Minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Victoria: $18.06 per hour

What is the minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Victoria?

The phrase "minimum wage 18 year old victoria" refers to the legal minimum hourly pay for a worker aged 18 in the state of Victoria. Under Australia's national workplace relations system, the minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission and applies uniformly across all states, including Victoria. For an 18-year-old, the national minimum wage is $18.06 per hour. This is based on the junior percentage (68.3%) of the adult national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, as outlined in the National Minimum Wage Order.

However, this rate is only a floor. Most 18-year-olds are covered by a modern award, which can set higher minimum rates for juniors. For example, the Retail Award or the Hospitality Award often have specific junior pay scales that exceed the national minimum. Always check your award or agreement before assuming $18.06 is your correct rate. You can find award pay guides on the pay guides page.

How the national minimum wage applies to juniors

The Fair Work Commission sets junior percentages for each age group. The current rates (from 1 July 2026) are:

• Under 16: $9.73/hr
• 16 years: $12.51/hr
• 17 years: $15.28/hr
• 18 years: $18.06/hr
• 19 years: $21.81/hr
• 20 years: $25.83/hr

These rates are derived by applying a percentage to the adult national minimum wage. For 18-year-olds, the percentage is 68.3%. But modern awards can use different percentages or flat rates. For instance, some awards pay 18-year-olds 80% or more of the adult rate. If you work in an industry like retail or fast food, your award rate is likely higher than $18.06.

Gross pay, super, and tax for an 18-year-old in Victoria

Let's calculate what an 18-year-old on the national minimum wage might earn, including super and tax. Assume a full-time week of 38 hours (though many 18-year-olds work part-time or casual).

• Gross weekly pay: 38 hrs × $18.06 = $686.28
• Gross annual pay: $686.28 × 52 = $35,686.56

Super guarantee: From 1 July 2026, the super rate is 12%. Your employer must pay an additional 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund. That's $4,282.39 per year. Super is not deducted from your pay; it's an extra contribution on top.

Tax estimate (2026–27 resident rates, including 2% Medicare levy):

• Tax-free threshold: $18,200
• Taxable income: $35,686.56
• Income tax: ($35,686.56 – $18,200) × 15% = $2,622.98
• Medicare levy: $35,686.56 × 2% = $713.73
• Total tax and Medicare: $3,336.71
• Net annual take-home pay: $35,686.56 – $3,336.71 = $32,349.85

If you work casual, you'll usually get a casual loading (often 25%) on top of the base rate. That would raise your hourly rate to about $22.58, and your annual gross to $44,608, pushing you into a higher tax bracket. Use the how the index works page to compare your pay to national benchmarks.

Victoria's cost of living and the state index

Victoria's state earnings index is 98, meaning full-time adult ordinary-time earnings in Victoria are about 2% below the national average of 100. But that index reflects adult workers, not juniors. An 18-year-old on the national minimum wage has an index of roughly 33 (based on annualised full-time earnings of $35,687 divided by the national line of $108,352, times 100). This shows how far junior minimum wages sit below the typical adult wage.

Victoria's overall lower index (98 vs 100) doesn't directly affect the minimum wage, but it does reflect that average pay in Victoria is slightly lower than the national figure. For a young worker, the key factor is whether your award or agreement gives you a better rate. You can explore state comparisons on the states page.

What to do if you're an 18-year-old worker in Victoria

1. Find your award: Most jobs have a modern award. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman website or use the pay guides section to see the correct rate for your age and role.
2. Check for agreements: Some workplaces have enterprise agreements that may pay more than the award.
3. Understand your entitlements: You're entitled to super, paid leave (if permanent), and penalty rates for weekend or public holiday work.
4. Know your tax: If you earn under $18,200, you may not need to lodge a tax return, but if tax was withheld, you should lodge to get a refund. Use the topics page for more on tax and super.

Remember, the national minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Victoria is $18.06 per hour, but your actual pay could be higher. Always verify with your employer or a trusted source like the Fair Work Ombudsman.