What is the minimum wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage in Australia from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. This rate is set by Fair Work and applies to employees who are not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. Award minimum wages also increased by 4.75% from the same date.
How the minimum wage compares to the full-time average
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That means the minimum wage is less than half the average full-time salary. The gap is even wider when you look at the full-time median of about $90,532 and the all-employees median of about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Most full-time workers earn well above the minimum. For context, the men's full-time ordinary-time average is about $113,412 and women's about $100,594. The minimum wage is a floor, not a typical wage.
State and territory full-time averages
Full-time averages vary across Australia. The highest is the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090, followed by Western Australia at about $115,825, New South Wales at about $109,658, Victoria at about $106,137, Queensland at about $106,064, South Australia at about $102,450, the Northern Territory at about $103,173, and Tasmania at about $96,008. In every state and territory, the minimum wage is far below the local full-time average.
Tax on the minimum wage
For the 2026–27 income year, the resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200; 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% on $45,001 to $135,000; 37% on $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. A person earning the minimum wage of about $52,255 would fall into the 30% bracket on income above $45,000. The Medicare levy of 2% also applies before any reductions. After tax and the levy, the take-home pay would be roughly $42,000–$43,000 depending on individual circumstances.
How the figures are set
The national minimum wage is reviewed annually by Fair Work. The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year (May and November), and Employee Earnings data less frequently. The full-time average used on this site is from the May 2026 release. For more detail on how these figures are calculated, see How the figures are set.
Where your salary sits on the line
If you earn the minimum wage, your annual salary of about $52,255 is well below the national full-time average line of $108,352. You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares week by week and hour by hour on a 38-hour week. The tool also shows the distance from the average.
Award wages and other minimums
Many workers are covered by modern awards, which set higher minimum rates than the national minimum wage. For example, the Hospitality Industry General Award or the Retail Award have specific hourly rates for different classifications. From 1 July 2026, these award rates rose by 4.75%. If you are unsure whether an award applies, check with Fair Work or your employer. The national minimum wage is the safety net for those not covered by any award or agreement.
Summary
The national minimum wage in Australia from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, about $52,255 per year. It is a floor, not a typical wage. The full-time average is more than double that, and even the full-time median is about $90,532. For state-by-state comparisons, see States and territories.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia from 1 July 2026? The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums also increased by 4.75%.
How does the minimum wage compare to the average full-time salary? It is less than half the national full-time average of $108,352. It is also below the full-time median of $90,532 and the all-employees median of $74,100.
What are the award minimum wages and how do they differ? Award minimum wages are higher than the national minimum wage in many industries. They vary by award and classification. The 4.75% increase from 1 July 2026 applies to all modern award rates.