Minimum wage in America and the Australian full‑time average
When readers ask about the minimum wage in America, the immediate comparison is with Australia’s own minimum and full‑time average earnings. The US federal minimum wage is not covered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or Fair Work publications, but it is widely known to be far lower than Australia’s national minimum. This article explains where the Australian benchmarks sit, so you can judge the gap.
The Australian full‑time average
The national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52 weeks). This figure comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. It is the line this site uses to measure where any salary sits.
- Men’s full‑time ordinary‑time average: about $113,412 per year
- Women’s full‑time ordinary‑time average: about $100,594 per year
The all‑employees median (including part‑time and casual) is about $74,100 per year, while the full‑time median is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
The Australian national minimum wage
From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. On a 38‑hour week that works out to about $52,255 per year before tax. This rate applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Award minimums increased by 4.75% in the same annual wage review.
Fair Work states that the National Minimum Wage is reviewed each year. The 2026 order is published by the Fair Work Commission.
How the US minimum wage compares
The US federal minimum wage has remained at the same nominal level since 2009. It is substantially lower than the Australian national minimum. Many US states and cities set higher minimums, but the federal floor is well below Australia’s $26.44 per hour. Because the US figure is not published in the Australian sources used here, we cannot give a precise number, but the gap is large enough that even the Australian minimum wage sits far above the US federal rate.
State full‑time averages in Australia
If you are comparing a US wage to Australian earnings, it helps to know the averages by state. The ABS provides full‑time ordinary‑time averages for each state and territory (May 2026):
- New South Wales: about $109,658 per year
- Victoria: about $106,137 per year
- Queensland: about $106,064 per year
- South Australia: about $102,450 per year
- Western Australia: about $115,825 per year
- Tasmania: about $96,008 per year
- Northern Territory: about $103,173 per year
- Australian Capital Territory: about $119,090 per year
See the full breakdown on the States and territories page.
Using the site’s salary tool
To see where any salary sits against the national full‑time average, enter your yearly pre‑tax amount into the Place a salary on the line tool. It will show:
- Weekly and hourly equivalents (based on a 38‑hour week)
- Distance above or below the $108,352 average
- Comparison with the national minimum wage
Tax considerations
For the 2026–27 income year, Australian 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 (subject to reductions for low incomes). The US minimum wage, if earned in Australia, would fall into the tax‑free threshold or the 15% bracket, but the actual take‑home pay depends on the US tax system.
Further reading
- How the figures are set – explains the ABS survey methodology and Fair Work’s annual wage review.
- Guides – articles on salary comparisons, minimum wages, and award coverage.
Summary
The minimum wage in America is not directly comparable to Australia’s because of different labour markets and living costs. However, the Australian national minimum of $26.44 per hour is many times higher than the US federal rate. The Australian full‑time average of $108,352 per year provides a benchmark that most US minimum‑wage earners would find very distant. Use the tools on this site to measure your own salary against the line.