National Minimum Wage Australia 2026 – Hourly and Weekly
The adult National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week for 38 ordinary hours. Casual employees who rely on that wage receive a 25% loading. Enter a rate below to see whether it sits under those official figures.
Current and previous adult rates
| Period | Hourly | Weekly (38 hours) | Casual hourly (+25%) | Casual weekly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From 1 July 2026 2026-27 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $33.05 | $1,256.13 |
| 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 2025-26 | $24.95 | $948.00 | $31.19 | $1,185.00 |
Weekly figures are the amounts published for a 38-hour week. Casual amounts apply the published 25% loading and round to the nearest cent.
How these figures were set
Each year an Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission reviews minimum wages. The 2026 decision, published on 2 June 2026 as [2026] FWCFB 3500, increased the adult National Minimum Wage to $1,004.90 a week, or $26.44 an hour, from 1 July 2026. The Commission’s national minimum wage page restates that weekly amount as 38 ordinary hours. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the same pair of figures for the first full pay period starting on or after that date.
The previous adult rates, from 1 July 2025, were $24.95 an hour and $948.00 a week. Those remain on this page so a 2025-26 rate can be checked against the figures that applied then.
Casual loading and who is covered
The National Minimum Wage Order sets a 25% casual loading for casual employees who are not covered by an award or agreement. This page applies that loading to the published hourly and weekly amounts and rounds to the nearest cent. It does not calculate junior percentages, apprentice or trainee scales, or supported wage arrangements.
Most national-system employees are covered by a modern award. Award minima increased by a separate percentage in the same review, and an award rate can be higher than the National Minimum Wage. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and Conditions Tool for an award classification.
What the rate check compares
Hourly entries are compared with the official hourly floor. Weekly entries at 38 hours are compared with the official weekly floor. If weekly hours are not 38, the weekly floor is the hourly minimum multiplied by those hours. Daily, fortnightly, monthly and annual entries are converted with the pay converter(52 weeks, 12 months, five-day week) and then compared on an hourly basis.
Because the Commission publishes both an hourly and a weekly figure, hourly × 38 is not always identical to the published weekly amount. Entering the official hourly rate is treated as meeting the hourly floor; entering the official weekly rate is treated as meeting the weekly floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026?
The Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2026 decision ([2026] FWCFB 3500) set the adult National Minimum Wage at $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week based on 38 ordinary hours. Those figures apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What was the National Minimum Wage in 2025-26?
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025 the adult rate was $24.95 an hour, or $948.00 a week on a 38-hour week. Casual employees entitled to that wage received a 25% loading, which the Fair Work Ombudsman published as $31.19 an hour.
How does the 25% casual loading work?
Award/agreement-free casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the National Minimum Wage. From 1 July 2026 that is $33.05 an hour, or $1,256.13 a week at 38 hours. Many awards also use a 25% casual loading, but award rates can be higher than the National Minimum Wage.
Who does the National Minimum Wage apply to?
It is the adult floor for employees in the national system who are not covered by an award or enterprise agreement. Juniors, apprentices, trainees and some employees with a disability have special national minimum wages that this page does not calculate. Most employees are covered by an award, which can set a higher minimum.
How does the below-minimum check work?
Enter a rate and a pay period. An hourly figure is compared with the official hourly floor (plus casual loading if you select casual). A weekly figure is compared with the official weekly floor, or with the hourly floor times your hours if those hours are not 38. Other periods are converted to an hourly equivalent using 52 weeks and then compared with the hourly floor.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is general information about published Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman figures. It is not an underpayment assessment and not financial product advice. Check the official sources and the applicable award or agreement before you act.
General information only
This page is general information, not legal advice, not an underpayment assessment and not financial product advice. In line with ASIC’s general-information approach, it does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Confirm the rate that applies with the Fair Work Commission or Fair Work Ombudsman and the award or agreement that covers the employment before you act.