Understanding the Part Time Minimum Wage: Hourly Rates, Annual Pay, and Super
The national minimum wage for part-time employees is $26.44 per hour (or $33.05 casual including 25% loading), with annual pay calculated as hourly rate × hours per week × 52.
Understanding the Part Time Minimum Wage
Whether you are starting a new job, negotiating a pay rise, or simply checking your entitlements, knowing the part time minimum wage is essential. In Australia, the minimum wage applies equally to full-time and part-time employees on an hourly basis. This article explains how to convert your part-time hourly rate into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, and covers tax, superannuation, and casual loading.
How to Convert an Hourly Rate to Annual Pay
The standard formula for annual gross pay is:
Annual pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
This assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. For part-time employees, the hours per week are fewer than 38. For example, if you work 20 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour, your annual pay is:
$26.44 × 20 × 52 = $27,497.60
If you work 38 hours per week (full-time equivalent), the annual amount is $52,245.44. The formula is the same for any hourly rate, whether it is an award rate or a negotiated salary.
To find your fortnightly pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. Using the same example, weekly pay is $528.80, so fortnightly pay is $1,057.60.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The National Minimum Wage is the legal minimum hourly rate set by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. However, most employees are covered by an award or enterprise agreement that may set a higher minimum rate. Award rates vary by industry and occupation. If you are covered by an award, you must be paid at least the award rate for your classification.
For part-time employees, the same award rates apply on an hourly basis. You are entitled to the same hourly rate as a full-time employee doing the same job, but your weekly and annual pay are proportionally lower because you work fewer hours.
Casual Loading for Part-Time Workers
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave (such as annual leave and sick leave). For part-time casuals, the minimum casual rate is $33.05 per hour ($26.44 × 1.25).
When using a timesheet or pay calculator, you should enter your base hourly rate (without casual loading) and then apply the loading separately. Do not enter a rate that already includes casual loading unless the calculator explicitly asks for the loaded rate. Our timesheet allows you to check a box to add 25% casual loading on top of the base rate.
Superannuation on Top of Your Pay
Superannuation (super) is paid by your employer on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. Super is not deducted from your hourly rate; it is an additional cost to your employer.
For part-time employees, super is calculated on the same basis: 12% of your gross ordinary earnings. For example, if your annual gross pay is $27,497.60, your employer must contribute an extra $3,299.71 in super (12% of $27,497.60), provided your earnings are below the maximum base.
Tax on Part-Time Income
Your part-time income is subject to Australian resident tax rates for the 2026–27 financial year. The tax-free threshold is $18,200 for incomes up to $45,000, then 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. A 2% Medicare levy generally applies, with reductions for singles earning below $24,000 (using 2025–26 thresholds as 2026–27 were not confirmed here).
For a part-time worker earning $27,497.60, the tax payable is approximately $1,394.64 (15% of $27,497.60 minus the tax-free threshold). This is an estimate and does not include HELP, Medicare levy surcharge or salary packaging.
Example: Part-Time Minimum Wage in Practice
Let’s take a part-time employee working 20 hours per week at the National Minimum Wage. Their base hourly rate is $26.44. Their weekly pay is $528.80, fortnightly $1,057.60, annual $27,497.60. If they are casual, the loaded rate is $33.05 per hour, weekly $661.00, annual $34,372.00. Super on top is 12% of $27,497.60 = $3,299.71. Tax is about $1,394.64. This assumes the same rate every week.
For more details on award rates, see our pay guides and reference tables for industry-specific minimums. These are averages and not a job median. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time is $2,083.70 per week (May 2026), which is an average of all employees, not a median for a specific job.
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Final Thoughts
Understanding the part time minimum wage helps you know your entitlements. Use the formula to convert to annual pay, and remember that super is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.