What is the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026?

The Fair Work Commission set it at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, for award-free employees. Casual employees get a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour.

Do I have to be paid $26.44 per hour?

Not necessarily. If you are covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the rate in that document applies, which may be higher. Juniors, apprentices, and trainees can be paid less. Check your award or agreement.

How does super affect my pay?

Super is an extra payment from your employer on top of your salary, not deducted from your pay. For 2026-27, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So on the national minimum, your employer pays an additional $120.59 per week into your super fund.

Smart salary log in: Understanding your minimum wage and take-home pay

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, with super on top, but many workers are covered by higher award rates.

Smart salary log in and your pay floor

If you use a smart salary log in to manage your pay, you might see a figure that looks different from the legal minimum. This guide is not the sign-in page; we do not collect passwords or tax file numbers. Instead, we explain how the national minimum wage, award rates, and enterprise agreements set your pay floor, and what that means for your weekly packet after tax and super.

The legal minimum wage

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 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour ordinary week, as the Fair Work Ombudsman explains. This applies to employees who are not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help you check if an award applies.

However, not every worker must receive $26.44 an hour. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and those on introductory award rates may be paid less. For award-free juniors, the rates are a percentage of the national minimum: for example, a 16-year-old gets $12.51 per hour, casual $15.64. The full table is in our Rate tables.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

Most employees are covered by a modern award. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but the lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below the national minimum of $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates limited to the first six months must be at least $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate than the award. Always check your award or agreement for the correct minimum.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides downloadable Pay guides that summarise minimum pay rates under each award. The Fair Work Commission’s National Minimum Wage Order 2026 contains the full legal details. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, the base pay rate cannot be less than the relevant award rate.

Super, tax, and your take-home pay

Superannuation is an employer payment on top of your ordinary time earnings. The super guarantee is 12% from 2026-27. For a worker on the national minimum earning $1,004.90 per week, the employer pays an extra $120.59 into your super fund. Tax and Medicare are withheld from your gross pay. For 2026-27, a full-time worker on the national minimum would have an annualised ordinary gross of about $52,254.80. After estimated tax and Medicare (2% once over $30,000), the weekly take-home is lower. Use the ATO’s tax tables for exact figures.

Remember, the national minimum is a floor. Your actual pay may be higher if you are covered by an award, agreement, or if you earn above the minimum. The ABS May 2026 survey reported full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, more than double the national minimum. The average total earnings for all employees was $1,579.20 per week.

How the figures work

This site uses official sources: the Fair Work Commission for the national minimum wage, the Fair Work Ombudsman for award rates, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics for average earnings. Our How the figures work page explains rounding and calculations. For more topics, see Topics.

A note on casual loading

Casual employees covered by the national minimum receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Award-free casuals may also get a loading under the award. Always check your specific arrangement.

Summary

When you use a smart salary log in, compare the amount shown to the legal minimum for your classification. If it is below the national minimum, you may be underpaid. If it is above, it could be correct if it matches your award or agreement. Always seek advice from the Fair Work Ombudsman if unsure.