Australian minimum wage and the national average
The Australian minimum wage is the legal floor for most employees. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work sets it at $26.44 an hour, $1004.9 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, is $2083.7 a week, about $108,352 a year. That is the line on this site. The minimum wage sits well below that line. But many factors can move a person's pay above or below the average.
How the minimum wage compares
The national minimum wage is roughly half the full-time average. The full-time median, from ABS Employee earnings, August 2025, is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The minimum wage is below both medians. Award minimums rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but still leave many workers below the average. The gender pay gap also shows: men's full-time average is about $113,412, women's about $100,594. The minimum wage applies equally, but women are more likely to be in part-time or lower-paid roles.
What moves pay above the average
Several factors push pay above the national average. Occupation is key. Some jobs, like managers or professionals, have high medians. You can see job medians on the Job medians page. Industry also matters: mining and finance tend to pay above average, while retail and hospitality pay below. See Industry medians. Location is another factor. State full-time averages vary widely. The Australian Capital Territory leads at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. New South Wales is about $109,658, Victoria $106,137, Queensland $106,064, South Australia $102,450, Northern Territory $103,173, and Tasmania $96,008. Working in a high-paying state or territory can lift your pay above the national average. Full-time work itself is a factor: the all-employees median is lower because it includes part-time workers. If you work full-time in a high-paying industry and state, you are likely above the average.
What moves pay below the average
Conversely, part-time work, lower-paying industries, and certain states push pay below the average. The all-employees median of $74,100 shows that many workers earn less than the full-time average. The minimum wage is the floor, but many award rates are only slightly above it. Tasmania's full-time average is about $96,008, below the national average. South Australia and the Northern Territory are also below. The gender pay gap means women's average is lower. If you work in retail, hospitality, or agriculture, your pay is likely below the average. The States and territories page shows how location affects pay. Also, the Guides page has more on industry comparisons.
Tax and take-home pay
The ATO's resident tax rates for 2026–27 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 is 2% before reductions. A minimum wage earner on $52,255 would pay about $5,092 in tax plus Medicare, leaving about $47,163 after tax. That is well below the after-tax income of someone on the average. The How the figures are set page explains how the averages are calculated.
Conclusion
The Australian minimum wage is a safety net, but it is far below the national full-time average. To see where your own pay sits against the line, use the Place a salary on the line tool. Whether you are above or below the average depends on your job, industry, state, and whether you work full-time. The ABS and Fair Work provide the official figures. Use the About this site page for more details.