Hourly to annual .au

TimesheetGuidesMinimum wage

Minimum Wage for 19 Year Old: Hourly to Annual Pay for a 38-Hour Week

For a 19-year-old on the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, a 38-hour week gives $1,004.90 per week, $2,009.80 per fortnight, and $52,254.80 per year before tax and super.

Understanding the Minimum Wage for a 19 Year Old

If you are 19 and starting a new job, you may be wondering what you are legally entitled to earn. The minimum wage for a 19 year old in Australia is not a single figure – it depends on whether you are covered by an award or the National Minimum Wage. The Fair Work Commission sets the National Minimum Wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for adult employees (21 and over). For 19-year-olds, the rate is often lower under an award, but if no award applies, the National Minimum Wage is the same for all ages.

This article explains how to convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay assuming a standard 38-hour week. We also cover tax, superannuation, and the difference between award rates and the National Minimum Wage.

Converting Hourly to Annual Pay: The 38-Hour Week

The standard full-time week in Australia is 38 hours. To estimate your annual gross pay, use the formula:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For example, at the National Minimum Wage:

  • $26.44 × 38 = $1,004.90 per week
  • $1,004.90 × 2 = $2,009.80 per fortnight
  • $1,004.90 × 52 = $52,254.80 per year

If you are on a higher rate, simply substitute your own hourly figure. The hourly conversion tool on this site does the maths for you.

Fortnightly Pay

Many employers pay fortnightly. Your fortnightly gross is simply your weekly pay multiplied by two. Using the National Minimum Wage example, that is $2,009.80 per fortnight before tax and super.

Award Rates vs National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum for employees not covered by an award or agreement. However, most industries have awards that set higher minimum rates. For a 19-year-old, award rates are often a percentage of the adult rate. For instance, under the General Retail Industry Award, a 19-year-old may receive 70–80% of the adult rate depending on experience. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award.

If you are not covered by an award, the National Minimum Wage applies. Note that the National Minimum Wage does not have junior rates – it is the same for all ages. So a 19-year-old on the National Minimum Wage earns the same $26.44 per hour as a 21-year-old.

Casual Loading

If you are a casual employee, you are entitled to a casual loading of 25% on top of your base hourly rate. This compensates for not receiving paid leave. The casual loading page explains how it works. On the timesheet calculator, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading to your base rate. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading – the calculator adds it for you.

For the National Minimum Wage, the casual rate is $26.44 × 1.25 = $33.05 per hour.

Tax on Your Annual Pay

Once you have your annual gross, you can estimate your tax using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

  • Nil tax on the first $18,200
  • 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
  • 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
  • 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
  • 45% on income above $190,000

Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (based on 2025–26 single reduction thresholds). For a full-time worker on the National Minimum Wage ($52,254.80), the estimated tax is approximately $6,200 plus Medicare, giving a take-home pay of around $44,000 per year after tax and Medicare. Use the take-home pay tool for a precise estimate.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary time earnings. This is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. For the National Minimum Wage example:

  • Super per year: 12% of $52,254.80 = $6,270.58
  • Super per fortnight: $6,270.58 ÷ 26 = $241.18

Super is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. If your earnings exceed that, super is only paid on the first $270,830. Learn more about super and packaging.

Important Assumptions

The annual pay calculated here assumes you work the same hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, allowances, or salary sacrifice. It also assumes you are a resident for tax purposes and claim the full tax-free threshold. The reference tables provide more details on tax and super thresholds.

If you are 19 and unsure about your minimum wage, check your award or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. Remember, the minimum wage for a 19 year old may be different from the adult rate under an award, but the National Minimum Wage is a safe floor.

Summary

  • National Minimum Wage (adult): $26.44/hour, $1,004.90/week, $52,254.80/year
  • Casual loading adds 25%: $33.05/hour
  • Super is 12% on top
  • Tax is progressive with Medicare levy
  • Use the timesheet calculator to enter your base hourly rate and see your annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay with tax and super estimates.

Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.

Try the rate on a timesheet

Adjust the timesheet

Year, gross$52,245.4452 weeks at this rate

Starts at the adult National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026.

Level with the adult National Minimum Wage.

Mon$200.947.6 h
Tue$200.947.6 h
Wed$200.947.6 h
Thu$200.947.6 h
Fri$200.947.6 h
One fortnight$2,009.44 gross
  • Take-home
  • Tax
  • Medicare
Super 12%, paid on top$6,269.45 a year
Week
$1,004.72
Fortnight
$2,009.44
Take-home a year
$45,006.90
Tax + Medicare
$7,238.54
  • 16 h$21,998
  • 20 h$27,498
  • 24 h$32,997
  • 30 h$41,246
  • 38 h$52,245
  • 40 h$54,995

Resident tax for 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds. No HELP, no salary sacrifice, no Medicare levy surcharge. Super is 12% of ordinary earnings only, capped at the maximum contribution base.

Questions people ask next

What is the minimum wage for a 19 year old in Australia?

The minimum wage for a 19 year old depends on whether you are covered by an award or the National Minimum Wage. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for adults (21+). For 19-year-olds under an award, the rate is often a percentage of the adult award rate, typically around 70–80% depending on the industry. Check your award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website for the exact figure. If no award applies, the National Minimum Wage is the legal floor, but junior rates do not apply under the National Minimum Wage – it is the same for all ages.

How do I convert my hourly wage to annual pay for a 38-hour week?

Multiply your hourly rate by 38 hours per week, then by 52 weeks. For example, $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,254.80 per year. This assumes you work 38 hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. The calculator on this site uses this formula and also shows your fortnightly pay (weekly × 2) and estimated tax and super.

Is superannuation included in my hourly rate or paid on top?

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, and it does not come out of your hourly rate. For example, if you earn $26.44 per hour, your employer must pay an additional $3.17 per hour into your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. The calculator on this site estimates super separately.

Keep going

Minimum wageJob payMinimum Wage Australia 20 Year Old: Hourly to Annual Pay Guide for a 38-Hour WeekMinimum Wage NSW 2026: Hourly to Annual Pay for a 38-Hour WeekMinimum Wage for 18-Year-Old in Australia: Hourly to Annual Pay GuideMinimum Wage for 15 Year Old: Hourly to Annual Pay and Tax Guide