What is the current national minimum wage?

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, and $33.05 per hour for casuals (including the casual loading). These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and apply to award-free and agreement-free national-system employees.

Does my employer have to pay me at least the minimum wage?

Yes, if you are an adult employee in the national system and not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, your employer must pay at least the national minimum wage. However, if a modern award or enterprise agreement applies to you, it may require a higher rate. Also, junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and workers on supported wages may be paid less than the adult rate.

What if I am under 21 and not covered by an award?

Award-free junior employees have specific minimum percentages of the adult rate. For example, a 17-year-old must receive at least $15.29 per hour (57.8% of $26.44) or $19.11 per hour as a casual. These percentages are set by the Fair Work Ombudsman and apply until the employee turns 21, when the full adult rate applies.

How to check your hourly rate against the minimum wage in Australia

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour for adults, but many workers are covered by awards or agreements that set higher rates.

Checking your hourly rate against the minimum wage

If you want to know whether your pay meets the legal minimum, start by finding the correct minimum wage that applies to your situation. The national minimum wage is the safety net for employees not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. But many workers are covered by an award or agreement that sets a higher rate, so the national minimum is not always the right benchmark.

The legal minimum: national minimum wage

The Fair Work Commission reviews and sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. If you are a casual employee, your minimum hourly rate is $33.05, which includes the 25% casual loading. Your employer must also pay superannuation guarantee contributions on top of your ordinary time earnings – currently 12%.

These rates apply only if you are a national-system employee and not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Most private-sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government workers, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, may be covered by state awards instead.

Award and agreement rates can be higher

If a modern award covers your job and industry, the award sets the minimum pay rate for your classification. The lowest ongoing adult classification in any modern award cannot be less than the national minimum wage. However, many award rates are higher. For example, the award backstop from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but your specific award classification may be above that. Similarly, an enterprise agreement can set a rate above the award or national minimum.

Introductory rates apply to new employees in some awards for the first six months. From 1 July 2026, the introductory minimum is $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. After six months, you must move to the full classification rate.

What about juniors, apprentices and trainees?

Not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. If you are under 21 and award-free, your minimum wage is a percentage of the adult rate. For example, a 16-year-old gets 47.3% ($12.51 per hour) and a 20-year-old gets 97.7% ($25.84 per hour). Apprentices and trainees who are award-free are covered by the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Always check your specific situation with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Comparing your hourly rate

To see if your pay is above the minimum, take your hourly rate (excluding any casual loading if you are permanent) and compare it to the national minimum or your applicable award rate. Remember that your employer must pay super on top – it is not part of your hourly rate.

The ABS May 2026 survey found full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or about $54.83 per hour. That is well above the minimum, but many workers earn less than the average. The important thing is that your rate meets the legal floor for your employment type.

Need more detail?

Which minimum wage applies – a guide to finding your correct pay floor.
Rate tables – current and historical minimum wage figures.

A note on this guide

This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. Always check with the Fair Work Ombudsman or a qualified adviser for your specific circumstances.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.