Minimum wage Australia 16 year old: $12.51 per hour from July 2026

What is the minimum wage for a 16-year-old in Australia?

If you're 16 and looking at job ads, the first number to know is the national minimum wage for a 16-year-old: $12.51 per hour from 1 July 2026. That's the legal floor set by the Fair Work Ombudsman through the National Minimum Wage Order. It's much lower than the adult national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour because junior rates recognise that younger workers often have less experience and may work fewer hours.

But $12.51 is just the starting point. When you read a job ad, you need to check whether a modern award covers the job. Awards are industry or occupation-specific legal documents that set minimum pay rates, including junior rates. For example, the General Retail Industry Award has its own junior percentages that can be higher than the national minimum. A 16-year-old working in a supermarket might be entitled to $14 or $15 per hour under that award, not just $12.51.

How does the Salary Index help?

The Salary Index compares any pay figure to the national line of 100, which represents full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). For a 16-year-old working full-time (38 hours a week) at $12.51 per hour, annual gross pay would be about $24,720. That gives an index of roughly 23 – far below the national line. That makes sense: junior rates are designed as entry-level wages, not career earnings.

When you compare two job ads, you can use the index to see which offer is stronger relative to the market. For instance, a job paying $15 per hour for a 16-year-old would have an index around 28 – still low, but better than the minimum. The pay guides on this site break down typical rates for common junior roles.

Reading a job ad: what to look for

A typical job ad for a 16-year-old might say "Casual position – $12.51 per hour plus super." That's the legal minimum, but it doesn't tell you if a higher award rate applies. Here's a checklist:

• Check the award: Ask the employer which award covers the job. You can look up the award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
• Look for junior rates: Awards have tables showing percentages of the adult rate for different ages. For 16, it might be 40% or 50% of the adult rate, which could be more than $12.51.
• Casual loading: If the job is casual, you should get a loading (usually 25%) on top of the base rate. For a 16-year-old on the national minimum, that would be $15.64 per hour.
• Super guarantee: From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. Even at $12.51 per hour, if you earn over $450 in a month, your employer must pay super into a fund.

State differences and cost of living

While the national minimum wage is the same everywhere, the value of $12.51 differs by state. The states page shows that average earnings vary: Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. That means a 16-year-old in Perth might find that $12.51 goes less far than in Hobart, because overall wages and living costs are higher in WA. But your pay as a junior is still set nationally, so you can't negotiate a higher minimum based on your state.

What about tax?

If you're 16 and working part-time, you might earn less than the tax-free threshold of $18,200 in 2026–27. That means you pay no income tax and no Medicare levy. But if you earn more than that (unlikely on junior rates unless you work full-time), you'll pay tax at 15% on the next bracket, plus a 2% Medicare levy. Use the how the index works page to see how tax affects take-home pay.

Examples from real industries

Many 16-year-olds work in retail or hospitality. The industries page shows that Retail trade has an index of 75.9 and Accommodation and food services is 72.5 – both well below the national line, reflecting lower average pay in those sectors. But junior rates in those industries can still be above the national minimum. For example, under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, a 16-year-old casual might get around $14 per hour plus casual loading.

What if the ad doesn't mention a rate?

Some job ads say "competitive pay" or "award rates apply." That's vague. You have the right to ask for the exact hourly rate before you accept. If the employer refuses to tell you, that's a red flag. You can also check the topics page for more on your rights as a young worker.

Summary

The minimum wage for a 16-year-old in Australia is $12.51 per hour from July 2026, but many jobs pay more under awards. Always read the job ad carefully, ask about the award, and compare offers using the Salary Index to see where the pay sits against the national line. Your first job should be a fair start, not a legal minimum.