What is the Australian minimum wage?
The national minimum wage is the legal floor for pay in Australia. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work set it at $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a standard 38-hour week. That comes to about $52,255 a year before tax. This rate applies to employees who are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. Award minimums also rose by 4.75% from the same date.
How does the minimum wage compare to the full-time average?
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 puts the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year. That means the minimum wage is roughly half the full-time average. To put it another way, a full-time worker on the minimum earns about $56,000 less each year than the average full-time worker.
Medians tell a similar story
The ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for August 2025 gives a full-time median of about $90,532 and an all-employees median of about $74,100. The minimum wage sits well below both medians, confirming that it is the lowest rung on the pay ladder.
State and territory comparisons
Full-time average earnings vary across Australia. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. The lowest is Tasmania at about $96,008. In every state and territory, the national minimum wage of $52,255 is far below the local full-time average. For example, in New South Wales (average $109,658) the minimum is less than half, and even in Tasmania it is only about 54% of the state average.
For a detailed breakdown of averages by state, see our States and territories page.
Gender and the minimum wage
The national full-time average for men is about $113,412 and for women about $100,594. The minimum wage is the same for all genders, but because women are more likely to work in lower-paid industries and part-time roles, the gap between the minimum and the female average is narrower than for men. Still, the minimum wage is well below both averages.
Tax on the minimum wage
In 2026–27, the tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy adds 2%. On a minimum wage salary of $52,255, the estimated tax and Medicare levy come to about $7,417, leaving roughly $44,838 after tax. This is a rough guide; individual circumstances may vary.
How the figures are set
The national minimum wage is reviewed annually by Fair Work. The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November). The full-time average used on this site is from the May 2026 release. For more on how these numbers are compiled, see How the figures are set.
Putting your own salary on the line
If you want to see how your own pay compares to the national full-time average, you can Place a salary on the line and get a visual comparison. The tool shows your yearly, weekly, and hourly figures based on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the average.
Key takeaways
- The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44/hour, $1004.90/week, about $52,255/year.
- The full-time average is $108,352/year – roughly double the minimum.
- The minimum wage is also well below the full-time median ($90,532) and the all-employees median ($74,100).
- State averages range from about $96,008 (Tasmania) to $119,090 (ACT), all far above the minimum.
- After tax, a minimum wage earner takes home about $44,838.
Understanding where the minimum wage sits against the average helps put Australia's pay landscape in perspective. Whether you are an employee, employer, or policymaker, these figures are the foundation of wage discussions.