Minimum Wages
Overview What is the current national
A minimum wage is an employee’s base rate of pay minimum wage?
for ordinary hours worked. It is generally dependent
The National Minimum Wage is currently $23.23 per
on the industrial instrument that applies to their
hour or $882.80 per 38 hour week (before tax).
employment. For example, a modern award or
registered agreement. Casual employees covered by the National Minimum
Wage also get at least a 25% casual loading.
Employees cannot be paid less than their applicable
minimum wage, even if they agree to it. For award and agreement-free employees, the
percentage scale in the Miscellaneous Award is
Who determines minimum wages? applied to the National Minimum Wage.
Every year, the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC)
Expert Panels review the minimum wages received Employees covered by a modern
by employees in the national workplace relations award
system.
Most employees in the national workplace system
The review considers: are covered by a modern award. These contain the
written submissions from interested minimum wage, as well as other terms and
organisations and individuals conditions, for employees in particular industries
and occupations.
consultations before the Expert Panels
Some awards can have transitional arrangements as
research commissioned by the Expert
determined by the FWC. Employers and employees
Panels.
should check their relevant modern award(s) to
At the conclusion of this review, a National determine if transitional arrangements apply.
Minimum Wage Order is made which will apply from
Minimum wages under modern awards may include:
the first full pay period on or after 1 July each year.
wages rates for adults, in some cases, at
What is a National Minimum Wage different rates according to experience and
Order? qualifications
A National Minimum Wage Order outlines the wage rates for juniors, employees with a
minimum wage for award and agreement-free disability, and employees to whom training
employees. arrangements apply
The National Minimum Wage Order must set the casual loadings
following wages for award or agreement-free piece rates.
employees:
For further information on modern awards, go to
a National Minimum Wage for adults our Modern awards fact sheet at
a special National Minimum Wage for: fairwork.gov.au/factsheets
o trainees, apprentices and junior To find out the minimum wage under a modern
employees award, you can use our Pay Calculator at
o employees to whom training fairwork.gov.au/pact
arrangements apply
Award wages less than the
o employees with a disability
a casual loading. National Minimum Wage
For more information about the Annual Wage As a result of the 2023 Annual Wage Review
Review process and the National Minimum Wage decision, some minimum award wages may now be
Order visit Fair Work Commission – Annual wage less than the National Minimum Wage. For example,
reviews at fwc.gov.au. some awards contain introductory pay rates for new
employees in their industry. These rates generally
Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 www.fairwork.gov.au
apply for a limited time until an employee
progresses to the next level. If an employee is
covered by an award or agreement, the National
Minimum Wage doesn’t apply.
CONTACT US
Fair Work Online: www.fairwork.gov.au Hearing & speech assistance
Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 Call through the National Relay Service (NRS):
Need language help? For TTY: 13 36 77. Ask for the Fair Work Infoline
13 13 94
Contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
on 13 14 50 Speak & Listen: 1300 555 727. Ask for the Fair Work
Infoline 13 13 94
The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to providing you with advice that you can Last updated: July 2023
rely on. The information contained in this fact sheet is general in nature. If you are © Copyright Fair Work Ombudsman
unsure about how it applies to your situation you can call our Infoline on 13 13 94
or speak with a union, industry association or a workplace relations professional.
Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 www.fairwork
