Minimum wage Australia 16 year-old: award-free rate and award comparisons

Minimum wage Australia 16 year-old: what you need to know

If you are searching for the minimum wage for a 16-year-old in Australia, the answer depends on whether you are covered by a modern award or are award-free. The legal floor for an award-free 16-year-old employee is set by the Fair Work Commission as a percentage of the adult national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, that floor is $12.51 per hour for ordinary time, or $15.64 per hour as a casual (including the 25% casual loading). The employer must also pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings.

Legal minimum for award-free 16-year-olds

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. For adults (21 and over) the rate from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. For juniors who are award-free, the Commission applies a percentage scale. A 16-year-old receives 47.3% of the adult rate, which works out to $12.51 per hour. If the 16-year-old is employed casually, the 25% casual loading brings the rate to $15.64 per hour. These rates apply to national-system employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces these rules.

It is important to note that the adult national minimum is not the floor for everyone. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates or supported wages can legally be paid less than $26.44 per hour. The award-free junior percentages are designed to reflect the lower experience and productivity typically expected of younger workers.

Award rates for 16-year-olds

Most 16-year-olds in Australia work in industries covered by a modern award, such as retail, hospitality, fast food, or hairdressing. Modern awards set their own junior rates, which are often higher than the award-free percentage. For example, the General Retail Industry Award 2020 has a junior rate for a 16-year-old that is a percentage of the adult retail employee level 1 rate. That percentage may be 45% or 50%, depending on the classification, but the actual dollar amount can be higher than $12.51 because the adult award rate itself is higher than the national minimum. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator is the best way to find the exact award rate for a specific job.

If a 16-year-old is covered by an award, the award rate is the legal minimum. The employer cannot pay less than the award rate, even if the award-free junior rate is lower. Enterprise agreements can also set rates, but they must not undercut the award.

Survey averages and negotiated salaries

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports average earnings for full-time adult employees, but there is no published survey average specifically for 16-year-olds. The ABS May 2026 figures show full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week and all employees average total earnings of $1,579.20 per week. These figures are not relevant to a 16-year-old’s pay, as they reflect adult workers. For a 16-year-old, the legal minimum is the floor; any negotiated salary would be above that floor, but the reference does not provide a typical market rate. If you are negotiating pay, remember that the award or award-free minimum is the starting point, and you can agree to a higher rate.

Super guarantee on top

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings for employees who earn $450 or more in a calendar month (from 1 July 2026, the $450 threshold is removed, so all employees get super). For a 16-year-old earning $12.51 per hour, the super contribution is an additional $1.50 per hour (12% of $12.51). This is paid directly into the employee’s super fund and is not deducted from the hourly wage.

How to check your rate

To find out which pay floor applies to you, start by checking if you are covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman website has a tool to help. If you are award-free, the junior percentage rates apply. You can also use the Rate tables on this site to see the current award-free junior rates. For more guidance on which minimum wage applies to your situation, see our Which minimum wage applies page.

FAQs

What is the minimum wage for a 16-year-old in Australia? The legal floor for a 16-year-old who is award-free and agreement-free is 47.3% of the adult national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, that equals $12.51 per hour for ordinary time, or $15.64 per hour as a casual (including the 25% casual loading). If the 16-year-old is covered by a modern award, the award’s junior rate applies, which may be higher than the award-free floor. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator can help determine the correct award rate.

Does a 16-year-old get casual loading? Yes, if the 16-year-old is employed as a casual and is award-free, the casual loading of 25% is applied on top of the ordinary junior rate. For a 16-year-old award-free casual, that gives $15.64 per hour. Under a modern award, casual loading may be included in the all-up rate or paid separately; check the specific award.

Are there higher rates under awards for 16-year-olds? Yes. Many modern awards (e.g., Retail, Hospitality, Fast Food) set their own junior rates as a percentage of the adult classification rate. These are often higher than the award-free percentage of 47.3%. For example, the Hospitality Award may set a higher rate for a 16-year-old. The award rate is the minimum that must be paid if the employee is covered by that award. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates.

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