Minimum Wage Australia 2026-27 $26.44 an hour, and what you take home
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026, with take-home pay by hours worked, the casual rate and junior rates, all computed from the Fair Work Commission's order.
Last updated 26 October 2026
What is the minimum wage in Australia?
From 1 July 2026, Australia's National Minimum Wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week ($52,255 a year before tax). That is 6.0% more than the $948.00 a week paid from 1 July 2025. After PAYG tax, a full-time adult takes home about $865.90 a week, and the employer pays $120.59 a week of super on top. Casual employees with no award or agreement get a 25% loading, $33.05 an hour.
Source: National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (PR799279), after the Fair Work Commission's decision [2026] FWCFB 3500 of 2 June 2026. Read 26 October 2026.
Minimum wage after tax: take-home pay by hours (2026-27)
Weekly pay at the National Minimum Wage, with PAYG tax withheld for a resident who claims the tax-free threshold and has no study loan. Super is the employer's 12% super guarantee, paid on top of your wage.
| Hours / week | Gross | PAYG tax | Take-home | Super |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $264.40 | $0.00 | $264.40 | $31.73 |
| 15 | $396.60 | $5.00 | $391.60 | $47.59 |
| 20 | $528.80 | $25.00 | $503.80 | $63.46 |
| 25 | $661.00 | $57.00 | $604.00 | $79.32 |
| 30 | $793.20 | $81.00 | $712.20 | $95.18 |
| 38 (full time) | $1,004.90 | $139.00 | $865.90 | $120.59 |
PAYG: ATO Schedule 1, scale 2, for payments from 1 July 2026. Your own payslip can differ with HELP debt, salary sacrifice or a second job; the Australian pay calculator handles those.
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Full-time take-home
$865.90 / wk
Employer super
$120.59 / wk
Minimum wage increase 2026: from $24.95 to $26.44
On 2 June 2026 the Fair Work Commission's Expert Panel set the National Minimum Wage at $1,004.90 a week, up $56.90 (6.0%). Modern award minimum wages rose by 4.8%, with two floors: no award rate for ongoing employment can be below $1,004.90 a week, and an entry-level rate for the first 6 months or less must be at least $978.10 ($25.74 an hour). The new rates start from the first full pay period beginning on or after 1 July 2026.
| National Minimum Wage | Per hour | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 1 July 2025 | $24.95 | $948.00 | $49,296 |
| From 1 July 2026 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $52,255 |
Casual minimum wage: $33.05 an hour
A casual employee with no award or agreement gets the National Minimum Wage plus a 25% casual loading: $26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 an hour. The loading is paid instead of paid leave, such as annual leave and personal leave. A casual covered by an award gets that award's casual rate, which also includes its own loading.
Junior minimum wage rates by age
Juniors with no award or agreement are paid a set share of the adult National Minimum Wage. Awards with junior rates, such as the retail, fast food and hospitality awards, set their own percentages of the award rate.
| Age | % of adult rate | Per hour | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 36.8% | $9.73 | $369.80 |
| 16 | 47.3% | $12.51 | $475.32 |
| 17 | 57.8% | $15.28 | $580.83 |
| 18 | 68.3% | $18.06 | $686.35 |
| 19 | 82.5% | $21.81 | $829.04 |
| 20 | 97.7% | $25.83 | $981.79 |
Percentages: special national minimum wage 3, clause 8.2 of the order. Dollar amounts are computed from those percentages; the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides are the reference for any rounding.
Minimum wage questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, Australia's National Minimum Wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week ($52,255 a year before tax). That is 6.0% more than the $948.00 a week paid from 1 July 2025. After PAYG tax, a full-time adult takes home about $865.90 a week, and the employer pays $120.59 a week of super on top. Casual employees with no award or agreement get a 25% loading, $33.05 an hour.
How much did the minimum wage increase in 2026?
The National Minimum Wage rose by $56.90 a week, from $948.00 ($24.95 an hour) to $1,004.90 ($26.44 an hour), an increase of 6.0%. Modern award minimum wages rose by 4.8%, but no award rate for ongoing work can be below the National Minimum Wage. The Fair Work Commission decided this on 2 June 2026 ([2026] FWCFB 3500).
What is the minimum wage after tax in Australia?
A full-time adult on the minimum wage earns $1,004.90 a week. With the tax-free threshold claimed, PAYG withholding is $139.00, so take-home pay is about $865.90 a week. Over a full year the income tax and Medicare levy come to about $7,025, leaving roughly $45,229.
Does the minimum wage apply to me if I am covered by an award?
If a modern award covers you, the award sets your minimum pay, which is often higher than the National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage itself applies to employees with no award or agreement. Award entry-level rates for the first 6 months can be as low as $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week). The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool shows the rate for your award.
What is the minimum wage for under 18s in Australia?
Junior rates depend on the award. For juniors with no award or agreement, the order sets a share of the adult rate: under 16: 36.8%, 16: 47.3%, 17: 57.8%, 18: 68.3%, 19: 82.5%, 20: 97.7%. At 17, for example, that is $15.28 an hour.
When does the minimum wage go up next?
The Fair Work Commission reviews minimum wages every year. Its decision usually comes out in early June, and the new rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July. The next change is expected from 1 July 2027.
How does your pay compare? See the average salary by age in Australia and the average salary by industry. Sources: National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (Fair Work Commission) and the Fair Work Ombudsman. This is general information, not advice; your award or agreement may set a higher rate.
