Minimum wage for a 17 year old: Where it sits against the national average
If you are a 17-year-old earning the minimum wage in Australia, you are likely on a junior rate set by an award or the national minimum wage order. Unlike the adult national minimum wage, which is a single figure, the rate for a 17-year-old depends on the applicable award. This article explains how junior rates work, how they compare to the national full-time average, and what your take-home pay might look like.
The national full-time average as a reference
The site's line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average, published by the ABS in its Average Weekly Earnings series for May 2026. That figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the benchmark we use to show how far any salary sits from the average. For comparison, the full-time median (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100.
The adult national minimum wage
Fair Work sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. This is the floor for adult employees not covered by an award. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from the same date.
Junior rates for 17-year-olds
For employees under 21, Fair Work allows junior rates that are a percentage of the adult minimum wage. The exact percentage varies by award. For example, in many awards a 17-year-old receives 60–70% of the adult rate, but the precise figure depends on the industry and the specific classification. The national minimum wage order also sets a junior rate for employees not covered by an award, but that rate is not a single published figure for each age. As a result, the minimum wage for a 17-year-old is not a fixed number you can look up; you need to check the relevant award or the Fair Work website.
How this pay sits against the average
Even the adult minimum wage is well below the national full-time average of $108,352. A 17-year-old on a junior rate earns even less. For instance, if the junior rate is 60% of the adult rate, that would be about $15.86 per hour, or roughly $31,353 per year. That is less than a third of the average. The gap is substantial, and it reflects the fact that junior rates are designed to encourage employment while recognising that younger workers often have less experience.
A resident take-home sketch
To understand what you actually keep, consider the adult minimum wage as a reference. On $52,255 per year, your income tax for 2026–27 would be:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000) = $4,020
- 30% on the remaining $7,255 = $2,176.50
- Total tax = $6,196.50
- Medicare levy (2%) = $1,045.10
- Total deductions = $7,241.60
- Take-home = about $45,013 per year, or $866 per week.
For a 17-year-old on a junior rate, the take-home will be lower because the gross pay is lower. The same tax brackets apply, but less income means less tax. You can Place a salary on the line to see your own take-home estimate.
State differences
The national average masks variation across states. For example, the full-time average in Western Australia is about $115,825, while in Tasmania it is about $96,008. A 17-year-old on the minimum wage in any state will still be far below the state average. See the States and territories page for more detail.
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted twice a year (May and November). The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, most recently August 2025. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work after an annual review. For more on the methodology, see How the figures are set.
Summary
The minimum wage for a 17-year-old is not a single number; it depends on the award. The adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, and junior rates are a percentage of that. Compared to the national full-time average of $108,352, even the adult minimum is less than half, and a 17-year-old's pay is lower still. Use the site's tools to see where your pay sits on the line.