What is the current minimum wage in Australia for adults?

From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. These rates apply to award-free and agreement-free employees in the national system.

Do all workers receive this minimum wage?

No. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on supported wages may be paid less. Modern awards and enterprise agreements can also set higher rates. The national minimum is a floor, not a guarantee for every worker.

Is superannuation included in the minimum wage?

No. The superannuation guarantee (currently 12%) is paid by the employer on top of ordinary time earnings. It is not deducted from the minimum wage and is an additional benefit for the employee's retirement savings.

What Is the Current Minimum Wage in Australia? The Weekly Packet: Tax, Medicare and Super on Top

The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, with superannuation guarantee of 12% paid on top by the employer.

What Is the Current Minimum Wage in Australia?

The current minimum wage in Australia is set by the Fair Work Commission and takes effect from 1 July 2026. For adult employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week based on a 38-hour ordinary week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing their minimum to $33.05 per hour or $1,255.90 per week. These rates are the legal floor for national-system employees.

Employers must also pay the superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a full-time worker on the minimum wage, that adds about $120.59 per week to their super fund.

The Legal Minimum vs Other Pay Benchmarks

The National Minimum Wage

The Fair Work Commission reviews and sets the national minimum wage each year. The 2026–27 rate is $26.44 per hour. This is the minimum that must be paid to an adult employee who is award-free and agreement-free. It applies to most private-sector employees in the national system. Some state public sector and local government employees, and some Western Australian sole traders and partnerships, are covered by state awards instead.

Important exceptions exist. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on supported wages can be paid less. For award-free juniors, the rates range from 36.8% of the adult rate for under-16s ($9.73 per hour) up to 97.7% for 20-year-olds ($25.84 per hour). Apprentice and trainee rates for award-free employees follow the Miscellaneous Award, not the junior percentages.

Award Rates and Enterprise Agreements

A modern award or enterprise agreement can require a higher rate than the national minimum. The award backstop ensures that the lowest ongoing classification in an award cannot fall below $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Introductory rates (limited to the first six months) cannot be less than $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. If you are covered by an award, your minimum pay is set by that award, not the national minimum.

Survey Averages

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in May 2026 that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. All employees (including part-time and casual) averaged $1,579.20 per week. These are averages, not minimums. Many workers earn well above the national minimum, especially in skilled roles or under enterprise agreements.

Negotiated Salaries

Employees who are award-free and agreement-free can negotiate a salary above the national minimum. The legal floor is $26.44 per hour, but there is no upper limit. A negotiated salary may include loadings, allowances, or other benefits, but it must always meet or exceed the minimum.

The Weekly Packet: Tax, Medicare and Super on Top

Gross to Net

On a weekly gross of $1,004.90, annualised that is about $52,255. Using 2026–27 resident tax rates with the full tax-free threshold, and estimating Medicare at 2% (once annualised ordinary gross exceeds $30,000), the approximate weekly deductions are:

Income tax: roughly $124 per week (based on 19% on earnings above $18,200)
Medicare levy: about $20 per week
Net take-home pay: approximately $860 per week

These figures exclude the low income tax offset, HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge. Your actual net pay may differ.

Superannuation Guarantee

The super guarantee is paid by the employer on top of your ordinary time earnings. For a minimum-wage worker, that is an extra $120.59 per week contributed to your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an additional cost to the employer and a benefit for your retirement.

Casual Loading

Casual employees receive a 25% loading instead of paid leave entitlements. On the national minimum, that means $33.05 per hour, or $1,255.90 per week. After tax and Medicare, the net weekly pay would be higher than for a permanent employee, but casuals do not receive sick leave or annual leave.

Important Exceptions

Not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees with disability on supported wages have lower minimum rates. Always check your award or agreement first. If you are award-free, the national minimum applies, but junior rates are set by age (see the full table on our Rate tables page).

For more details on which pay floor applies to you, see Which minimum wage applies or How the figures work.

Summary

The current minimum wage in Australia from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for adults. Super is paid on top. Awards and agreements can set higher rates. Juniors and other categories may be paid less. Always verify your specific situation with the Fair Work Ombudsman or a qualified adviser.