What is the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for an adult award-free employee. Super guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings. These rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and apply to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.

Does my salary package super include the minimum wage?

No. The minimum wage is the base pay before super. Super guarantee is an additional payment your employer must make on top of your ordinary time earnings. When comparing your total salary package to the minimum, you should look at the base hourly or weekly rate, not the amount including super.

I'm on an award – can my rate be lower than $26.44 per hour?

Yes, if you are a junior, apprentice, trainee, or on an introductory rate. Modern awards may have lower rates for these categories. For example, the introductory rate under some awards is $25.74 per hour for the first six months. However, the ongoing adult classification in an award cannot be less than the national minimum wage. Always check your specific award using the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.

How to check your salary package super against the minimum wage

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, with 12% super guarantee paid on top.

Understanding your salary package super and the minimum wage

When you hear the term "salary package super", it usually refers to the total remuneration an employer offers, including the base salary plus the superannuation guarantee. But how do you know if that package meets the legal minimum? This guide explains the pay floor that applies to most Australian employees and how to check your hourly rate against it.

The legal minimum floor

Australia has a national minimum wage, set each year by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, the rate for an adult employee not covered by an award or registered agreement is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. This is the minimum gross pay before tax. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that this rate applies to award-free employees. However, most employees are covered by a modern award, which may set higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database shows the calculated minimum rates for each award classification, including allowances and penalty rates.

It is important to note that the national minimum wage is not a universal floor. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates can be paid less. For example, an award-free junior aged 16 is entitled to $12.51 per hour (47.3% of the adult rate), while a 20-year-old gets $25.84 per hour (97.7%). Apprentice and trainee rates for award-free employees follow the Miscellaneous Award. Always check your specific situation.

How super fits into your salary package

Super guarantee is an employer contribution paid on top of your ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of your qualifying earnings, with no maximum contribution base for most employees (the base is $270,830 annually for 2026-27). The Australian Taxation Office states that employers must pay super for each payday under the new Payday Super rules. This means your total salary package includes the base wage plus 12% super. However, when comparing your pay to the minimum wage, you should look at the base rate only. The minimum wage is the amount before super is added.

Comparing your hourly rate to the floor

To check if your salary package super meets the legal minimum, follow these steps:

Determine your coverage. Are you covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are you award-free? Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's online tools to find out.
Find the correct minimum rate. If award-free, the national minimum applies. If covered by an award, check the classification that matches your role and experience. Award rates increased by 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but introductory rates (limited to the first six months) cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.
Calculate your base hourly rate. Divide your weekly or annual base salary (excluding super) by the number of ordinary hours you work. For a full-time employee, the standard week is 38 hours.
Compare. If your base hourly rate is below the relevant minimum, your employer may be underpaying you. Remember that super is additional – your base rate must meet the minimum on its own.

For example, if you are an award-free adult earning a base salary of $55,000 per year, your weekly base pay is about $1,057.69 ($55,000 ÷ 52). Dividing by 38 hours gives $27.83 per hour, which is above the $26.44 minimum. Your employer must also pay 12% super on top, making your total package around $61,600.

Survey averages vs the minimum

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that in May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, and all employees averaged $1,579.20 per week. These figures are much higher than the minimum wage. They reflect the typical earnings across the workforce, not a legal requirement. Your salary package super may be above or below these averages depending on your industry, role, and experience.

Practical tips

Always check your pay slip to see your base hourly rate and the super contribution.
If you are on an award, the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool can calculate your exact minimum pay, including penalties and allowances.
Remember that enterprise agreements can set higher rates than the award or national minimum.
For more detailed rate tables, visit our Rate tables page. To understand how we calculate these figures, see How the figures work.

Final note

This guide provides general information only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. If you believe you are being underpaid, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for assistance.