Minimum wage for a 17-year-old in Australia
The national minimum wage for an adult employee from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week. That works out to about $52,255 a year. But for a 17-year-old, the rate is not that simple. Under the Fair Work system, junior rates apply. These are set as a percentage of the adult rate, and the exact percentage depends on the award or agreement that covers the job.
The on-site notes do not provide a precise figure for a 17-year-old under the National Minimum Wage order. However, it is common for junior rates to be around 60% of the adult rate for 16- and 17-year-olds under the national minimum wage. But this can vary. Many modern awards have their own junior rate schedules, and some enterprise agreements may set different percentages. The key point is that the minimum wage for a 17-year-old is not a single number—it moves off the national line depending on the applicable industrial instrument.
How the national line compares
The site's line is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That is the average pay for all full-time adults. The national minimum wage for an adult is about half of that. For a 17-year-old on a junior rate, the pay would be even lower—well below the national line. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. A 17-year-old working part-time or casual would likely earn less than these medians.
State differences
State full-time averages vary. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at about $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. These averages reflect the mix of industries and occupations in each state. A 17-year-old in a state with a higher average might still earn the same junior rate as one in a lower-average state if the same award applies. But state-specific awards can also set different junior rates. For instance, Western Australia has its own state industrial relations system for some employees, which may have different junior percentages. To see how your state compares, visit the States and territories page.
Awards and enterprise agreements
The national minimum wage is a safety net. Most employees are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement that sets higher minimum rates. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026. Many awards include junior rates that are a percentage of the adult award rate. For a 17-year-old, the percentage might be, for example, 60% or 70%, depending on the award. Enterprise agreements can also set their own junior rates, which may be higher or lower than the award. If no award or agreement applies, the National Minimum Wage order applies, which also has junior rates. The exact figure for a 17-year-old under that order is not published in the on-site notes, but it is typically a percentage of the adult rate.
Tax and take-home pay
A 17-year-old earning the junior minimum wage would likely fall into the lowest tax bracket. For 2026–27, the tax-free threshold is $18,200. Above that, the rate is 15% up to $45,000, then 30% up to $135,000. The Medicare levy of 2% also applies unless reduced. So a 17-year-old earning, say, $30,000 a year would pay about $1,770 in tax plus $600 Medicare levy, leaving about $27,630 after tax. That is well below the national full-time average after tax, which would be around $80,000 for an adult on the line.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average is calculated by the ABS from its Survey of Average Weekly Earnings, published twice a year for May and November. The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work after annual review. Junior rates are part of that review. For more detail on how these figures are determined, see How the figures are set.
Putting your salary on the line
If you are a 17-year-old working in Australia, you can use this site to see where your pay sits against the national full-time average. Remember that the line is for adult full-time ordinary-time earnings. Your pay as a junior part-time or casual worker will likely be below that line. But you can still compare your hourly rate to the adult minimum wage and to the average. Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see your position.
Summary
The minimum wage for a 17-year-old in Australia is not a fixed number. It depends on the award, agreement, or the National Minimum Wage order. The adult minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, but a 17-year-old typically receives a junior rate—often a percentage of that. State differences and award variations can move the figure further off the national line. Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to your job to know your correct minimum rate.