What is the Australian minimum wage? Understanding hourly rates, casual loading and super
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1004.90 per week for a 38-hour week, with casual loading of 25% and super paid on top.
What is the Australian minimum wage?
If you have ever asked "what is the Australian minimum wage", the answer depends on whether you are a permanent or casual employee, and whether an award or enterprise agreement applies. This guide explains the National Minimum Wage set by the Fair Work Commission, how to convert an hourly rate to annual pay, and the important role of casual loading and superannuation.
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026
The Fair Work Commission announced a National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week. That works out to $1004.90 per week. For casual employees, the rate includes a 25% casual loading, bringing it to $33.05 per hour. The loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements such as annual leave and sick leave.
It is important to note that the National Minimum Wage is the legal floor. Many employees are covered by modern awards or enterprise agreements that set higher minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides for each award. If you are unsure of your minimum entitlement, check the relevant award or agreement.
Converting hourly to annual: the formula
To estimate your annual gross pay, multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. The standard full-time week is 38 hours, so the formula becomes:
Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × 38 × 52
For example, at the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 per hour:
$26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,245.44 per year (before tax and super).
If you work fewer or more hours, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The hourly conversion tool on this site lets you enter your own rate and hours.
Fortnightly pay
Many employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly pay by two. For a full-time minimum wage earner:
$1004.90 × 2 = $2009.80 per fortnight (before tax and super).
Casual loading: what it means for your hourly rate
If you are a casual employee, your hourly rate should already include the 25% casual loading. The National Minimum Wage for casuals is $33.05 per hour. When using our the timesheet calculator, you enter your base hourly rate (without loading) and then check the box to add 25% casual loading. Do not enter a rate that already includes loading, as that would double-count it.
Casual loading is not a bonus; it replaces paid leave. Casual employees do not accrue annual leave or sick leave, so the loading compensates for that. For more detail, see the casual loading page.
Superannuation: paid on top of your hourly rate
Superannuation is an additional payment your employer must make into a super fund on your behalf. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. This is paid on top of your hourly rate, not deducted from it. For example, if your annual gross is $52,245.44, your employer contributes an extra $6,269.45 (12%) to your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830.
The super and packaging page explains how salary packaging and super contributions interact.
Tax and Medicare levy
Your annual gross pay is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil 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
The Medicare levy is generally 2% of your taxable income. There are reductions for low-income earners, but the thresholds for 2026–27 were not confirmed at the time of this guide. We use the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds for estimates.
For a full-time minimum wage earner ($52,245.44), the estimated tax (including Medicare) would be roughly $6,500–$7,000, depending on exact calculations. Use the take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
Award rates and average earnings
The National Minimum Wage is the floor, but many workers earn more. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time employees at $2,083.70 per week (May 2026). That is an average across all industries and occupations, not the median for any specific job. For all employees (including part-time), total average earnings are $1,579.20 per week.
If you are looking for the typical pay for a particular role, check the relevant award or industry data. The average pay page provides more context.
Important disclaimer
Annual pay estimates on this site use the formula hourly rate × hours per week × 52. They assume 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 $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax uses the 2026–27 resident scale with the 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.
Summary
Understanding what is the Australian minimum wage involves knowing the base rate, casual loading, and super. The National Minimum Wage for 2026–27 is $26.44 per hour for permanent employees and $33.05 per hour for casuals. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 to estimate annual gross, and remember that super is paid on top. For award-specific rates, consult the Fair Work Ombudsman's reference tables.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.