Minimum wage for 16 year old in Australia: legal floor and what to know

Minimum wage for 16 year old in Australia

If you are 16 years old and starting a job in Australia, the minimum wage you are entitled to depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or no award at all. This guide explains the legal floor for a 16-year-old award-free employee and how it compares with other pay arrangements.

Legal minimum for a 16-year-old award-free employee

The Fair Work Commission 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. However, junior employees (under 21) receive a percentage of that rate. For a 16-year-old, the percentage is 47.3%. This means:

• Ordinary time: $12.51 per hour
• Casual: $15.64 per hour (includes 25% casual loading)
• Weekly (ordinary): approximately $475.38 (38 hours)
• Weekly (casual): approximately $594.32 (38 hours)

Your employer must also pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of your ordinary time earnings. For a 16-year-old on the minimum, that adds about $1.50 per hour to your super fund.

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

How this compares with award rates

If your job is covered by a modern award, the award's minimum rates apply. Awards often have their own junior rates, which may be higher than the award-free percentages. For example, the General Retail Industry Award 2020 has a junior rate for a 16-year-old that is higher than the award-free floor. Always check the specific award for your industry using the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay tools.

Awards also have an introductory rate for the first six months of employment, which from 1 July 2026 is $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. However, this introductory rate applies only to adult employees; juniors still receive their age-based percentage of the award rate.

Enterprise agreements and negotiated salaries

Some employers have enterprise agreements that set pay rates above the award or national minimum. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, the agreement rate applies. You cannot be paid less than the legal minimum, but you can negotiate a higher salary if the employer agrees. For a 16-year-old, any negotiated rate must still comply with the junior percentage rules unless the agreement specifies otherwise.

What about apprentices and trainees?

If you are a 16-year-old apprentice or trainee, the junior percentages do not apply. Instead, your minimum wage is set by the Miscellaneous Award (for award-free employees) or by the relevant training contract. Apprentice and trainee rates are usually a percentage of the trade rate and increase as you progress through your training.

Superannuation and tax

As mentioned, super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid by your employer. For a 16-year-old, this is a valuable addition to your retirement savings. Tax is withheld by your employer based on the tax tables. If you earn less than the tax-free threshold ($18,200 for 2026-27), you may not owe income tax, but you still need to lodge a tax return. Medicare levy of 2% applies once your annual income exceeds $30,000, but low-income earners may receive a reduction.

Summary

The minimum wage for a 16-year-old award-free employee is $12.51 per hour ordinary time or $15.64 per hour casual. If you are covered by an award or agreement, check those documents for your correct rate. Always ensure your employer pays super on top of your wages. For more details, see our Rate tables and Guides.

Remember, this information is for orientation only and is not a pay determination or legal advice. If you have a dispute about your pay, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.