What is the minimum wage for a 20-year-old in Australia?

For award-free employees aged 20, the legal minimum is $25.84 per hour for ordinary time (97.7% of the adult national minimum of $26.44) and $32.30 per hour for casual work (including the 25% casual loading). These rates apply from 1 July 2026. If you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the rate may be higher.

Does a 20-year-old get the same minimum wage as an adult?

No. The adult national minimum of $26.44 per hour applies from age 21. For award-free employees aged 20, the rate is 97.7% of the adult rate, or $25.84 per hour. However, if you are covered by an award, the award may set a different junior rate. Always check your award or agreement first.

How much super does a 20-year-old get on the minimum wage?

Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a 20-year-old award-free employee earning $25.84 per hour, that adds about $3.10 per hour in super. Casual employees also receive super on their ordinary hours (excluding the casual loading). Super is paid into a nominated fund, not as cash.

Minimum Wage Australia 20 Year Old: Rate, Tax & Super Guide

For award-free employees aged 20, the legal minimum is $25.84 per hour ordinary time or $32.30 casual, with 12% super on top.

Minimum wage for a 20-year-old in Australia

If you are 20 years old and working in Australia, the legal minimum wage depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are award-free. This guide focuses on the national minimum wage for a 20-year-old who is not under an award or agreement, as set by the Fair Work Commission.

The legal floor for a 20-year-old award-free employee

From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on a 38-hour ordinary week). For award-free employees aged 20, the Fair Work Commission applies a junior percentage of 97.7%. This means the minimum hourly rate is $25.84 per hour for ordinary time, or $981.92 per week. If you work on a casual basis, you receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $32.30 per hour or $1,227.40 per week.

These rates are the legal minimum. Your employer must pay at least this amount, and super guarantee of 12% must be paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. The super is an additional payment to your super fund, not part of your take-home pay.

How does this compare to the adult rate?

The adult rate of $26.44 per hour applies from age 21. At age 20, you are just 2.3% below that, or about 60 cents less per hour. The junior percentages decrease for younger ages: for example, a 19-year-old gets 82.5% ($21.82/h) and an 18-year-old gets 68.3% ($18.06/h). The 20-year-old rate is the highest junior percentage before reaching the full adult rate at 21.

What if you are covered by an award or agreement?

Most employees in Australia are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. Awards often have their own junior rates, which may be higher or lower than the national minimum. The national minimum acts as a backstop: no award rate can fall below the national minimum for an adult, but for juniors the award may set a different percentage. Always check your award first. If you are unsure, the Fair Work Ombudsman provides free resources to help you find your correct pay.

Enterprise agreements can also set rates, but they must pass the better-off-overall test. If you are under an agreement, your rate cannot be less than what you would get under the relevant award.

Tax and Medicare on a 20-year-old minimum wage

Using the 2026-27 tax rates (resident with full tax-free threshold), a 20-year-old earning the award-free minimum of $25.84 per hour for 38 hours a week would have a gross annual income of about $51,058 (52 weeks). After tax and the Medicare levy (estimated at 2% once income exceeds $30,000), the weekly take-home pay would be roughly $830–$850, depending on the low-income tax offset. This is an estimate only; your actual tax may vary due to HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or other factors.

Super on top

Your employer must pay super guarantee of 12% on your ordinary time earnings. For a 20-year-old earning $25.84 per hour, that is an additional $3.10 per hour contributed to your super fund. Over a year, that adds about $6,127 to your super balance (before fees and taxes within the fund).

Where to get more information

Which minimum wage applies – a guide to finding your correct pay floor.
Rate tables – see the full junior and adult rates for award-free employees.

Important notes

The rates on this page apply to national-system employees who are award-free and agreement-free. Some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, may be covered by state awards. Apprentices and trainees have different rates under the Miscellaneous Award. This information is for orientation only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.

Summary

For a 20-year-old award-free employee in Australia, the minimum wage is $25.84 per hour ordinary or $32.30 casual, with 12% super on top. If you are covered by an award or agreement, check that document for your correct rate. The adult national minimum of $26.44 per hour applies from age 21.

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