What is the minimum wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage in Australia is the legal floor for pay. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work set it at $26.44 an hour, which works out to $1,004.90 a week or about $52,255 a year on a standard 38-hour week. This figure applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Most workers, however, are covered by industry or occupation awards that set higher minimum rates. Those award minimums also increased by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
How the minimum wage is set
Fair Work reviews the national minimum wage each financial year. It considers the cost of living, economic conditions, and the needs of low-paid workers. The 2026 increase reflects these factors. The rate is a before-tax figure; your take-home pay will be less after tax and the Medicare levy.
Where the minimum wage sits against the full-time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings average $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. That is the national full-time average line on this site. The minimum wage of $1,004.90 a week is about 48% of that average. In other words, someone on the minimum wage earns roughly half of what the typical full-time worker earns.
This gap has narrowed slightly over the years, but the minimum wage remains well below the average. For context, the full-time median salary is about $90,532 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), and the all-employees median is about $74,100. So the minimum wage is also below the median, as you would expect.
State and territory differences
Full-time average earnings vary across Australia. The highest average is in the Australian Capital Territory at about $119,090 a year, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658) are above the national average. Victoria ($106,137), Queensland ($106,064), South Australia ($102,450), and the Northern Territory ($103,173) are closer to the national figure. The minimum wage is the same nationwide, so its relative position differs by state. For example, in Tasmania the minimum wage is about 54% of the state average, but in the ACT it is about 44%.
You can Place a salary on the line to see how any pay compares to the national full-time average, or explore States and territories for more detail.
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 up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy is 2% before any reductions. A full-time minimum wage earner on $52,255 would pay about $5,900 in tax plus the Medicare levy, leaving roughly $44,700 after tax. This is a rough estimate; individual circumstances may vary.
How the minimum wage relates to other benchmarks
The ABS also publishes median earnings. The full-time median of $90,532 is a better indicator of what a typical full-time worker earns than the average, which can be pulled up by high earners. The all-employees median of $74,100 includes part-time and casual workers. The minimum wage is well below both medians, reflecting its role as a safety net.
Men's full-time average earnings are about $113,412, and women's about $100,594. The minimum wage is the same for all genders, so it represents a larger share of women's average earnings (about 52%) than men's (about 46%).
What if you are paid less than the minimum wage?
If you are an employee not covered by an award or agreement, you must be paid at least the national minimum wage. If you are covered by an award, you must be paid at least the award rate for your classification. Employers who pay less may be in breach of the Fair Work Act. You can contact Fair Work for advice or make a complaint.
Using this site to compare your pay
This site shows how any yearly salary before tax compares to the national full-time average. It also displays the weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week. You can Place a salary on the line to see the distance from the average. The chart on the page will show where your pay sits relative to the line.
For more information on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. You can also explore Job medians and Industry medians to see typical pay in different fields.
Summary
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. This is about 48% of the full-time average of $108,352. While the minimum wage provides a floor, most workers earn more under awards or agreements. Understanding where your pay sits against the average can help you assess your earnings in the broader market.