National Minimum Wage in Australia 2026
The National Minimum Wage is the base rate of pay for adult employees in Australia who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. For 2026 the published figure is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a standard full-time week.
The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 a week, about $52,395 a year full-time), effective 1 July 2026. It rose 6% at the Annual Wage Review 2026; modern award minimums rose 4.75%.
| Basis | Rate |
|---|---|
| Per hour | $26.44 |
| Per 38-hour week | $1,004.90 |
| Per year (× 52.14) | $52,395 |
The National Minimum Wage sets the lowest amount an award-free and agreement-free adult can be paid for their ordinary hours of work. For 2026 that published rate is $26.44 an hour. Over a standard full-time week it comes to $1,004.90, and across a full year of ordinary hours it works out to roughly $52,395. These are the figures set by the Fair Work Commission, the national body responsible for minimum pay.
In practice the National Minimum Wage applies to a fairly small group of workers. Most people in Australia are covered by one of the modern awards, or by a registered enterprise agreement, and those instruments carry their own minimum rates. The National Minimum Wage is the floor for the remainder, adults whose job does not fall under any award and who are not on an agreement. Where a modern award does cover the work, the award's minimum applies instead, and award minimums are usually higher than the National Minimum Wage.
There are related minimums for particular groups. Separate special national minimum wages apply to junior employees, to apprentices and trainees, and to employees with disability, each generally set as a proportion of the adult figure. So a young worker or a first-year apprentice who is award-free is measured against their own special minimum rather than the full adult rate.
The National Minimum Wage is reviewed once a year. In its Annual Wage Review the Fair Work Commission weighs the cost of living, the state of the economy and the position of lower-paid workers, then sets a new rate. Any change takes effect from the first full pay period starting on or after the first of July. The 2026 review lifted the National Minimum Wage by 6%, and the new figure has applied since 1 July 2026.
The rates on AwardScale all come from the Fair Work Commission, published each year through the Annual Wage Review and the Modern Awards Pay Database. Where an enterprise agreement or a modern award sets a rate that differs from the National Minimum Wage, that instrument prevails. The figure shown here is the published legal minimum for 2026, laid out so you can see it and check the date it took effect.
Common questions
Who does the National Minimum Wage apply to?
It applies to adult employees who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. Most workers are covered by an award, whose minimum usually sits above the National Minimum Wage.
How often does the National Minimum Wage change?
Once a year. The Fair Work Commission reviews it in the Annual Wage Review, and any change starts from the first full pay period on or after the first of July.
What is the National Minimum Wage for 2026?
The published figure for 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a standard full-time week, in force since 1 July 2026.
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.