Minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Victoria
If you are an 18-year-old working in Victoria, your minimum pay depends on the award or agreement that covers your job. The precise figure for a general "minimum wage 18 year old victoria" is not in this index. The national minimum wage, set by Fair Work from 1 July 2026, applies to adult employees not covered by an award. For 18-year-olds, junior rates under awards are typically a percentage of the adult rate, and those percentages vary by industry and classification.
The national line
This site's line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, multiplied by 52). That figure is the benchmark for full-time workers across Australia. It is an average, not a minimum. The full-time median, from ABS Employee earnings, August 2025, is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage for adults is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. That is roughly half the full-time average.
Where Victoria sits
Victoria's full-time average is about $106,137 per year, or $2,041.10 per week. That is below the national average of $108,352. Other states and territories vary: New South Wales averages about $109,658, Queensland about $106,064, Western Australia about $115,825, and the Australian Capital Territory about $119,090. You can explore all state figures on the States and territories page, and a detailed breakdown for Victoria is on the Victoria page.
Why a state or an award can move the figure off the national line
Even within Victoria, pay can differ from the national line for several reasons. First, the state's industry mix matters. Victoria has a strong professional services and healthcare sector, which tends to pay above the national minimum but below the resources-driven averages of Western Australia. Second, award classifications set minimum rates that are often higher than the national minimum wage. For an 18-year-old, many awards specify a junior rate—for example, 60% to 80% of the adult rate, depending on age and years of experience. That means an 18-year-old in a retail award might earn less than the national minimum wage, because the junior rate is a fraction of the adult award rate, which itself may be above the national minimum. Conversely, some enterprise agreements or common law contracts may pay above the award.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which samples employers and captures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults. It is published twice a year, for May and November. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings survey, which is less frequent. The national minimum wage is set annually by Fair Work after reviewing economic conditions. Award rates, including junior percentages, are also determined by Fair Work through modern awards. For a precise minimum wage for an 18-year-old in a specific job in Victoria, you would need to identify the applicable award and check the pay rates on the Fair Work website. This index does not store those granular rates.
Comparing to the line
If you are an 18-year-old earning a junior rate under an award, your pay is likely below the national full-time average of $108,352. Even the adult national minimum wage of $52,255 is only about 48% of that average. Junior rates can be significantly lower. For example, a common retail award might pay an 18-year-old around $18–$20 per hour, which on a 38-hour week would be roughly $35,000–$40,000 per year—well below the line. However, many young workers are part-time or casual, and the line is a full-time benchmark. The site's chart will show where your entered salary sits relative to the national average, but without a specific award and classification, we cannot give a precise figure for "minimum wage 18 year old victoria."
Practical considerations
Employers must comply with the Fair Work Act. If no award covers the job, the national minimum wage applies, but for juniors there is no separate national minimum—the adult rate is the floor. Most junior employees are covered by an award that includes a junior rate. The ATO's tax tables for 2026–27 apply the resident tax rates: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy. An 18-year-old earning a junior wage would likely fall into the first two brackets, so tax is minimal.
Summary
The precise minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Victoria is not in this index. The national full-time average line is $108,352 per year. Victoria's average is $106,137. The national minimum wage for adults is $52,255. Junior rates under awards are lower and vary widely. To see how any salary compares, use the Place a salary on the line tool. For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set.