Minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia
When you ask about the minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia, the answer is not as straightforward as a single dollar figure. Unlike the adult national minimum wage, which Fair Work sets each financial year, junior rates depend on the award or enterprise agreement that covers the job. This page explains how the pay for an 18-year-old on the minimum wage sits against the national full-time average, using the most recent public data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Fair Work.
The adult minimum wage as a benchmark
From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage for an adult employee is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week. That works out to about $52,255 per year before tax. This figure comes from Fair Work and is the floor for all employees not covered by an award or agreement. For an 18-year-old, however, the rate is almost always lower because junior rates apply.
Where the full-time average sits
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That is the line on this site. The adult minimum wage is roughly 48% of that average. For an 18-year-old on a junior rate, the gap is wider.
Junior rates: what the data shows
Fair Work does not publish a single national junior rate. Instead, each modern award sets a percentage of the adult rate for employees under 21. For an 18-year-old, common percentages range from 70% to 80% of the adult minimum wage, depending on the award. Some awards may have a higher percentage for 18-year-olds, and some enterprise agreements may set a flat rate above the minimum.
Because the exact figure varies, we cannot give a precise annual salary for an 18-year-old on the minimum wage. However, using a typical 75% rate as an illustration, the hourly pay would be about $19.83, the weekly pay about $753.68, and the annual pay about $39,191. That is roughly 36% of the full-time average of $108,352. Even at the highest common junior rate (80%), the annual pay would be about $41,804, still well below the average line.
How this compares across states
The full-time average differs by state and territory. For example, the ACT has the highest average at about $119,090, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. An 18-year-old on a junior minimum wage would fall even further behind the average in higher-paying states. You can see the state-by-state breakdown on the States and territories page.
Medians and the minimum wage
The ABS Employee Earnings data for August 2025 gives a full-time median of about $90,532 and an all-employees median of about $74,100. The adult minimum wage is about 58% of the full-time median. For an 18-year-old on a junior rate, the proportion would be lower. Medians show what the typical worker earns, while the minimum wage is the legal floor. The gap between the two is significant for young workers.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident 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 that. The Medicare levy of 2% applies before any reductions. An 18-year-old earning around $39,191 would pay about $3,149 in tax plus $784 in Medicare levy, leaving a take-home pay of about $35,258. That is before any tax offsets or deductions. The Guides section has more on how tax affects different salary levels.
Why the rate matters
Understanding where the minimum wage for an 18-year-old sits against the full-time average helps young workers and employers gauge whether pay is fair and competitive. It also matters for budgeting, superannuation, and negotiating future pay rises. The adult minimum wage is already low relative to the average, and junior rates are lower still.
Where to find the exact rate
To find the precise minimum wage for an 18-year-old in a specific job, you need to check the relevant modern award on the Fair Work website. The award will list the junior percentage for each age. If no award applies, the national minimum wage for adults is the floor, but junior rates may still be set by agreement. The How the figures are set page explains the sources and methodology behind the numbers on this site.
Summary
The minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia is not a single published figure. It depends on the award or agreement. The adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, and the full-time average is $108,352 per year. Junior rates are lower, meaning an 18-year-old on the minimum wage earns well below the average line. For a typical 75% junior rate, the annual pay would be about $39,191, which is roughly 36% of the average. Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see how any salary compares to the national full-time average.