What is the minimum wage for a train driver in Australia?

The minimum wage for a train driver depends on their classification under the Rail Industry Award. For a qualified driver in the Operations stream (e.g., Level 5), the minimum weekly rate is $1,359.30 as of 1 July 2026, which equates to $35.77 per hour. This is above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Apprentices and junior drivers may be paid a percentage of the adult rate.

How much super do I get as a train driver?

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. For a train driver on the Level 5 minimum weekly rate of $1,359.30, the employer would contribute an additional $163.12 per week to your super fund.

Is the Rail Industry Award the only pay rule for train drivers?

No. The Rail Industry Award sets the minimum pay and conditions for employees of rail transport operators. However, many train drivers are covered by enterprise agreements that provide higher wages and better conditions. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage applies, but most train drivers are covered by the award or an agreement.

Train Driver Salary in Australia: Weekly Pay, Tax, and Super Explained

The minimum weekly rate for a qualified train driver under the Rail Industry Award is $1,359.30 as of 1 July 2026, though many drivers earn more under enterprise agreements.

Train Driver Salary: What the Award Says

If you're researching a train driver salary in Australia, the starting point is the Rail Industry Award 2020 (MA000015), which covers employees of rail transport operators. The Fair Work Commission sets the award, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. The award classifies rail workers into three streams: Operations (Op), Civil Infrastructure (CAP), and Train Control and Infrastructure (TCI). Most train drivers fall under the Operations stream.

Minimum Weekly Rates for Train Drivers

For a qualified train driver in the Operations stream, the minimum weekly rate as of 1 July 2026 is:

Level 5 Rail Worker (Op): $1,359.30 per week ($35.77 per hour)
Level 4 Rail Worker (Op): $1,241.40 per week ($32.67 per hour)
Level 6 Rail Worker (Op): $1,453.00 per week ($38.24 per hour)

These rates are higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). The award also includes penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, public holidays, and shift work, which can boost take-home pay.

How the Weekly Packet Breaks Down

Let's take a Level 5 train driver earning the minimum award rate. Their gross weekly pay is $1,359.30. On top of that, the employer pays 12% superannuation ($163.12) into a super fund. From the gross pay, you need to deduct tax and the Medicare levy (2% once annual income exceeds $30,000). Using 2026-27 tax rates, the weekly tax on $1,359.30 is approximately $225, and Medicare is about $27, leaving a net weekly take-home of around $1,107. This is an estimate; actual tax depends on your total income and offsets.

Award vs. Enterprise Agreements vs. National Minimum

The award minimum is a floor. Many train drivers are covered by enterprise agreements that pay above the award. For example, some agreements for metropolitan train drivers offer weekly rates of $1,800 or more. If no award or agreement applies, the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour) would be the legal minimum, but this is rare for train drivers. The ABS May 2026 data shows average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week across all occupations, so a train driver on the award minimum is below that average.

Junior and Apprentice Train Drivers

The award allows lower rates for juniors and apprentices. For example, a 17-year-old train driver apprentice in the first year of their apprenticeship (who started after 1 January 2014) would be paid 50% of the Level 4 Rail Worker (Op) rate, which is $620.70 per week. Adult apprentices (21 and over) in their first year get at least 80% of the Level 3 (Op) rate, which is $905.28 per week. These rates are still above the national minimum for juniors.

Superannuation and Other Benefits

Super is a key part of your total remuneration. The 12% super guarantee applies to ordinary time earnings, including the award rate. So a Level 5 driver's total employment cost to the employer is $1,359.30 + $163.12 = $1,522.42 per week. Some enterprise agreements also offer additional benefits like rostered days off, overtime, and allowances.

For more details on how minimum wages are calculated, see How the figures work. To compare rates across different awards, visit Rate tables.

Tax and Medicare on Your Train Driver Salary

Your weekly tax depends on your total annual income. Using the 2026-27 tax rates for residents, a train driver earning the Level 5 minimum of $1,359.30 per week (annualised to $70,683.60) would pay approximately $11,700 in tax and $1,414 in Medicare levy (2% of taxable income over $30,000). This leaves a net annual income of about $57,570. If you earn more under an enterprise agreement, your tax bracket may be higher.

Summary

The train driver salary under the Rail Industry Award provides a solid base above the national minimum. Your actual pay will depend on your classification, experience, and whether an enterprise agreement applies. Always check your award or agreement for the exact rate. For guidance on which minimum wage applies to your situation, see Which minimum wage applies or explore Topics for more industry-specific information.