What is minimum wage in Victoria? Your take-home pay explained
The minimum wage in Victoria is the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, as set by the Fair Work Commission from 1 July 2026.
Understanding the minimum wage in Victoria
If you are asking what is minimum wage in victoria, the answer is straightforward: Victoria follows the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission. As of 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. This applies to all employees not covered by an award or registered agreement, regardless of which state you work in.
Fair Work explains that the national minimum wage is reviewed each year and applies to employees across Australia. If you are covered by an industry award, your minimum pay may be higher than the national rate. You can check your award using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool.
How your take-home pay is calculated
Your take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after deductions. The main deductions are:
- Income tax – calculated using the 2026–27 resident tax rates.
- Medicare levy – 2% of your taxable income, with reduced rates for low earners.
- Other deductions – such as HELP/HECS repayments or salary sacrifice (not covered here).
Superannuation is not deducted from your take-home pay if your job advertisement says “plus super”. The 12% super guarantee is paid on top of your salary by your employer.
Tax rates for 2026–27
| Taxable income | Tax on this income |
|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | Nil |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 15c for each $1 over $18,200 |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000 |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000 |
| Over $190,000 | $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000 |
You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) of up to $700, which reduces your tax bill. LITO phases out between $37,500 and $66,667.
Medicare levy thresholds
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. However, if your income is below certain thresholds, you pay a reduced rate or nothing. The latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If you earn between these amounts, the levy is 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Full-time minimum wage earners pay the full 2% because their income exceeds $35,013.
Example: take-home pay on the minimum wage
Let’s work through a typical minimum wage scenario. You work 38 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, earning $26.44 per hour.
- Annual gross salary: $26.44 × 38 × 52 = $52,255 (rounded from $52,254.88)
- Income tax (after LITO): approximately $4,738
- Medicare levy (2%): $1,045
- Total deductions: $5,783
- Annual take-home pay: $46,472
- Weekly take-home: $893.69
- Fortnightly take-home: $1,787.38
These figures are estimates. Your actual tax may vary due to rounding in payroll tax tables or other factors. Use the Take-home pay calculator for a personalised estimate.
What about awards and agreements?
If you work in an industry covered by an award (e.g., retail, hospitality, healthcare), your minimum wage may be higher than the national minimum. Awards often include penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, or late nights. Always check your award or enterprise agreement to see if you are entitled to more than $26.44 per hour.
Fair Work provides a Minimum wage guide and a Pay Calculator to find your exact minimum rate.
Superannuation on the minimum wage
Your employer must pay super at 12% of your ordinary time earnings. For a minimum wage worker, that’s an extra $6,270.60 per year paid into your super fund. This is not taken from your pay – it’s an additional cost for your employer. If your job ad says “$26.44 per hour plus super”, your take-home is still $26.44 per hour before tax.
Key takeaways
- The minimum wage in Victoria is the national rate: $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week.
- After tax and Medicare, a full-time minimum wage worker takes home about $893.69 per week.
- Super is paid on top, not deducted from your take-home.
- If you earn below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate.
- Always check your award or agreement – you may be entitled to more.
For more details on tax and Medicare, see Tax and Medicare. For a full breakdown of average earnings, visit Benchmarks.
Questions
Is the minimum wage in Victoria different from the national minimum wage?
No, Victoria does not have its own minimum wage. The national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission applies across all states and territories, including Victoria. As of 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week.
How much tax will I pay on the minimum wage?
On the minimum wage annual salary of $52,255, you will pay income tax according to the 2026–27 tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, then 15c per dollar up to $45,000, and 30c per dollar on the remainder. After the low-income tax offset (LITO) of up to $700, your total tax is approximately $4,738. Medicare levy adds 2% ($1,045) unless you earn below the single threshold of $28,011. Your take-home pay after tax and Medicare is roughly $46,472 per year, or $893.69 per week.
What about superannuation on the minimum wage?
Employers must pay superannuation on top of your minimum wage at 12% from 1 July 2026. This is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an additional contribution paid into your super fund. For a minimum wage worker, that adds about $6,270.60 per year to your super balance.