Who is entitled to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage applies to national-system employees who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. Most private-sector employees are in the national system. If you are covered by an award or agreement, your minimum pay is likely higher than the national minimum. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and supported-wage employees may receive a lower rate.

Does the minimum wage include casual loading?

No. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is for permanent (full-time or part-time) employees. Casual employees receive a loading of at least 25%, bringing the casual minimum to $33.05 per hour. The casual loading is meant to compensate for not receiving paid leave.

How can I check if my pay meets the minimum?

First, determine if you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. If you are award-free and agreement-free, compare your hourly rate to $26.44 (permanent) or $33.05 (casual). Remember that superannuation of 12% must be paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. For award-covered employees, check the minimum classification rate in your award. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free pay tools and advice.

What is the Australian minimum wage? A practical guide to the 2026 rate

As of 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for an adult award-free employee, with superannuation guarantee of 12% on top.

What is the Australian minimum wage?

If you have ever asked yourself “what is the Australian minimum wage?”, the short answer is that 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 who is not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. This figure is set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. But the real answer is more nuanced, because many workers are entitled to a higher rate under an award or agreement, and some workers (such as juniors or apprentices) may be paid less.

The legal minimum vs other pay benchmarks

It is important to separate the legal minimum from other numbers you might see. The national minimum wage is a floor – the lowest lawful hourly rate for an award-free adult employee. It is not the same as:

Award rates: Modern awards set minimum wages for specific industries and occupations. These rates are often higher than the national minimum. For example, the lowest ongoing classification in a modern award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour, but many award rates are above that.
Enterprise agreement rates: If your workplace has a registered enterprise agreement, it must pass the “better off overall test” and typically provides a pay rate above the award or national minimum.
Average earnings: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. This is a survey average, not a legal requirement. Many employees earn well above the minimum.
Negotiated salaries: Individual contracts can set any rate as long as it is not below the applicable minimum.

Superannuation is on top

When discussing the minimum wage, remember that the employer must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on top of your ordinary time earnings. So if your hourly rate is $26.44, your employer is effectively paying an additional $3.17 per hour into your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay – it is an extra cost to the employer.

Who gets the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage applies to national-system employees who are award-free and agreement-free. Most private-sector employees are in the national system. However, some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, may be covered by state awards instead. If you are covered by a modern award, the award’s minimum rates apply, and they are almost always higher than the national minimum. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, that agreement sets your minimum.

Lower rates are possible

Not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. The Fair Work Act allows lower rates for:

Junior employees (under 21): Award-free juniors receive a percentage of the adult rate. For example, a 16-year-old gets 47.3% ($12.51 per hour permanent, $15.64 casual).
Apprentices and trainees: Award-free apprentices and trainees follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages.
Introductory award rates: Some modern awards have an introductory rate for the first six months, which cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.
Supported wages: Employees with a disability may have a supported wage assessed by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

How to check your pay

A practical check: take your hourly rate (excluding any casual loading) and compare it to $26.44. If you are casual, compare to $33.05. If you are under an award, find the classification rate in your award – the Fair Work Ombudsman website has a pay calculator. Remember that your employer must also pay super on top. If you are unsure which pay floor applies, start by reading Which minimum wage applies and then consult the Rate tables for award rates.

Historical context

The national minimum wage has increased over recent years: $23.23 per hour from 1 July 2023, $24.10 from 1 July 2024, $24.95 from 1 July 2025, and now $26.44 from 1 July 2026. These increases reflect the Fair Work Commission’s annual review.

A note on this guide

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

If you have a specific situation, the Fair Work Ombudsman can provide free advice. Always check your award or agreement first – they set the real minimum for most Australian workers.

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