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What is minimum wage in NSW? A full breakdown by year, week and hour

The national minimum wage in NSW is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on a 38‑hour week – well below 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

What is the minimum wage in NSW?

The minimum wage in New South Wales is the national minimum wage set by Fair Work. From 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a standard 38‑hour week. Award minimum wages also increased by 4.75% from the same date.

There is no separate NSW state minimum wage. The national minimum wage applies to all employees in the state who are not covered by a registered award or enterprise agreement. If you work under an award, your minimum pay will be higher than the national minimum.

Reading the same pay as a year, a week and an hour

It helps to see the minimum wage in different time frames. On a 38‑hour week:

  • Hourly: $26.44
  • Weekly: $1,004.90
  • Yearly: about $52,255 (52 weeks)

These figures are before tax. After the 2026–27 tax rates (nil to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; plus 2% Medicare levy), a single person earning the minimum wage would take home roughly $44,000–$45,000 a year.

How the minimum wage compares to the NSW average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 put the NSW full‑time adult ordinary‑time average at $109,658 a year – more than double the minimum wage. The national full‑time average is $108,352 a year. The national full‑time median is about $90,532, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Men’s full‑time ordinary‑time average earnings nationally are about $113,412; women’s are about $100,594. The minimum wage sits well below all these benchmarks.

Award minimums and other wage floors

Many NSW workers are covered by industry or occupation awards that set higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. From 1 July 2026, award minimums rose by 4.75%. For example, a retail employee or a hospitality worker will likely have a higher hourly rate under their award. Enterprise agreements can also set rates above awards.

If you are unsure which award applies, you can check Fair Work’s online tools. The national minimum wage is the legal floor – no one can be paid less, but most employees are entitled to more.

State averages across Australia

For context, here are the full‑time average earnings for each state and territory (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026):

  • New South Wales: $109,658
  • Victoria: $106,137
  • Queensland: $106,064
  • South Australia: $102,450
  • Western Australia: $115,825
  • Tasmania: $96,008
  • Northern Territory: $103,173
  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

The NSW average is above the national average but below the ACT and WA. The minimum wage is the same across all states and territories.

Using the site’s tools

You can place a salary on the line to see where any pay sits against the national full‑time average. Or explore states and territories to compare averages across Australia. For more detail on how the figures are set, see how the figures are set.

Key points to remember

  • The minimum wage in NSW is the national minimum wage: $26.44/hour, $1,004.90/week, about $52,255/year.
  • It is set by Fair Work, not the NSW government.
  • Award and agreement rates are usually higher.
  • The NSW full‑time average is $109,658 – more than double the minimum.
  • The national full‑time median is $90,532; the all‑employees median is $74,100.

If you are paid the minimum wage, you are earning the legal minimum. Most full‑time workers earn significantly more. Use the site to see where your own pay sits on the line.

Questions

What is the minimum wage in NSW for 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage set by Fair Work applies in NSW: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38‑hour week. Award minimums also rose by 4.75% from the same date. There is no separate NSW state minimum wage; the national rate is the legal floor.

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

The NSW full‑time adult average ordinary‑time earnings are $109,658 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That is more than double the minimum wage of about $52,255. The full‑time median across Australia is about $90,532, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Is the minimum wage in NSW enough to live on?

The minimum wage provides a legal baseline, but it is significantly lower than the NSW full‑time average and median earnings. After tax (2026–27 rates: nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), a single person on the minimum wage would take home roughly $44,000–$45,000 a year. Whether that is enough depends on housing costs, location, and household size. Many workers in NSW are covered by awards or enterprise agreements that pay above the minimum.

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