What is the salary seek? Award coverage and the national minimum wage in Australia

What is the salary seek? Understanding pay floors in Australia

When you ask "what is the salary seek" you are trying to find the correct minimum pay rate for your job. In Australia, the answer depends on whether you are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are award-free. This article explains the legal minimums, how they differ, and how they compare to average earnings.

The national minimum wage: the legal floor

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year, and the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage for adult award-free employees is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on 38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. These are gross amounts before tax.

However, not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. The national minimum wage has special rates for:

• Junior employees (under 21): percentages of the adult rate. For example, a 16-year-old award-free junior earns $12.51 per hour (47.3%), and a 20-year-old earns $25.84 per hour (97.7%).
• Apprentices and trainees: rates based on the Miscellaneous Award.
• Employees with disability: rates may be a percentage of the national minimum.

Employers must also pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. So the total employment cost is higher than the base rate.

Award coverage: a higher floor for most

Most employees in Australia are covered by a modern award. Awards are legal documents that set minimum pay rates and conditions for specific industries or occupations. From 1 July 2026, minimum award wages increased by 4.75%, but with two important backstops:

• The lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot be below the national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week).
• Any introductory rate that applies only to the first 6 months of employment cannot be below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

Because award rates are generally higher than the national minimum, most award-covered employees earn more than the legal floor. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates, but they cannot undercut the relevant award.

Comparing award-free and award-covered rates

If you are award-free (not covered by any award or agreement), the national minimum wage applies. If you are covered by an award, you are entitled to the award rate for your classification. To know which applies, you need to check your industry or occupation. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool to help identify your award and calculate your minimum pay.

For example, a retail employee covered by the General Retail Industry Award will have a minimum rate higher than $26.44 per hour, depending on their level. An award-free administrative assistant, on the other hand, would receive the national minimum wage unless an enterprise agreement applies.

Average earnings as a benchmark

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average weekly earnings. In May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, and all employees average total earnings were $1,579.20 per week. These figures are much higher than the national minimum, reflecting that many workers earn above the floor due to experience, qualifications, or award rates.

Using this site's tools

To help you determine which pay floor applies, explore our Which minimum wage applies guide and Rate tables. These resources break down the national minimum, junior rates, and award backstops. Remember, the figures on this site are for orientation only and are not a pay determination or legal advice. Always check your award or agreement for the exact rate.

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