Minimum wage calculator: are you paid enough?
The minimum wage in Australia is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week, from 1 July 2026. Use this minimum wage calculator to check your hourly pay against the national minimum for your age and employment type, including the 25% casual loading, and see what any shortfall adds up to over a year.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Check your pay against the minimum wage
Pick your age and employment type, then enter your hourly pay.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the minimum wage calculator
- Choose your age. Junior rates apply to workers under 21 who are not covered by an award with different rules.
- Choose your employment type. Casuals get a 25% loading on top of the minimum.
- Enter your hourly pay before tax, as shown on your payslip.
- Enter the hours per week you usually work.
- See whether you're above or below the national minimum, by how much each hour and over a year.
What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?
The Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review decision set the national minimum wage at $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. That's up from $24.95 an hour, a rise of about 6%. Minimum rates in modern awards rose by 4.75% from the same date.
| Rate from 1 July 2026 | Hourly | Weekly (38 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| National minimum wage (adult, permanent) | $26.44 | $1,004.90 |
| Casual (with 25% loading) | $33.05 | $1,255.90 |
The national minimum wage is a floor for award-free adult employees. Most workers are covered by a modern award, and award rates for most jobs are higher than the national minimum. The minimum also applies the same way in every state, so the minimum wage in Victoria and NSW is the same national figure.
Junior minimum wage rates
Award-free workers under 21 are paid a percentage of the adult minimum under the national minimum wage order:
| Age | % of adult rate | Hourly from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 36.8% | $9.73 |
| 16 | 47.3% | $12.51 |
| 17 | 57.8% | $15.28 |
| 18 | 68.3% | $18.06 |
| 19 | 82.5% | $21.81 |
| 20 | 97.7% | $25.83 |
Many awards have their own junior rates, and some no longer use them for adults aged 18 to 20. If you're covered by an award, check its pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Worked example: a casual paid $27 an hour
A casual worker aged 21 is paid $27.00 an hour for 38 hours a week.
The national minimum for an adult casual is $26.44 plus 25% loading, which is $33.05 an hour, or $1,256 for a 38-hour week.
This worker is $6.05 an hour below the minimum. Over a year of 38-hour weeks that's about $11,955 of underpayment.
A common mistake is comparing a casual rate with the permanent minimum. $27 looks above $26.44, but casual workers are owed the loading on top, so the real comparison is with $33.05.
What to do if you're paid below the minimum
- Check which award covers your job and look up its pay guide. Your award rate may be higher than the national minimum.
- Check your payslips for your classification, hourly rate and casual loading.
- Raise it with your employer in writing first. Underpayments are often fixed quickly once pointed out.
- If that doesn't work, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman, which can help recover unpaid wages at no cost.
Workers placed through a labour hire agency are employed by the agency, which must pay at least the award rate for the work done at the host's site. TQN Personnel's open roles are listed on our find a role page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia?
From 1 July 2026 the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week, for adult permanent employees not covered by an award. Casual employees get at least 25% more, which is $33.05 an hour.
What is the minimum wage for a casual worker?
Casuals get the minimum rate plus a 25% casual loading. For an adult on the national minimum that's $33.05 an hour from 1 July 2026. Award casual rates are usually higher because the award base rate is higher.
What is the minimum wage for a 15 year old?
Under the national minimum wage order, workers under 16 receive 36.8% of the adult rate, which is about $9.73 an hour from 1 July 2026 before any casual loading. Most jobs teenagers do are covered by an award, such as the retail or fast food award, with their own junior rates.
What is the minimum wage in NSW and Victoria?
The minimum wage is set nationally, so it's the same in every state: $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026. State public sector employees and a few other groups are covered by state systems, but almost all private sector workers fall under the national rate.
When does the minimum wage go up?
The Fair Work Commission reviews minimum wages each year, usually announcing the decision in early June. New rates start from the first full pay period on or after 1 July.
Is the minimum wage before or after tax?
Before tax. $26.44 an hour is the gross rate. Use the take home pay calculator to see what a minimum-wage job pays after tax and the Medicare levy.
Related calculators
Sources and assumptions
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages
- Fair Work Commission: Annual Wage Review 2025-26 decision
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay guides
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.