Does a 17 year old get casual loading?

Yes. If you are a casual employee, the minimum wage includes a 25% casual loading. For a 17-year-old award-free junior, that loading raises the hourly rate from $15.29 to $19.11 per hour. The loading is meant to compensate for not receiving paid leave such as annual leave or sick leave. Award-free casuals must receive this loading on top of the junior percentage.

Can a 17 year old be paid less than the adult minimum wage?

Yes, under certain circumstances. The adult national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies to employees 21 and over. For award-free employees under 21, the Fair Work Commission sets a percentage of the adult rate. A 17-year-old gets 57.8% of the adult rate. However, if a modern award or enterprise agreement can set a higher rate than the national minimum, and some awards have their own junior scales. Apprentices and trainees follow the Miscellaneous Award rates, not the junior percentages.

Minimum wage for 17 year old: junior rates, casual loading and legal floors

Q: What is the minimum wage for a 17 year old in Australia?

If you are 17 and not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage for a junior is 57.8% of the adult rate. From 1 July 2026 that equals $15.29 per hour for ordinary time, or $19.11 per hour as a casual (including the 25% casual loading). Your employer must also pay 12% super on top of your ordinary time earnings. If a modern award covers your job, check the award for its own junior rates – they may be higher.

For award-free 17-year-olds, the legal minimum is $15.29 per hour (ordinary) or $19.11 per hour (casual) from 1 July 2026, with 12% super on top.

Minimum wage for 17 year old: the legal floor and how it compares

If you are searching for the minimum wage for 17 year old in Australia, the answer depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are award-free. This guide explains the legal minimum, how it compares to other pay types, and what your employer must pay on top.

The legal minimum for award-free 17-year-olds

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage. For 17-year-old employees who are not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the minimum is 57.8% of the adult national minimum. From 1 July 2026, that works out to $15.29 per hour for ordinary time, or $19.11 per hour as a casual (including the 25% casual loading). The adult national minimum is $26.44 per hour. These rates apply to national-system employees – most private-sector workers are in the national system.

Your employer must also pay superannuation (super) on top of your ordinary time earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026. So if you earn $15.29 per hour, your employer contributes an extra $1.83 per hour to your super fund.

How the junior rate compares with other pay floors

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

Legal minimum (award-free): $15.29/h ordinary, $19.11/h casual for a 17-year-old.
Modern award rates: If your job is covered by a modern award, the award may set a higher minimum wage for juniors. For example, some awards have their own percentage scales or a minimum hourly rate that is higher than the national junior rate. Always check the relevant award first.
Enterprise agreement rates: A registered enterprise agreement can set a rate that is higher than the award or national minimum. It cannot be lower.
Survey averages: The ABS May 2026 survey shows 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 are market averages, not legal floors. A 17-year-old's pay is likely much lower than these averages.

Casual loading and penalties

If you are a casual employee, the 25% casual loading is included in the figures above. The loading is mandatory for award-free casuals. If you work under an award, the award may specify a different casual loading or penalty rates for weekend or public holiday work. Penalty rates are separate from the junior percentage and can increase your pay for unsocial hours.

When a modern award or agreement can set a higher rate

The national minimum wage is a safety net. If a modern award covers your job, the award's minimum rates apply – and they may be higher than the national junior rate. Similarly, an enterprise agreement can set a higher rate. Your employer cannot pay you less than the applicable award or agreement rate. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national junior rate is the floor.

Super and other payments

Super is paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. For a 17-year-old earning $15.29/h, that is an extra 12% ($1.83/h) into your super account. Super is not deducted from your pay; it is an employer contribution. Other payments like allowances (e.g., for tools, travel, or travel) may also apply under an award.

How to check your correct rate

Which minimum wage applies – use this guide to determine if you are in the national system.
Rate tables – see the full set of junior percentages and adult rates.

Important notes

The figures in this guide are for award-free national-system employees. State-system employees (some state public sector, local government, and some Western Australian sole traders) may have different rates.
Apprentices and trainees have their own rates under the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages.
The adult weekly national minimum is $1,004.90 per week (38 hours). Multiplying $26.44 by 38 gives $1,004.72 due to rounding; the published weekly figure is the official one.
This guide is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

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