I’m covered by a modern award. Does the national minimum wage still apply to me?

No. If a modern award covers your job, the minimum pay rates in that award apply instead of the national minimum wage. Award rates are often higher, and they include penalties and allowances. You can check your award using the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool.

What is the casual loading and how does it work?

Casual employees covered by the national minimum wage receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026. This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements. Award-covered casuals may have a different loading, often 25% as well, but always check the specific award.

I’m under 21 and not covered by an award. What is my minimum wage?

Award-free junior employees are entitled to a percentage of the adult national minimum wage based on age. For example, a 17-year-old gets 57.8% ($15.29 per hour), and a 20-year-old gets 97.7% ($25.84 per hour). These rates also attract the 25% casual loading if employed casually. The full junior percentage table is available on the Fair Work Commission’s website.

Salary Seeker’s Guide to Australia’s Minimum Wage Floor in 2026-27

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage for award-free adult employees is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, with a 25% casual loading taking the casual rate to $33.05 per hour.

What a salary seeker needs to know about Australia’s minimum wage

If you are a salary seeker – whether you are looking at a new job offer, reviewing your current pay, or negotiating a raise – the first question is always: what is the legal minimum I must be paid? Australia’s pay system has several layers, and the answer depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or none of those. This guide explains the national minimum wage, how it compares with award rates and average earnings, and what extra payments like superannuation you should expect.

The national minimum wage: the ultimate floor

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the rate for an adult employee not covered by an award or agreement is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 ordinary hours. This is the minimum before tax. On top of that, your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary time earnings into a super fund – that is an extra employer cost, not part of your take-home pay.

If you work casually and are award-free, you are entitled to a 25% casual loading, bringing the minimum casual rate to $33.05 per hour. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that this loading compensates for the lack of paid leave such as annual and sick leave.

Award and agreement rates: often higher

Most Australian employees are covered by a modern award. Awards set minimum pay rates for specific industries and occupations, and those rates are almost always higher than the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Some awards have introductory rates for the first six months – those cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

If you work under an enterprise agreement, the base pay rate in that agreement must be at least as high as the relevant award rate. A salary seeker should always check whether an award or agreement covers their job before assuming the national minimum applies. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool to find your award and its exact rates.

Junior, apprentice, and supported wage rates

The national minimum wage is for adult employees aged 21 and over. Award-free juniors (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate. For example:

Under 16: 36.8% = $9.73 per hour (casual $12.16)
17 years: 57.8% = $15.29 per hour (casual $19.11)
20 years: 97.7% = $25.84 per hour (casual $32.30)

Apprentices and trainees who are award-free follow the rates in the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages. Employees with a disability that affects productivity may be paid a proportion of the national minimum wage under a supported wage system. These special rates are set by the Fair Work Commission.

How your pay compares with the average

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, and all employees (including part-time and casual) averaged $1,579.20 per week in total earnings. The national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week is well below these averages, which is expected – the minimum is a floor, not a target. Most salary seekers will be paid above the minimum under an award or through negotiation. However, if your hourly rate is below $26.44 (or the relevant award rate), you may be underpaid.

Superannuation: an extra 12% on top

Remember that super is an employer contribution on top of your gross pay. From 1 July 2026, employers must pay super at the same time as wages (payday super). For a salary seeker comparing offers, the total remuneration includes both the cash wage and the super guarantee. For example, an award-free adult on the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week would also receive $120.59 in super, making total employment cost $1,125.49 per week.

Check your entitlements

To find out which minimum applies to you, start with our guide on Which minimum wage applies. Then compare your rate using our Rate tables which show the national minimum, junior percentages, and casual loadings. If you are covered by an award, the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website has pay guides and a calculator. The Fair Work Commission publishes the National Minimum Wage Order each year.

This site provides orientation only. It is not a pay determination, tax advice, or legal advice. Always refer to the official sources or seek professional advice for your specific situation.

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