Is a business development manager covered by an award?

It depends on the industry and duties. Many business development managers fall under the Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020 or the Professional Employees Award 2020 if their role involves professional sales or business development work. Check the classification definitions in those awards. If no award applies, the national minimum wage is the floor.

What is the minimum wage for a business development manager?

If award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult. If covered by an award, the minimum classification rate in that award applies – it is often higher than the national minimum. Always check the applicable award or enterprise agreement.

Does superannuation count as part of the minimum wage?

No. The superannuation guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings. It is not part of the minimum wage. The minimum pay rates set by the Fair Work Commission or an award are before super.

Business development manager salary: which pay floor applies in Australia

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but a business development manager may be covered by an award or agreement that sets a higher rate.

Business development manager salary: understanding the pay floor

When searching for a "business development manager salary" in Australia, it is easy to confuse the legal minimum with survey averages, award rates, or negotiated packages. This guide explains which pay floor applies and what the law requires.

The national minimum wage as a backstop

For employees not covered by a modern award or registered agreement, the national minimum wage applies. From 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Commission set it at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult (38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. These rates are before tax and do not include superannuation, which employers must pay on top at 12% of ordinary time earnings.

However, the national minimum wage is not the only floor. Most business development managers will be covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement, which can set higher minimum rates.

Award coverage for business development managers

A business development manager's role often involves selling services, building client relationships, and strategic planning. Depending on the industry, the applicable award could be:

Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020 – if the role is primarily clerical or administrative in a sales support capacity.
Professional Employees Award 2020 – if the role requires a degree or equivalent professional qualification and involves high-level analytical or advisory work.
Sales and marketing awards – some industries have specific awards covering sales representatives.

Each award has classification levels with minimum pay rates that are typically higher than the national minimum wage. For example, the Clerks Award Level 4 or 5 may apply to experienced business development managers. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award that list the exact minimum rates.

If an enterprise agreement covers the workplace, the agreement rates apply instead. These can be above award rates.

What the ABS and surveys show

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports average earnings, not minimums. In May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week. A business development manager salary in the market may be higher or lower than this average depending on experience, industry, and location. But the legal minimum is what the award or the national minimum wage requires – not the survey average.

Separating the legal minimum from negotiated salary

A "business development manager salary" quoted in a job advertisement or a salary survey is often a market rate, not a legal floor. Employers can pay above the minimum, but they cannot pay below it. If an advertisement offers a rate lower than the applicable award or the national minimum wage, it may breach the Fair Work Act. The Fair Work Ombudsman enforces these rules.

Superannuation: an extra cost on top

When discussing pay, remember that superannuation is an employer contribution of 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2025, rising to 12% by 2026). It is not part of the minimum wage. For a business development manager earning the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week, the employer must also pay $120.59 in super. This is separate from the salary figure.

How to check the right minimum

To find the correct pay floor for a business development manager role:

Identify the industry and primary duties.
Check the Which minimum wage applies guide to see if a modern award covers the role.
Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool or the award's pay guide for exact rates.
If no award applies, the national minimum wage is the floor.

For a quick overview of current rates, see our Rate tables.

Common misunderstandings

Mixing up the national minimum wage with award rates. The national minimum is a backstop; many awards have higher minimums.
Assuming a salary survey figure is the legal minimum. Surveys show typical pay, not the minimum required by law.
Forgetting that junior, apprentice, or introductory rates can be lower. For example, an award may have an introductory rate of $25.74 per hour for the first six months. Juniors under 21 have percentage-based minimums.

Summary

The legal minimum for a business development manager salary depends on award coverage. If no award applies, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the floor. Always check the relevant award or agreement, and remember that super is paid on top. For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures work.