Is $26.44 per hour the minimum for every worker in Australia?

No. The $26.44 per hour adult national minimum applies to award-free and agreement-free employees aged 21 and over. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and workers on introductory award rates can be paid less. For example, a 17-year-old award-free junior receives $15.29 per hour (57.8% of the adult rate). Modern awards and enterprise agreements may set higher minimums.

How does casual loading affect the minimum wage Australia per hour?

Casual employees covered by the national minimum wage receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate. From 1 July 2026, that means $33.05 per hour instead of $26.44. The loading compensates for not receiving paid leave entitlements like sick leave and annual leave. Casual rates under awards may differ.

What is the difference between the national minimum wage and award minimum wages?

The national minimum wage is the legal floor for award-free employees. Modern awards set higher minimums for specific industries and occupations. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, award minimum wages rise by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below $26.44 per hour. Introductory award rates (first 6 months) are capped at $25.74 per hour.

Minimum wage Australia per hour: the national floor and how it works in 2026-27

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, with casual loading of 25% bringing it to $33.05 per hour.

Understanding the minimum wage Australia per hour

The phrase "minimum wage Australia per hour" refers to the lowest hourly rate most employees can legally be paid. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. This figure applies to national-system employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement.

It is important to separate the legal minimum from other pay concepts:

Legal minimum: the floor set by the Fair Work Commission, enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Award rate: a higher minimum set by a modern award for a specific job or industry.
Enterprise agreement rate: a negotiated rate that must be at least the award or national minimum.
Survey average: the ABS reports average weekly earnings, which are much higher than the minimum. In May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week.

Who gets the $26.44 per hour?

The adult national minimum applies to employees aged 21 and over who are award-free and agreement-free. Most private-sector employees are in the national system, but some state public sector and local government employees may be covered by state awards. A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum.

Not everyone receives $26.44 per hour. Lower rates apply for:

Juniors (age-based percentages)
Apprentices and trainees (rates follow the Miscellaneous Award)
Introductory award rates (first 6 months at $25.74 per hour)
Supported wages for employees with disability

For award-free juniors, the hourly rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Under 16: $9.73 (casual $12.16)
16: $12.51 (casual $15.64)
17: $15.29 (casual $19.11)
18: $18.06 (casual $22.58)
19: $21.82 (casual $27.28)
20: $25.84 (casual $32.30)
21 and over: $26.44 (casual $33.05)

Casual loading and the hourly rate

Casual employees under the national minimum wage receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This brings the casual minimum to $33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026. The loading compensates for not receiving paid leave. Casual rates under awards may be different, but must still meet the national minimum floor.

Superannuation is on top

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee (super) on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%. This means for an employee earning $26.44 per hour, the employer also contributes an additional $3.17 per hour into the employee's super fund. Super is not part of the hourly wage; it is an extra payment.

How the minimum wage compares

The chart above shows the casual minimum wage ($33.05 per hour) compared to the adult national minimum floor ($26.44 per hour). The 25% loading is a clear difference. For award-covered employees, the hourly rate may be higher still. The ABS average full-time ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week (about $54.83 per hour based on a 38-hour week) shows how far above the floor many workers are.

Award backstop and introductory rates

Modern award minimum wages also rose by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. However, the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum of $26.44 per hour. An introductory rate, limited to the first 6 months of employment, cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

Need more detail?

Which minimum wage applies – find out if you are covered by the national minimum or an award.
Rate tables – see full hourly and weekly figures for juniors, casuals, and award classifications.
Guides – understand how to calculate your correct pay.
How the figures work – learn about rounding and the order of calculations.
About this site – our independent approach.
Topics – explore related subjects like penalty rates and overtime.

Important notes

This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. The adult weekly national minimum is the published $1,004.90 figure. Multiplying $26.44 by 38 lands 18 cents lower because of rounding in the order. Casual weekly figures on this site are the published casual hourly rate times 38 ordinary hours, with no penalty rates.

Always check your award or agreement for the exact rate that applies to you. If you are unsure, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free advice.