Minimum wage and junior rates from 1 July 2026
Under 21, or new to the job and not sure your rate is right? The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour. Awards set their own minimums, and workers under 21 get a share of the adult rate.
Rates from 1 July 2026 · checked 4 November 2026
National minimum wage$26.44Per hour · $1,004.72 for 38 hours
Hospitality, level 1$26.44Adult base rate per hour
Retail, level 1$27.81Adult base rate per hour
| Age | Hospitality | Retail | No award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | $26.44100% | $27.81100% | $26.44100% |
| 20 | $26.44100% | $25.0390% | $25.8397.7% |
| 19 | $22.4785% | $22.2580% | $21.8182.5% |
| 18 | $18.5170% | $19.4770% | $18.0668.3% |
| 17 | $15.8660% | $16.6960% | $15.2857.8% |
| 16 | $13.2250% | $13.9150% | $12.5147.3% |
| Under 16 | $13.2250% | $12.5145% | $9.7336.8% |
“No award” is the National Minimum Wage Order for junior employees not covered by an award.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?
$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, or $1,004.72 for a 38-hour week. Most workers are covered by an award with its own minimum rates.
What do casuals get?
The minimum for their age plus a 25% casual loading. At $26.44, that’s $33.05 an hour.
When do the rates change?
Every 1 July, after the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review.
Weekend and evening work pays more: see penalty rates.
General information, not legal advice. Your award, your employment contract and the Fair Work Ombudsman have the final word. Rates are for level 1 adults unless you enter your own.
Know when your rate should go up.
Set your age and award, and PayJar checks your pay against the right junior or adult minimum.