Minimum wage Brisbane: a resident take-home sketch
If you are earning the minimum wage in Brisbane, your pay is set by the national minimum wage, not a local rate. Fair Work’s 2026–27 figure is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or $52,255 a year on a standard 38-hour week. Award minimums rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026, but the national minimum wage itself is the floor for employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.
How it sits against the national full-time average
The line on this site is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average: $2,083.70 a week, about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The minimum wage is roughly half that – about 48% of the average. Queensland’s state full-time average is $106,064, so the gap is similar. For context, the full-time median is about $90,532 and the all-employees median about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
A resident take-home sketch
For a single resident with no dependants, the 2026–27 tax rates apply:
- Nil rate on the first $18,200
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
- Plus the Medicare levy of 2% on taxable income
On $52,255:
- Tax-free threshold: $18,200
- Taxable at 15%: $34,055 → $5,108.25
- Medicare levy: $1,045.10
- Total deductions: $6,153.35
- Take-home pay: $46,101.65 a year, about $886.57 a week
Compare that to the average full-time salary of $108,352:
- Tax-free: $18,200
- 15% bracket: $26,800 → $4,020
- 30% bracket: $63,352 → $19,005.60
- Medicare levy: $2,167.04
- Total deductions: $25,192.64
- Take-home pay: $83,159.36 a year, about $1,599.22 a week
So a minimum-wage worker takes home about 55% of what the average full-time earner does, after tax and Medicare.
What the figures mean for Brisbane
Brisbane’s cost of living – rent, transport, groceries – may be higher or lower than other capitals, but the wage itself is national. The Queensland full-time average of $106,064 is close to the national figure, suggesting Brisbane’s typical salary is slightly below the national line. If you earn the minimum wage, you are well below both the national and state averages.
For a more personal comparison, you can place a salary on the line to see how any wage stacks up against the national full-time average. You can also explore how different states and territories compare.
Other benchmarks to keep in mind
- Men’s full-time average: about $113,412
- Women’s full-time average: about $100,594
- National minimum wage: $52,255 (the floor)
- Award minimums: rose 4.75% from 1 July 2026; many Brisbane workers are covered by awards that pay above the national minimum
If you are on an award, your minimum rate may be higher than the national minimum wage. Check your specific award or agreement for the correct rate.
Summary
The minimum wage in Brisbane is the national minimum wage set by Fair Work. At $52,255 a year, it is about half the national full-time average of $108,352. After tax and Medicare, a single resident takes home roughly $46,100 – about 55% of the average earner’s take-home pay. For more detail on how these figures are set, see how the figures are set.