How much is minimum wage in Australia? Your take-home pay after tax and Medicare

How much is minimum wage in Australia?

If you're wondering how much is minimum wage in Australia, the answer is straightforward: from 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time employee working 38 hours. This figure comes from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission, and it applies to employees who are not covered by an award or registered agreement.

Most Australian employees are covered by an industry or occupation award, which often sets higher minimum pay rates. The national minimum wage is the legal floor – you cannot be paid less than this unless you are a junior, apprentice, or trainee under special rates.

Gross annual pay on the minimum wage

If you work 38 hours a week for 52 weeks, your gross annual salary is:

$26.44 × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $52,255

That's your pay before any deductions. Your employer may also pay 12% superannuation on top, but that goes into your super fund, not your bank account.

What changes your fortnightly take-home pay

Your take-home pay – the amount that lands in your bank account each fortnight – depends on three main things: income tax, the Medicare levy, and any tax offsets you're entitled to.

Income tax for 2026–27

The Australian Taxation Office applies a progressive tax scale. For a resident earning $52,255:

• First $18,200: tax-free
• Next $26,800 (from $18,201 to $45,000): taxed at 15 cents per dollar = $4,020
• Remaining $7,255 (from $45,001 to $52,255): taxed at 30 cents per dollar = $2,176.50
• Gross tax before offsets: $6,196.50

You may be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). For 2026–27, the maximum LITO is $700, but it phases out. At $52,255, your LITO is:

$325 minus 1.5 cents for every dollar over $45,000 = $325 – $108.83 = $216.17

So your net tax after LITO is:

$6,196.50 – $216.17 = $5,980.33

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. Because your income is above the single upper threshold of $35,013, you pay the full 2%:

$52,255 × 2% = $1,045.10

(If your income were between $28,011 and $35,013, you would pay a reduced rate of 10 cents per dollar over the lower threshold. But at $52,255 you are well above that range.)

Total deductions and net annual pay

Total deductions: $5,980.33 (tax) + $1,045.10 (Medicare) = $7,025.43

Net annual pay: $52,255 – $7,025.43 = $45,229.57

Fortnightly take-home

Divide by 26 fortnights:

$45,229.57 ÷ 26 = $1,739.60 per fortnight

That's the approximate amount you would receive each fortnight if you are a full-time employee on the national minimum wage with no other deductions (such as HELP/HECS or salary sacrifice).

What about super?

Superannuation is not deducted from your take-home pay. It is an additional payment your employer makes on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a minimum wage worker, that's an extra $6,270.60 per year going into your super fund.

When you see a job ad quoting a salary, it is often expressed as "plus super" – meaning the super is on top. Your take-home pay is based on the base salary, not the total package.

How the minimum wage compares to other benchmarks

• All employees average weekly total earnings (ABS, May 2026): $1,579.20 per week – about 57% higher than the minimum wage.
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week – more than double the minimum wage.

These figures include part-time workers and overtime, but they show that the minimum wage is a floor, not the typical wage.

Key points to remember

• The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (38 hours).
• Your take-home pay after tax and Medicare is about $1,740 per fortnight.
• Award-covered employees may be entitled to higher minimum rates.
• Super is paid on top by your employer and does not reduce your take-home.
• The Medicare levy thresholds for singles are $28,011 (lower) and $35,013 (upper). If you earn above the upper threshold, you pay the full 2%.

For a more personalised estimate, use our Take-home pay guide or the Clearance tool to see how different deductions affect your pay.