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Australia's minimum wage: how it compares to the full-time average and what you take home

Australia's minimum wage is about $52,255 a year, roughly half the national full-time average of $108,352.

This sits $56,097 under the Australian full-time average, about 51.8% below the line. The closest full-time state average is Tasmania. It is off the left edge of the ruler. This close-up only covers full-time state averages.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$1,005 a week · $26.44 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $45,013 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Australia's minimum wage in 2026

Australia's minimum wage is the legal floor for pay. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work set it at $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums also increased by 4.75% on the same date. This figure is before tax and any deductions.

How it sits against the national full-time average

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. That means the minimum wage is roughly 48% of the average. The full-time median is lower at about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). So while the minimum wage is well below the average, it is also below the typical full-time worker's pay.

Men's full-time average is about $113,412, and women's is about $100,594. State averages range from about $96,008 in Tasmania to $119,090 in the Australian Capital Territory. The minimum wage is below every state average, though it is closest to Tasmania's figure.

What a resident takes home

For the 2026–27 financial year, the tax-free threshold is $18,200. On a minimum-wage salary of $52,255, you pay:

  • $0 on the first $18,200
  • 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
  • 30% on the remaining $7,255 ($2,176.50) Total income tax: about $6,197. The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, or about $1,045. Combined deductions are roughly $7,242, leaving a take-home of about $45,013 per year, or about $866 per week.

If you are eligible for the low-income tax offset or other offsets, your tax could be lower. The figures here are a basic sketch for a resident without dependants or other adjustments.

How the minimum wage is set

Fair Work reviews the national minimum wage each financial year. The 2026–27 increase of 4.75% also flowed through to award minimums. The rate applies to employees who are not covered by an enterprise agreement or a registered award. For award-covered workers, the minimum in their award may be higher.

Comparing with other benchmarks

The full-time average is the line on this site. You can place a salary on the line to see how any pay compares. The minimum wage sits well below that line. For context, the full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The minimum wage is about 58% of the all-employees median.

State averages also vary. For example, the New South Wales full-time average is about $109,658, Victoria about $106,137, Queensland about $106,064, South Australia about $102,450, Western Australia about $115,825, Tasmania about $96,008, the Northern Territory about $103,173, and the Australian Capital Territory about $119,090. The minimum wage is below all of these.

What the figures mean

The minimum wage is a floor, not a typical wage. Many workers earn above it, especially those covered by awards or agreements. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings figure is an average of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which pulls up higher salaries. The medians give a better sense of the middle.

For a detailed explanation of how the average, median, and minimum are calculated, see How the figures are set. You can also explore industry medians and job medians to see how different sectors compare.

Key points to remember

  • The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year.
  • The full-time average is $2,083.70 per week, about $108,352 per year.
  • After tax and Medicare, a minimum-wage earner takes home roughly $45,013 per year.
  • Award minimums also rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
  • The minimum wage is set by Fair Work, not the ABS or ATO.

If you want to see how your own salary compares, use the Place a salary on the line tool. It shows your weekly and hourly rate on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the full-time average.

Questions

What is Australia's minimum wage in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year based on a 38-hour week. This is set by Fair Work and applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Award minimums also rose by 4.75% from the same date.

How does the minimum wage compare to the full-time average?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The minimum wage is roughly 48% of that average. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

What is the take-home pay on the minimum wage after tax and Medicare?

For the 2026–27 financial year, a resident earning the minimum wage of $52,255 pays no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% on the next $26,800, and 30% on the remaining $7,255. That works out to about $6,197 in income tax. The Medicare levy adds 2% ($1,045). Total deductions are roughly $7,242, leaving a take-home pay of about $45,013 per year, or about $866 per week.

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