Does every worker in Australia get $26.44 per hour?

No. The $26.44 per hour rate is the national minimum wage for adult award-free employees (21 and over). Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement may receive different rates. For example, a 17-year-old award-free junior gets $15.29 per hour (57.8% of the adult rate). Modern awards often set higher minimums, and enterprise agreements can also provide higher pay.

What is the casual minimum wage in Australia?

For adult award-free casual employees, the minimum wage is $33.05 per hour (the national minimum of $26.44 plus a 25% casual loading). Casual loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements. Junior casuals receive the loading on their age-based rate; for example, a 17-year-old casual gets $19.11 per hour.

How does superannuation affect the minimum wage?

Superannuation is paid on top of the minimum wage. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings (as of 2026-27). For an adult award-free employee earning $26.44 per hour, the employer must contribute an additional $3.17 per hour into the employee's super fund. This is not deducted from the wage; it is an extra payment.

What is minimum wage in Australia? Your guide to the legal pay floor

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for adult award-free employees, but lower rates apply for juniors, apprentices, and trainees, and higher rates may apply under awards or agreements.

What is the minimum wage in Australia?

The national minimum wage is the legal minimum pay that most award-free and agreement-free employees in the national system must receive. From 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Commission set the adult rate at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on a 38-hour ordinary week). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour.

But the answer to "what is minimum wage in Australia" is not a single figure for everyone. The rate depends on your age, whether you are covered by a modern award, and your employment type (casual, part-time, or full-time).

The legal minimum vs. award rates and averages

It is important to separate the legal floor from other benchmarks:

National minimum wage: Set by the Fair Work Commission. Applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. The adult rate is $26.44/h.
Modern award minimums: Most industries have awards that set higher minimum rates. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, award wages rose by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below the national minimum. An introductory rate (first 6 months) is capped at $25.74/h or $978.10/week.
Enterprise agreements: Can set rates above the award or national minimum.
Average earnings: The ABS reported full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). This is much higher than the minimum, reflecting the typical pay of experienced workers.

Junior and apprentice rates

Award-free juniors (under 21) receive a percentage of the adult minimum:

Under 16: $9.73/h (casual $12.16/h)
16 years: $12.51/h (casual $15.64/h)
17 years: $15.29/h (casual $19.11/h)
18 years: $18.06/h (casual $22.58/h)
19 years: $21.82/h (casual $27.28/h)
20 years: $25.84/h (casual $32.30/h)
21 and over: $26.44/h (casual $33.05/h)

Apprentices and trainees have their own rates under the Miscellaneous Award. Always check if a modern award applies, as it may set higher minimums.

Superannuation is on top

Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on ordinary time earnings (from 2026-27). For an adult on the national minimum wage, that is an extra $3.17 per hour or $120.59 per week, paid into the employee's super fund. This is not deducted from the wage.

Which minimum wage applies to you?

To find your correct minimum, start by checking if you are covered by a modern award. If not, and you are in the national system (most private-sector employees), the national minimum wage applies. Some state public sector and local government employees, and some WA sole traders, may be under state awards. Our guides explain how to determine your coverage.

Historical rates

The national minimum wage has increased over recent years:

1 July 2023: $23.23/h ($882.80/week)
1 July 2024: $24.10/h ($915.90/week)
1 July 2025: $24.95/h ($948.00/week)
1 July 2026: $26.44/h ($1,004.90/week)

Important notes

The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 gives $1,004.72 due to rounding; the official weekly rate prevails.
Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.
This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. For your specific situation, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman or a professional.

For more detail on how rates are calculated, see How the figures work. To explore topics like casual loading or penalties, visit our Topics page.