Jim Chalmers salary: how the Treasurer's pay compares with Australia's minimum wage

Jim Chalmers salary and Australia's pay floors

When people search for "jim chalmers salary", they often want to know how the Treasurer's pay stacks up against what ordinary workers earn. While the exact figure for the Treasurer's salary is not published in the public sources we consulted, we can explain the framework that sets his pay and how it relates to the legal minimum wage, award rates, and average earnings.

The legal minimum: the national minimum wage

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. This is the floor for adult employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Which minimum wage applies explains how to check if you are award‑free.

It is important to note that not every worker must be paid $26.44 an hour. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and some employees with a disability can be paid less under special national minimum wages set by the Fair Work Commission. For example, an award‑free 17‑year‑old receives 57.8% of the adult rate, or $15.29 per hour. Modern awards also contain introductory rates that may be lower than the national minimum for a limited period. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides tools to calculate the correct rate for your situation.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. These instruments almost always set a higher minimum wage than the national minimum. For example, the lowest ongoing classification in any modern award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, but many awards have rates well above that. An enterprise agreement can also provide higher pay. If you are covered by an award or agreement, that document sets your legal minimum, not the national minimum wage. Rate tables list current award rates for common industries.

Survey averages: what the typical worker earns

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes average weekly earnings. In May 2026, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings were $2,083.70 per week. This is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It includes all full‑time employees, from entry‑level to senior managers. The all‑employees average total earnings (including part‑time and casual) was $1,579.20 per week. These figures help put the national minimum wage in context: the minimum is about half the full‑time average.

Negotiated salaries: how the Treasurer's pay is set

The Treasurer's salary is not determined by the Fair Work system. Instead, the Remuneration Tribunal sets a base salary for all parliamentarians and additional salary for ministers and other office holders. The Tribunal reviews these rates periodically. The web search result from Ministerial and Parliamentary Services states that parliamentarians receive a base salary plus additional salary for ministerial roles, paid fortnightly in arrears. The exact current figure for Jim Chalmers was not included in the snippet we retrieved. To find it, you would need to consult the Remuneration Tribunal's latest determination.

Superannuation: an employer payment on top

Regardless of whether you are a minimum‑wage worker or a minister, superannuation is an additional cost for the employer. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid on top of the salary or wage. For a worker earning the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week, the employer must contribute an extra $120.59 per week into super. For the Treasurer, super contributions are handled under the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme or the Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004, with personal contributions and salary‑sacrifice arrangements.

Practical check: comparing an hourly rate to the floor

If you want to know whether a particular rate meets the legal minimum, start by identifying whether you are covered by a modern award. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool. If you are award‑free and an adult, the national minimum of $26.44 per hour (or $33.05 casual) is your floor. If you are a junior, apprentice, or trainee, apply the relevant percentage. Remember that the minimum wage is before tax; your employer must also pay super on top.

Summary

The search for "jim chalmers salary" does not return a precise figure from the public sources we used, but it does lead to information about how parliamentary salaries are set. The legal minimum wage for most workers is $26.44 per hour, while the average full‑time worker earns about $2,083.70 per week. Award and agreement rates can be higher. The Treasurer's salary is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal and is not part of the Fair Work system. For more detail on how minimum wages apply to different groups, see Guides and How the figures work.