What is the current minimum wage in Australia? $26.44 per hour from July 2026

The current minimum wage in Australia

If you are asking what is the current minimum wage in Australia, the answer from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year before tax. This is the legal floor for most employees under the national workplace relations system. The figure is set by the Fair Work Commission after its annual review and applies to employees not covered by a registered agreement or a modern award.

How the minimum wage sits on the Salary Index

The Salary Index compares any pay figure to the national line of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $2,083.70 per week or $108,352 per year (based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). An index of 100 means the pay matches the national average. The national minimum wage has an index of 48.2, meaning a full-time worker on the minimum earns roughly half of what the typical full-time adult earns.

To put that in concrete terms: if you work 38 hours a week on the minimum wage, your weekly gross is $1,004.90. The national average weekly earnings are $2,083.70, so you are $1,078.80 behind each week. That gap shows why many workers rely on award rates or enterprise agreements that pay more than the minimum.

Award rates and the entry-level floor

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award, which sets minimum pay rates for a specific industry or occupation. The entry-level award floor (the lowest rate in any award) is $25.74 per hour from 1 July 2026. That is slightly below the national minimum wage, but award rates for most classifications are higher. For example, the Retail trade award has a base rate above $26 per hour for adult employees, and the Accommodation and food services award often sits around the same level. Always check your award or agreement because the national minimum wage is only a backstop.

Casual loading and junior rates

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. So the casual minimum wage is $33.05 per hour. That loading is built into many award rates as well.

Junior workers (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult minimum wage. The percentages are set by the National Minimum Wage Order and vary by age:

• 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 apply unless a modern award specifies a different junior percentage. For example, some awards have higher junior rates for certain roles.

Superannuation and tax on the minimum wage

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid by your employer on top of your wage. So if you earn $52,255, your employer must contribute $6,270.60 into your super fund. The maximum contribution base is $270,830, so the full 12% applies to minimum wage earners.

For tax, a resident earning the minimum wage in 2026–27 pays:

• Nil on the first $18,200
• 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000)
• 30% on the remaining $7,255 (up to $52,255)
• Plus the Medicare levy of 2% on all taxable income

That works out to roughly $7,800 in tax and Medicare, leaving a take-home pay of about $44,455 per year, or $855 per week. This estimate assumes you claim the tax-free threshold and ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

State and industry differences

While the national minimum wage is the same across Australia, average earnings vary by state and industry. The states page shows how each state compares to the national line:

• ACT: 109.9 (highest)
• WA: 106.9
• NSW: 101.2
• VIC: 98.0
• QLD: 97.9
• NT: 95.2
• SA: 94.6
• TAS: 88.6 (lowest)

So a minimum wage earner in Tasmania is closer to the state average (index 88.6) than one in the ACT (index 109.9). Similarly, industry matters: the Mining industry index is 154.7, while Accommodation and food services is 72.5. Minimum wage workers in low-paying industries are much further below the industry average.

What the minimum wage does not cover

The national minimum wage does not apply to everyone. Some workers are covered by state industrial relations systems (e.g., state government employees in some states). Others are covered by enterprise agreements that may set lower or higher rates, but never below the minimum wage. And if you are an apprentice or trainee, special rates apply.

If you are unsure about your pay, check your award or agreement on the pay guides page. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free resources to help you understand your entitlements.

Summary

The current minimum wage in Australia is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year. It sits at index 48.2 on the Salary Index, meaning it is less than half the national average. Most workers earn more through awards or agreements. Casual workers get a 25% loading, juniors get a percentage, and super is 12% on top. After tax and Medicare, a minimum wage earner takes home about $44,455 per year.

For more context on how your pay compares, explore the Salary Index, industries, or states pages.