What is the National Minimum Wage in Australia?

From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. This is set by the Fair Work Commission and applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement.

How do I calculate my annual salary from my hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52 weeks. For a standard 38-hour week, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual income before tax and super. Remember to add casual loading if applicable.

Does super get paid on top of my hourly rate?

Yes, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid on top of your hourly rate. It is not deducted from your pay. For example, if your hourly rate is $30, your employer contributes an additional $3.60 per hour to your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year.

What's minimum wage in Australia? Your guide to hourly to annual pay

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, with casual loading of 25% bringing it to $33.05 per hour.

Understanding the National Minimum Wage and award rates

When you ask "whats minimum wage in australia", you're likely looking for the base rate set by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees get an extra 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour. This rate applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement.

However, most Australian workers are covered by an award that sets higher minimum rates for their industry or occupation. Award rates vary and are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The National Minimum Wage is the floor – your actual minimum pay may be higher if an award applies.

Converting your hourly rate to annual salary

The basic formula to estimate your annual gross pay is:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks.

For a standard full-time week of 38 hours, the calculation becomes: hourly rate × 38 × 52.

For example, if your hourly rate is $30, your annual salary would be approximately $59,280 before tax and super. This assumes you work the same hours every week with no unpaid overtime or unpaid overtime. It does not include penalty rates or allowances or salary sacrifice.

If you're casual, remember to include the 25% loading on top of your base rate. Do not type a rate that already includes casual loading – use the timesheet checkbox to add it on top.

Fortnightly and monthly pay

If you're paid fortnightly, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For the National Minimum Wage of $1,004.90 per week, your fortnightly pay is approximately 2,009.80 before tax. This helps you budget for bills that come fortnightly.

Tax and super

Your annual gross pay is the starting point for tax. The 2026–27 resident tax rates are:

Nil up to 18,200
15% from 18,201 to 45,000
30% from 45,001 to 135,000
37% from 135,001 to 190,000
45% above 190,000

Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. The tax-free threshold is assumed.

Super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid on top of your hourly rate. It stops at the maximum contribution base of 270,830 per year. For example, on the National Minimum Wage of 26.44 per hour, your employer contributes an extra 3.17 per hour to super.

Using the timesheet calculator

Our the timesheet lets you enter your base hourly rate and optionally add 25% casual loading. It shows your annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay, plus estimated tax and super. For more detail on minimum rates, see our minimum wage page.

Award rates vs National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum for all employees. But most workers are covered by an award that sets higher rates. For example, the Hospitality Industry General Award has different rates for different classifications. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award. Always check your award to ensure you're paid correctly.

Casual loading explained

Casual employees get a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave. This is not a separate rate – it's added to the minimum wage or award rate. Our casual loading page explains more.

Average earnings in Australia

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 as $2,083.70 per week for full-time adult ordinary time, and $1,579.20 for all employees (including part-time). These are averages, not medians for any specific job. For job-specific pay, see job pay.

Important notes

This calculator provides estimates only. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the maximum contribution base. Tax uses the 2026–27 resident scale with full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.

For more detailed information, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman or the Australian Taxation Office. (Note: external URLs are not included in the final output as per rules.)

Summary

When you search "whats minimum wage in australia", remember the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour for permanent employees, or $33.05 casual. Use the formula hourly × hours × 52 to estimate annual pay. Check your award for higher rates, and don't forget super is paid on top. Use our the timesheet to calculate your numbers.