20 hrs/week
Age 16 minimum wage 20 hours
$250.20/wk
$13,010/year gross
Effective 1 July 2026 · Updated 2026-08-24$12.51/hour
Age 16 2026
Award/agreement-free employees aged 16. National Minimum Wage band with pay examples, adult NMW context, and official Fair Work sources — for HR, payroll, and workers.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
$12.51Statutory rate
$24,717FT annual gross
-$13.93vs adult NMW
—No prior listed
Pay at 20, 30 & 38 hours/week
Gross at $12.51/hour before tax. Use the hourly salary calculator and Australia tax calculator for take-home estimates.
30 hrs/week
Age 16 minimum wage 30 hours
$375.30/wk
$19,516/year gross
38 hrs/week
Age 16 minimum wage 38 hours
$475.32/wk
$24,717/year gross
Annual calculation
$475.32 (38h week) × 52 = $24,717 gross/year
Actual take-home depends on tax residency and the Medicare levy. Model net pay with the Australia tax calculator.
Notes
Special National Minimum Wage 3 for juniors: 47.3% of the adult weekly National Minimum Wage, converted to an hourly rate using 38 ordinary hours. Modern awards may set different junior scales.
Adult National Minimum Wage context
The adult National Minimum Wage for award/agreement-free employees aged 21+ is $26.44/hour. This band is $13.93/hour below that floor.
Compare Age 16 minimum wage
See who has the higher floor — and why — versus other bands.
Frequently asked questions
The rate for award/agreement-free employees aged 16 is $12.51 per hour ($475.32 for a 38-hour week) from 1 July 2026. Over a year at 38 hours/week that is about $24,717 gross before tax.
The adult National Minimum Wage is $26.44/hour ($1,004.90 per 38-hour week). Age 16 is $12.51/hour — a gap of $13.93/hour.
At $475.32 for 38 ordinary hours each week over 52 weeks, gross pay is about $24,717/year before income tax and the Medicare levy. Actual take-home depends on tax residency and offsets.
Current rates took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review.
For award/agreement-free juniors, Special National Minimum Wage 3 is 47.3% of the adult weekly National Minimum Wage ($1,004.90), then converted to an hourly rate using 38 ordinary hours — $12.51/hour ($475.32/week). Your modern award may use a different junior scale.
Often yes. The National Minimum Wage is a safety-net floor for award/agreement-free employees. Modern awards and enterprise agreements usually set classification rates at or above this floor. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman tools to confirm your award rate.
Award/agreement-free employees aged 16. Special National Minimum Wage 3 for juniors: 47.3% of the adult weekly National Minimum Wage, converted to an hourly rate using 38 ordinary hours. Modern awards may set different junior scales.
At $12.51/hour: 20 hrs/week ≈ $250.20/week ($13,010/year); 30 hrs/week ≈ $375.30/week ($19,516/year); 38 hrs/week ≈ $475.32/week ($24,717/year). Gross before tax. Full-time ordinary hours for the National Minimum Wage weekly figure are 38.
Higher National Minimum Wage bands raise gross pay. Net pay still depends on tax residency, offsets, HELP/HECS, and Medicare levy settings. Model the same hours in our Australia tax calculator.
The adult National Minimum Wage is $26.44/hour. Age 16 is $12.51/hour — a gap of $13.93/hour.
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