Minimum wage Queensland and the national full-time average
For workers in Queensland earning the minimum wage, the pay packet sits well below the Australian full-time average. The national minimum wage, which applies in Queensland as it does everywhere else, is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 stands at $26.44 an hour, $1004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week. That is roughly half the national full-time average of $2083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026.
How the minimum wage compares to Queensland's full-time average
Queensland's own full-time average, drawn from the same ABS release, is $106,064 a year. That is slightly below the national figure but still more than double the minimum wage. The gap reflects the difference between the legal floor and the typical earnings of full-time employees across industries and occupations in the state. For a worker on the minimum wage, moving to the Queensland average would mean roughly doubling their weekly income.
The national minimum wage and award minimums
Fair Work's national minimum wage applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. For those under a modern award, minimum pay rates are generally higher. The 2026 decision increased award minimums by 4.75 per cent, so many Queensland workers in retail, hospitality, and other award-covered roles earn above the national minimum wage. The figures here are the bare legal floor.
Full-time averages and medians
The ABS publishes two key measures of earnings. The full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2083.70 a week is the figure used on this site as the line. The full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings survey for August 2025, is about $90,532 a year. That median is lower than the average because high earners pull the average up. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100. The minimum wage sits below all these benchmarks.
Tax on the minimum wage in Queensland
A worker earning the minimum wage of $52,255 a year in 2026–27 would pay no tax on the first $18,200, then 15 per cent on income up to $45,000, and 30 per cent on the remainder up to $135,000. The Medicare levy of 2 per cent applies before any reductions. The ATO administers these rates. After tax and Medicare, the take-home pay would be roughly $44,000, depending on individual circumstances.
State comparisons
Queensland's full-time average of $106,064 sits close to the national figure. Among states, Western Australia has the highest average at $115,825, while Tasmania has the lowest at $96,008. The minimum wage is uniform across all states, so a Queensland worker on the minimum earns the same dollar amount as a worker in New South Wales or Victoria, but the gap to the state average varies. Place a salary on the line to see how any wage compares to the national average.
Why the minimum wage matters
The minimum wage sets the floor for the lowest-paid workers. In Queensland, many workers in tourism, agriculture, and retail rely on award rates that are above the minimum but still well below the state average. The Fair Work Commission reviews the minimum wage annually, and the 2026 increase of 4.75 per cent for award workers was intended to keep pace with living costs. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, published twice a year for May and November, shows how the broader labour market is tracking.
Using this site
You can Place a salary on the line to see where any wage sits against the national full-time average. The tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and shows the weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the line. For Queensland-specific data, see the Queensland page. The site draws on ABS Average Weekly Earnings for the line, ABS Employee Earnings for medians, and Fair Work for minimum wages. No login or award search is needed.
Summary
The minimum wage in Queensland is the national minimum wage of about $52,255 a year. That is less than half the national full-time average of $108,352 and also below Queensland's full-time average of $106,064. For workers on the minimum, the gap to the average is substantial, and award-covered employees often earn more. The figures are from Fair Work and the ABS, with no invention of precise statistics beyond what those sources provide.