Employment & leave Australia
Minimum Wage Calculator Australia
The national minimum wage is the floor for employees who are not covered by an award or agreement. From 1 July 2026 it is $26.44 an hour, and a casual's floor is higher because of the loading. This calculator checks your pay against it and shows any shortfall.
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Against the minimum
—National minimum
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Minimum for your type
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Your hourly rate
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Gap per hour
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Gap per week
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Gap per year (52 weeks)
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The comparison
Working with a different rate? Edit the rates this calculator uses
These are the figures we verified on 2026-10-26. Change them to work with a historic period, or with a new rate that has been announced but which we have not published yet.
Fair Work Commission, effective 1 July 2026; the weekly figure is $1,004.90
A check against the national floor, not your award. The national minimum wage is the floor for employees not covered by an award or agreement. An award rate may be higher, and junior, apprentice and disability rates are set differently. If you think you are underpaid, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman, which can calculate your award rate and recover unpaid wages.
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, following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. A casual employee must be paid at least 25% more, or $33.05 an hour, and most award rates rose by 4.75%. Many employees are covered by an award that sets a higher rate.
National minimum versus award rates
The national minimum wage is a floor that applies to employees without an award or agreement. Most workers are covered by one of the 100-odd modern awards, which set their own minimum rates by classification. Award rates are usually above the national minimum, and the Commission raises both each year in the Annual Wage Review.
The 2026 review lifted the minimum wage from $24.95 to $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, and most award minimum rates by 4.75%.
Juniors, apprentices and trainees
Junior, apprentice, trainee and supported-employee rates are set separately, usually as a percentage of the adult rate by age or by stage of training. This calculator does not apply them, so check the relevant award or the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides.
To compare a pay rate with an annual salary, use the hourly rate to annual salary calculator.
How this is calculated
The rule, step by step, so you can check any figure by hand.
permanent minimum = national minimum wagecasual minimum = national minimum wage × (1 + casual loading)gap per hour = minimum − your rate (nil if you are at or above it)gap per week = gap per hour × weekly hours; per year = × 52
The national minimum wage applies to employees not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. Most employees are, which is why checking only against $26.44 can look fine when an award rate that applies to the job is higher.
For a casual, the loading is on top of the minimum, which is why the casual floor is $33.05. The calculator removes the loading from your rate first if you tell it your figure includes the loading.
A worked example
A permanent employee paid $25 an hour for 38 hours a week.
- National minimum$26.44
- Gap per hour$1.44
- Gap per week, 38 hours$54.72
- Gap per year, 52 weeks$2,845.44
$2,845.44 a year below the national floor.
A casual paid $25 an hour all-in would be further below, since the casual floor is $33.05.
What to do if you are underpaid
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a free service to check your rate and can take up underpayments. Start by gathering payslips, your contract and a record of your hours, and raise it with your employer first if you feel able to.
Employees can recover underpaid wages for up to six years under the Fair Work Act.
Where the figure comes from
The Fair Work Commission publishes the annual wage decision each June and the national minimum wage takes effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July. The figure in the rate panel is editable so you can check a prior year's pay.
What this calculator does not do
- Adult national minimum wage only
- No junior, apprentice, trainee or supported rates
- Awards and agreements may set a higher rate
- Does not check allowances or penalty rates
Common questions
What is the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026?
$26.44 an hour or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week, according to the Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review.
What is the minimum for a casual?
At least 25% more than the minimum: $33.05 an hour at the national minimum, though an award rate may be higher.
Is the minimum wage the same as an award rate?
No. Awards set higher minimums for many jobs, and an employee covered by an award must be paid at least the award rate.
How far back can I claim unpaid wages?
Up to six years under the Fair Work Act.
Does the rate differ for young workers?
Yes. Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate set by the award, so check the relevant award.
Where these numbers come from
- Fair Work Commission — Annual Wage Review The June decision that sets the national minimum wage and award adjustments
- Fair Work Ombudsman — minimum wages National Minimum Wage and how it is adjusted each year
- Fair Work Ombudsman — casual employees What casual loading is for and how it is applied
Rates last verified 2026-10-26 Every figure Fair Work Commission sets is re-checked against the source at least once a year, and again whenever a change is announced. Out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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