Where the national line sits
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as its benchmark. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025). Men’s full-time average is about $113,412; women’s about $100,594.
Against these figures, the national minimum wage for an adult (21 and over) from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. That is roughly 48% of the full-time average. But for an 18-year-old, the picture is different.
Junior rates under awards
Fair Work does not set a single national minimum wage for 18-year-olds. Instead, most modern awards include junior rates, which are a percentage of the adult minimum wage. The percentage depends on the award and the employee’s age. For example, under the General Retail Industry Award, an 18-year-old might receive 80% of the adult rate, while under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, the rate could be 70% for a level 1 employee. These percentages can vary by classification and by state if a state award still applies (though most are now national).
Because the exact figure is not published as a single national number, we cannot give a precise dollar amount for all 18-year-olds. However, using a typical 75% junior rate, the weekly pay would be about $753.68, or about $39,191 a year. That is about 36% of the national full-time average. The gap is substantial.
State differences in full-time averages
While the minimum wage is set nationally, the average full-time earnings in each state can shift how an 18-year-old’s pay compares. For instance, the full-time average in New South Wales is about $109,658, in Victoria about $106,137, in Queensland about $106,064, in South Australia about $102,450, in Western Australia about $115,825, in Tasmania about $96,008, in the Northern Territory about $103,173, and in the Australian Capital Territory about $119,090. An 18-year-old on a junior minimum wage in a high-average state like the ACT will be even further below the state average than in a lower-average state like Tasmania.
See the States and territories page for a full breakdown of how each region compares to the national line.
How awards move the figure
The award that covers an 18-year-old’s job can change their minimum pay significantly. Some awards have higher junior percentages or different age thresholds. For example, the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 sets 18-year-olds at 80% of the adult rate in some classifications, while the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 sets 18-year-olds at 70% for the first year of employment. The specific award also determines penalty rates, overtime, and allowances, which can boost actual earnings above the minimum.
To see how different occupations compare, visit the Job medians page, which shows median earnings for various roles. Note that medians are different from minimums; they reflect what typical workers earn, including those with experience.
The role of the tax system
An 18-year-old earning around $39,000 a year would fall into the 15% tax bracket (2026–27 rates: nil to $18,200, 15% to $45,000) plus the 2% Medicare levy. After tax, take-home pay would be roughly $33,000–$34,000, depending on the exact income and any tax offsets. The ATO sets these rates, but the site does not calculate after-tax amounts.
Why the line matters
The national full-time average line is a useful benchmark, but it represents the typical earnings of all full-time adults. For an 18-year-old, especially one on a junior minimum wage, the distance from the line is large. However, many young workers are not in full-time employment; they may be part-time or casual, which changes the comparison. The site’s tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and shows the week and hour on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the full-time average. It does not adjust for junior rates or part-time hours, so users should enter their actual salary to see where they stand.
For more on how the figures are set, see the How the figures are set page. It explains the sources: the ABS for averages and medians, Fair Work for minimum wages, and the ATO for tax.
Summary
There is no single minimum wage for an 18-year-old in Australia. The adult national minimum wage is $52,255 a year, but junior rates under awards typically reduce that by 20–30%. State averages vary, but the award that applies is the main driver of an 18-year-old’s minimum pay. Compared to the national full-time average of $108,352, an 18-year-old on a junior rate will likely earn less than half that amount. The distance from the line depends on the specific award, state, and hours worked.