Minimum wage in Victoria: what changes your fortnightly take-home pay
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, which applies in Victoria unless an award or agreement sets a higher rate.
Minimum wage in Victoria: the starting point
If you work in Victoria and are not covered by an award or registered agreement, the national minimum wage sets your minimum pay. As of 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, according to Fair Work. For a full-time worker (38 hours a week, 52 weeks a year), that comes to an annual salary of $52,255.
Many Victorian workers are covered by an award that may pay more. Always check your award or agreement, because the minimum wage in your industry could be higher than the national figure.
What changes your fortnight: tax brackets
Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. The Australian tax system uses a sliding scale. For 2026–27, the rates are:
- $0 – $18,200: no tax
- $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each dollar over $18,200
- $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000
- and higher brackets for incomes above $135,000
On a minimum wage salary of $52,255, your tax is calculated as:
- $4,020 (on the first $45,000)
- plus 30c × ($52,255 – $45,000) = $2,176.50
- total tax before offsets = $6,196.50
You are entitled to the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which reduces your tax. For $52,255, LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per dollar over $45,000, giving a reduction of about $216. So your final tax is roughly $5,980.
The Medicare levy
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For a minimum wage earner, that adds about $1,045 a year. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your income is below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is phased in. Full-time minimum wage earners are well above the upper threshold, so you pay the full 2%.
Superannuation: not a deduction from your take-home (usually)
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. If your salary is advertised as $52,255 plus super, your employer pays an extra $6,270.60 into your super fund, and your take-home pay is based on the $52,255. If the ad says $52,255 including super, then super is deducted from that amount, reducing your cash pay. Always clarify which way your salary is quoted.
Putting it together: your fortnightly take-home
After tax (including LITO) and the Medicare levy, your annual take-home from the minimum wage is approximately $45,230. That gives you about $1,740 per fortnight. This is an estimate; your actual amount may vary due to rounding in payroll systems, HELP/HECS repayments, or salary sacrifice arrangements.
For more details, see our guides on Minimum wage and Take-home pay. You can also use our Clearance tool to get a personalised estimate.
Questions
How much take-home pay can I expect on the minimum wage in Victoria?
For a full-time worker on the national minimum wage of $52,255 a year, after income tax (including the Low Income Tax Offset) and the 2% Medicare levy, your annual take-home is roughly $45,230. That works out to about $1,740 per fortnight. This is an estimate only; your exact amount depends on your circumstances.
Does the Medicare levy apply to minimum wage earners in Victoria?
Yes, the Medicare levy of 2% applies to your taxable income. However, if your income is below the single threshold of $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is phased in at 10 cents per dollar over the lower threshold. Full-time minimum wage earners are above the upper threshold, so they pay the full 2%.
How does superannuation affect my fortnightly pay on minimum wage?
If your salary is advertised as 'plus super', the 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026) is paid on top by your employer and does not reduce your take-home pay. If your salary is quoted as 'including super', then super is deducted from your gross pay, lowering your fortnightly cash amount. Always check how your pay is advertised.