Minimum Wage History in Australia
The National Minimum Wage in Australia rises in most years because the Fair Work Commission reviews it annually. The current figure, in force since 1 July 2026, is $26.44 an hour.
Each year the Fair Work Commission runs an Annual Wage Review. An expert panel weighs the cost of living, wage growth, business conditions and the needs of the lower paid, then sets a new National Minimum Wage and adjusts modern-award minimums at the same time. The result takes effect from the first full pay period starting on or after the first of July, so the timing of the change is the same every year.
Looking back over recent years, the minimum wage has risen at a different pace each time. Some years brought a modest lift, while others, especially when inflation was running high, brought a much larger one. The full history is set out in the table below, which lists the weekly and hourly figure for every year, so the year-by-year movement is easy to follow at a glance.
The reasons behind each decision shift from year to year. When living costs climb quickly, the review tends to grant a bigger rise to help protect the buying power of lower-paid workers. When the economy is softer or unemployment is a concern, the increases are usually smaller. Because the panel looks at fresh economic data each time, no two years are decided in quite the same way.
The date is the one constant. Whatever the size of the rise, it lands at the first full pay period on or after the first of July, which is when payroll systems switch over to the new rate. Pay earned before that point stays on the old rate, and the new figure applies from the first full pay period after it.
For 2026 the published National Minimum Wage is $26.44 an hour, operative from 1 July 2026. You can trace how it reached that level, and compare it with earlier years, in the full history table further down this page. Every figure there comes from the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.
| Effective | Per hour | Per week | Per year | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2026 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $52,395 | 6% |
| 1 July 2025 | $24.95 | $948.00 | $49,429 | 3.5% |
| 1 July 2024 | $24.10 | $915.90 | $47,755 | 3.75% |
| 1 July 2023 | $23.23 | $882.80 | $46,029 | 8.6% |
| 1 July 2022 | $21.38 | $812.60 | $42,369 | 5.2% |
| 1 July 2021 | $20.33 | $772.60 | $40,283 | 2.5% |
| 1 July 2020 | $19.84 | $753.80 | $39,303 | 1.75% |
| 1 July 2019 | $19.49 | $740.80 | $38,625 | 3% |
| 1 July 2018 | $18.93 | $719.20 | $37,499 | 3.5% |
| 1 July 2017 | $18.29 | $694.90 | $36,232 | 3.3% |
| 1 July 2016 | $17.70 | $672.70 | $35,075 | 2.4% |
Common questions
Why does the minimum wage change each year?
Because the Fair Work Commission reviews it every year in the Annual Wage Review, adjusting it for the cost of living and the wider economic conditions.
When do new minimum wage rates start?
From the first full pay period beginning on or after the first of July each year. For 2026 the new rate applied from 1 July 2026.
Where can I see past minimum wage rates?
The table below lists the weekly and hourly National Minimum Wage for every year, so you can compare 2026 with earlier years at a glance.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. Source: Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. Last checked .
General information only — not legal, industrial or financial advice. These are the published minimum rates for information. Your modern award or enterprise agreement prevails if there is any inconsistency. Check the official source above or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your situation.