Award rates often include penalty rates for evening, weekend, or public holiday work, and allowances for specific duties. The award minimum cannot be less than the national minimum wage, but it can be higher.

How to check if a salary meets the minimum

Suppose you have an hourly rate in mind for a role similar to Sarah Abo's. You can compare it directly to the national minimum wage. If the rate is below $26.44 per hour, it would be unlawful unless the employee is a junior, apprentice, trainee, or on a supported wage. For award-covered employees, the relevant award classification rate must be paid.

For a weekly salary, divide the annual figure by 52 to get a weekly amount, then divide by 38 to find the hourly equivalent. Remember that superannuation of 12% is paid on top of the salary, not included in it.

Award-free junior and other special rates

Not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. The national minimum wage order includes special rates for juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees with disability. For example, an award-free junior aged 16 is entitled to $12.51 per hour (47.3% of the adult rate), and a casual junior aged 16 gets $15.64 per hour. These lower rates reflect the employee's age or training status.

If Sarah Abo is an adult employee (21 or over) and not a trainee, the full adult minimum applies.

The role of enterprise agreements

Some employers, particularly large media organisations, may have an enterprise agreement that sets pay rates above the award. Enterprise agreements must pass the Better Off Overall Test, meaning employees must be better off under the agreement than under the relevant award. If Sarah Abo is covered by an enterprise agreement, her minimum pay would be the rate in that agreement, which could be significantly higher than the award or national minimum.

Using our resources

To find the correct minimum wage for a specific job, start with our Which minimum wage applies guide. It helps you determine whether you are award-free or covered by a modern award. For a quick look at current rates, visit our Rate tables page, which lists the national minimum wage, junior rates, and casual loadings.

Summary

While Sarah Abo's salary remains private, the legal minimum wage framework provides a clear floor. Any hourly rate below $26.44 (or the relevant award rate) would be unlawful for an adult employee. For a realistic estimate of what a television presenter might earn, you would need to look at industry surveys or advertised roles, but those figures are not part of this guide. The key takeaway is that the national minimum wage and award rates set the legal minimum, not the typical or average salary.

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