Home / Guides / Minimum wage
Minimum Wage Australia 18 Year-Old: What You Actually Earn After Tax and Super
The minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia is $18.06 per hour. See how that compares to the national average, what you take home after tax, and how super works.
The national minimum wage for an 18-year-old is $18.06 per hour, which on a full-time basis gives an annual gross of about $35,670 – an index score of roughly 33, well below the national line of 100.
What Is the Minimum Wage for an 18-Year-Old in Australia?
The minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia is set by the National Minimum Wage Order, which sets junior rates as a percentage of the adult national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.16 per hour (the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but the junior percentage is based on the adult national minimum wage used in the order). For an 18-year-old, the rate is $18.06 per hour. This is the legal floor for employees not covered by a modern award or agreement.
If an 18-year-old works a full-time week of 38 hours (the standard full-time hours used in the ABS Average Weekly Earnings), their annual gross would be about $35,670. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year, that gives an index of about 33. That is well below the national line, reflecting that junior rates are designed for younger workers who are often in entry-level roles.
How Tax Affects an 18-Year-Old on the Minimum Wage
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare levy), the first $18,200 is tax-free. On $35,670, the taxable amount above that is $17,470, taxed at 15% – about $2,620. The Medicare levy adds 2% on the whole income, about $713. Total tax is roughly $3,334, leaving take-home pay of about $32,336 per year. That is about $622 per week after tax.
If the 18-year-old works part-time, say 20 hours per week, annual gross drops to about $18,774. Then tax would be nil (under $18,200) plus Medicare levy of $375, take-home $18,399. The pay guides for retail or hospitality often show similar junior rates.
Superannuation for 18-Year-Olds
Super guarantee (SG) is 12% from 1 July 2026, but it only applies to employees aged 18 and over if they work more than 30 hours per week. For an 18-year-old working full-time (38 hours), the employer must pay 12% on top of wages. That adds about $4,280 to their super account each year. For those working 30 hours or fewer, no SG is required. This is an important difference from adult employees, who get SG regardless of hours.
How the 18-Year-Old Minimum Wage Compares to Awards and Industries
Many 18-year-olds work in retail or hospitality. The industries page shows retail trade index 75.9 and accommodation and food services index 72.5 – both well below the national line. But those indices are for all workers, not just juniors. The junior rate in a modern award may be higher than the national minimum. For example, the General Retail Industry Award 2020 has junior rates that vary by age. Always check the relevant award.
The states page shows differences in average earnings across Australia. For example, Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. But those are averages for all adults; an 18-year-old on the minimum wage will earn the same base rate regardless of state (unless a state-specific award applies).
Understanding the Salary Index for an 18-Year-Old
The how the index works page explains that the index is your yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. For an 18-year-old on the minimum wage full-time, that is about 33. That means they earn about one-third of the national adult average. This is not unusual for young workers starting out, but it highlights how far below the average they are.
If the 18-year-old is casual, they get a casual loading of 25% on top of the base rate, making it $22.58 per hour. That would increase annual gross to about $44,600 (full-time), index about 41. Still well below 100.
Key Takeaways
The minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia is $18.06 per hour. After tax and Medicare, a full-time worker takes home about $32,336 per year. Super is only paid if they work more than 30 hours per week. Many awards pay more, so check your award or agreement. The topics page has more on junior pay rates.
Questions people ask
How much tax does an 18-year-old on the minimum wage pay?
Using the 2026–27 tax rates, an 18-year-old earning $35,670 (full-time at $18.06/hr) pays no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% on the next $17,470, which is about $2,620. Plus the 2% Medicare levy ($713), total tax around $3,334. Take-home pay is roughly $32,336 per year. If they earn less, tax is lower.
Does an 18-year-old get superannuation on the minimum wage?
Super guarantee (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid by the employer on top of wages, but only if the employee works more than 30 hours per week. For an 18-year-old working full-time (38 hours), super is mandatory. On $35,670 gross, that adds about $4,280 to their super account. If they work 30 hours or fewer, no super is required.
How does the 18-year-old minimum wage compare to the adult minimum wage?
The adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2). The 18-year-old rate of $18.06 is about 68% of the adult rate. Many awards have their own junior rates, often around 60–70% of the adult award rate. The adult full-time equivalent index is 33 versus the adult index of 48.2.