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Minimum Wage NSW: How It Compares to the State Average

The national minimum wage in NSW is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week, which is roughly 48% of the NSW full-time average of $109,658.

This is the New South Wales full-time average. It sits $1,306 over the Australian full-time average, about 1.2% above the line.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,109 a week · $55.49 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $84,047 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Minimum Wage NSW: Year, Week, Hour

If you are looking for the minimum wage in New South Wales, the figure is set nationally by Fair Work and applies across the state. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a standard 38-hour week. This is the legal floor for most employees who are not covered by an award or registered agreement.

How It Stacks Up Against the NSW Full-Time Average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 puts the New South Wales full-time adult ordinary-time average at $109,658 per year (about $2,108.80 per week). That means the minimum wage is roughly 48% of the state average. To put it another way, the average full-time worker in NSW earns more than double the minimum wage.

For context, the national full-time median (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The minimum wage sits at about 58% of the full-time median.

Reading the Same Pay as a Year, Week, and Hour

The site’s tool lets you enter a yearly salary and see it as a weekly and hourly figure on a 38-hour week. For the minimum wage:

  • Yearly: $52,255
  • Weekly: $1004.90
  • Hourly: $26.44

This makes it easy to compare your own pay against the line. The national full-time average line is $108,352 per year ($2083.70 per week, $54.83 per hour). The NSW average is slightly higher at $109,658.

What About Awards?

Many workers in NSW are covered by modern awards, which set higher minimum rates than the national minimum. For example, the Hospitality Industry General Award or the Retail Award have specific classifications that start above $26.44 per hour. Fair Work’s 2026 decision increased award minimums by 4.75%, so check your award for the exact rate.

Take-Home Pay on the Minimum Wage

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (resident, no Medicare levy reduction):

  • Tax-free threshold: $0–$18,200
  • 15% on $18,201–$45,000
  • 30% on $45,001–$135,000

On $52,255, the tax is about $6,195. The Medicare levy adds 2% ($1,045). Net income: about $45,015 per year, or $866 per week. That is before any deductions like HECS or salary sacrifice.

How the Figures Are Set

The national minimum wage is reviewed annually by the Fair Work Commission. The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November). The site uses the May 2026 figure for the national line and state averages. For medians, the ABS Employee Earnings survey is used (most recent August 2025).

For more detail on how these figures are set, see How the figures are set.

Comparing Across States

New South Wales has the second-highest full-time average among the states, behind the ACT ($119,090) and Western Australia ($115,825). The minimum wage is the same nationally, so the gap between minimum and average varies by state. In Tasmania, where the average is $96,008, the minimum wage is about 54% of the average.

See States and territories for a full comparison.

Key Takeaways

  • The minimum wage in NSW is $26.44/hour, $1004.90/week, $52,255/year.
  • The NSW full-time average is $109,658/year – more than double the minimum.
  • After tax, a single minimum-wage earner takes home about $45,015/year.
  • Award rates are higher; check your award if you are in a covered industry.

If you want to see where your own salary sits against the national line, Place a salary on the line.

Questions

What is the minimum wage in NSW for 2026?

The minimum wage in NSW is the national minimum wage set by Fair Work. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, $1004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums also rose by 4.75% from that date.

How does the minimum wage compare to the NSW average salary?

The NSW full-time average salary, based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is about $109,658 per year. The minimum wage is roughly 48% of that average. The national full-time median (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532, so the minimum wage is about 58% of the median.

What is the take-home pay after tax on the minimum wage in NSW?

For the 2026–27 financial year, a single resident earning the minimum wage of $52,255 would pay no tax on the first $18,200, then 15% on the next $26,800, and 30% on the remaining $7,255. The estimated tax is about $6,195, plus the 2% Medicare levy ($1,045), leaving a take-home of about $45,015 per year, or $866 per week.

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