National Minimum Wage Australia: Yearly, Weekly and Hourly
Understanding the national minimum wage in Australia means seeing it as a yearly salary, a weekly pay packet, and an hourly rate. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work set the national minimum wage at $26.44 per hour, which works out to $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, or about $52,255 per year. This is the legal floor for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement.
How the minimum wage fits into the broader pay picture
The national minimum wage is one of several benchmarks used to measure where your pay sits. The most common reference point is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average, published by the ABS in its Average Weekly Earnings series. For May 2026, that average was $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That’s more than double the minimum wage.
Medians give another perspective. The full-time median (ABS Employee earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 a year. Both are well above the minimum wage, showing that most full-time workers earn significantly more than the legal minimum.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week and an hour
The site’s tool lets you enter a yearly salary before tax and see it as a weekly and hourly figure (based on a 38-hour week), plus how it compares to the full-time average line. For the national minimum wage, entering $52,255 would show:
- Weekly: $1,004.90
- Hourly: $26.44
- Distance from the full-time average: about -$56,097 a year (or -52%)
This makes it easy to see where the minimum wage stands relative to the typical full-time worker.
State and territory differences
While the national minimum wage is uniform across Australia, average earnings vary by state. For example, the Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090 a year, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The minimum wage applies everywhere, but the gap between minimum and average is wider in higher-earning states. You can explore state averages on the States and territories page.
Award minimums and the 4.75% increase
From 1 July 2026, award minimum wages also rose by 4.75%. Many employees are covered by an award that sets a higher minimum than the national minimum wage. If you’re on an award, your minimum pay is likely above $26.44 per hour. The national minimum wage acts as a safety net for those not covered by any award or agreement.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000 Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions).
On the minimum wage of about $52,255, the tax would be roughly:
- First $18,200: $0
- Next $26,800 (to $45,000): 15% = $4,020
- Remaining $7,255: 30% = $2,176.50
- Medicare levy: 2% of $52,255 = $1,045.10
- Total tax and levy: about $7,241.60, leaving take-home pay around $45,013 a year, or about $866 per week.
How the figures are set
The national minimum wage is determined by Fair Work after an annual review. The ABS calculates average earnings from a survey of employers. Medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey. For more detail on how these benchmarks are compiled, see How the figures are set.
Using the site to compare your salary
You can Place a salary on the line to see how your own pay compares to the full-time average, the minimum wage, and medians. The tool shows your yearly salary, weekly equivalent, hourly rate, and the distance from the national full-time average. It’s a quick way to check where you sit in the broader pay landscape.
Key takeaways
- The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44/hour, $1,004.90/week, ~$52,255/year.
- The full-time average is $108,352/year—more than double the minimum.
- Full-time median is about $90,532; all-employees median about $74,100.
- Award minimums rose 4.75% from the same date.
- State averages range from ~$96,008 (Tasmania) to ~$119,090 (ACT).
Understanding these figures helps you see where the minimum wage fits in the Australian pay structure and how it compares to typical earnings.