What is the minimum wage rate in the UK?
If you have searched for "what is minimum wage rate in uk", you are likely comparing pay across countries or checking how the UK rate stacks up against Australian wages. This article explains the UK minimum wage context, but our site focuses on Australian salaries using official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Fair Work, and the Australian Tax Office (ATO). We do not publish the UK minimum wage rate, so we cannot give you a precise figure. However, we can show you how the Australian minimum wage relates to the national full-time average, and how you might think about cross-country comparisons.
The UK minimum wage: what we know
The United Kingdom operates a tiered minimum wage system. The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 23 and over, while the National Minimum Wage applies to younger workers and apprentices. Rates are reviewed annually by the UK government, usually taking effect in April. Because our data sources are Australian, we do not hold the current UK figures. For the most accurate and up-to-date UK rates, you should consult the official UK government website.
The Australian minimum wage from 1 July 2026
In Australia, the national minimum wage is set by Fair Work. From 1 July 2026, the rate is $26.44 per hour, which equates to $1,004.90 per week on a standard 38-hour week, or about $52,255 per year. This is the minimum pay for an adult employee not covered by an award or agreement. Award minimums rose by 4.75% at the same time.
How the Australian minimum wage sits against the full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That is the line on this site. The minimum wage of $52,255 is roughly 48% of that average. In other words, a full-time worker on the minimum wage earns about half the average full-time salary.
For context, the full-time median salary (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $74,100. So the minimum wage is well below both medians.
State-by-state full-time averages
Australia's full-time average varies by state and territory. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. The lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. The minimum wage of $52,255 is below every state average, meaning a minimum-wage worker in any part of the country earns significantly less than the typical full-time worker in that state.
Gender differences in average pay
The ABS also reports separate averages for men and women. Men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412, while women's is about $100,594. The minimum wage is less than half of each, though the gap between the minimum and the average is slightly larger for men.
Using this site to compare your salary
If you want to see where your own pay sits against the Australian full-time average, you can place a salary on the line. The tool accepts a yearly salary before tax and shows the equivalent weekly and hourly amounts based on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the national average. You can also explore states and territories to see how averages differ around the country.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average is derived from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings series, published twice a year for May and November. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, published annually. The minimum wage is set by Fair Work after annual review. For more detail on methodology, see How the figures are set.
Tax considerations
If you earn the minimum wage of $52,255 in 2026–27, your taxable income falls into the 30% marginal tax bracket (after the tax-free threshold of $18,200). The 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; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy of 2% also applies, with possible reductions for low-income earners. The ATO administers these rates.
Why we cannot give the UK rate
Our site is an Australian salary index. We rely on the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO for data. The UK minimum wage is outside our scope. If you need the UK rate, we recommend checking the UK government's official publications. For Australian comparisons, our tools and data are here to help.
Summary
The UK minimum wage rate is not available from our sources. The Australian minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year, which is about 48% of the national full-time average of $108,352. This is a useful benchmark for understanding low pay in Australia. For your own salary check, use the Place a salary on the line tool.