Minimum wage in Melbourne
Melbourne, like the rest of Australia, is covered by the national minimum wage set by Fair Work. From 1 July 2026 that rate is $26.44 an hour, which works out to $1,004.90 a week and about $52,255 a year on a standard 38-hour week. This is the legal floor for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement. Award minimums also increased by 4.75% from the same date, but the exact rate depends on the industry and classification.
How it sits against the national full-time average
The site’s line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. The minimum wage in Melbourne is less than half of that. It is also well below the full-time median of about $90,532 and the all-employees median of about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Victoria’s state full-time average is about $106,137, so even the state figure is far above the minimum wage. Only the Northern Territory ($103,173) and Tasmania ($96,008) have lower state averages, but all are still more than double the minimum wage.
Place a salary on the line to see how any pay compares to the national average.
A resident take-home sketch
For someone earning the minimum wage in Melbourne for a full year, the 2026–27 resident tax rates apply:
- Nil tax 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 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions)
On $52,255, the estimated tax is about $4,020 and the Medicare levy about $1,045, leaving a take-home of roughly $47,190 per year or $907 per week. This is a rough sketch; individual circumstances (such as the low-income tax offset or family tax benefit) could change the outcome.
The role of awards and enterprise agreements
Many Melbourne workers in retail, hospitality, and other industries are covered by awards that set higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. The 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026 applies to award rates too, but the exact figure depends on the classification. For example, a Level 1 retail employee or a hospitality worker may have a different base rate. The national minimum wage is the safety net, not the typical starting point for most jobs.
States and territories shows how each state’s full-time average compares.
Why the national minimum wage matters in Melbourne
Even though Melbourne’s cost of living is often higher than the national average, the minimum wage is set nationally. Fair Work considers economic conditions across the country, not just one city. The $26.44 rate applies equally in Melbourne, Sydney, and regional areas. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data shows that Victoria’s full-time average ($106,137) is slightly below the national average ($108,352), but still far above the minimum.
For a full picture of how different salaries line up, How the figures are set explains the sources and methods behind the averages, medians, and minimums.
Key figures at a glance
- National minimum wage (Fair Work, from 1 July 2026): $26.44/hour, $1,004.90/week, ~$52,255/year
- National full-time average (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026): $2,083.70/week, ~$108,352/year
- Victoria full-time average: ~$106,137/year
- Full-time median (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025): ~$90,532/year
- All-employees median: ~$74,100/year
The minimum wage in Melbourne is a clear benchmark for the lowest legal pay, but most full-time workers earn well above it. The site’s line remains the national full-time average, so any salary can be measured against that reference point.