Understanding the Minimum Wage in Australia
When people search for "minimum wage australia 2025", they often want to know the legal minimum pay rate and how it compares to what most full-time workers earn. This page uses the most recent official figures from Fair Work and the ABS to show you where the minimum wage sits against the national full-time average.
The Minimum Wage as a Year, a Week, and an Hour
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour. For a standard 38-hour week, that works out to $1,004.9 per week, or about $52,255 per year before tax. This is the figure set by Fair Work and applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.
If you are looking for the 2025 minimum wage, the on-site notes do not include that exact figure. The Fair Work Commission reviews the minimum wage each financial year, and the 2026 rate is the most recent published here. The 2025 rate was set in June 2025, but it is not available in this data set.
How the Minimum Wage Compares to the Full-Time Average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.7 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That means the minimum wage is roughly 48% of the full-time average. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), so the minimum wage is about 58% of the median full-time salary.
For context, the all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100 per year. The minimum wage is about 70% of that figure.
State-by-State Full-Time Averages
Full-time average earnings vary across Australia. Here are the state full-time averages from the ABS (May 2026):
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
These are averages, not minimums. The national minimum wage applies uniformly across all states and territories, but award rates may differ by industry.
Men's and Women's Full-Time Averages
The ABS also publishes average earnings by gender. Men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 per year, while women's is about $100,594 per year. The minimum wage is below both averages, but it is a floor that applies equally to all workers.
Tax on the Minimum Wage
For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% on income above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). On a minimum wage salary of about $52,255, the tax would be roughly $5,092 plus Medicare, but this is an estimate. Use the ATO's tax calculator for a precise figure.
How the Figures Are Set
The national minimum wage is set by the Fair Work Commission each year after reviewing submissions from unions, employers, and the government. The ABS collects Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November) from a survey of employers. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which is published less frequently.
To see how your own salary compares, you can place a salary on the line and see where it sits against the full-time average. For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see how the figures are set.
Why the Minimum Wage Matters
The minimum wage is a safety net for low-paid workers. It ensures that full-time employees earn at least a basic living wage. However, many workers are covered by awards that set higher minimum rates for their industry or occupation. The national minimum wage is the floor below which no employee can be paid (except for some exemptions like trainees).
Common Questions About the Minimum Wage
People often ask whether the minimum wage is enough to live on. That depends on your location, housing costs, and family situation. The minimum wage is about half the full-time average, so it is well below what most full-time workers earn. But it is a legal minimum, not a target salary.
Another common question is how the minimum wage changes each year. The Fair Work Commission typically announces the new rate in June, effective from 1 July. The 2026 increase was 4.75% for award minimums, and the national minimum wage rose by the same percentage from the previous year.
Using This Site
This site compares any salary to the national full-time average. You can enter a yearly salary before tax, and it will show you the equivalent weekly and hourly amounts (based on a 38-hour week), plus how far above or below the average you are. The average is updated twice a year from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release.
For more information, explore the states and territories page to see how averages differ by location, or check job medians and industry medians for more detailed comparisons.