National Minimum Wage by Year
The National Minimum Wage is the floor for adults aged 21 and over who are not covered by an award or agreement. Each figure below applied from the first full pay period on or after 1 July of that year.
| Financial year | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Increase | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | 6.0% | 1 Jul 2026 |
| 2025-26 | $24.95 | $948.00 | 3.5% | 1 Jul 2025 |
| 2024-25 | $24.10 | $915.90 | 3.75% | 1 Jul 2024 |
| 2023-24 | $23.23 | $882.80 | 8.6% | 1 Jul 2023 |
| 2022-23 | $21.38 | $812.60 | 5.2% | 1 Jul 2022 |
| 2021-22 | $20.33 | $772.60 | 2.5% | 1 Jul 2021 |
| 2020-21 | $19.84 | $753.80 | 1.75% | 1 Jul 2020 |
| 2019-20 | $19.49 | $740.80 | 3.0% | 1 Jul 2019 |
| 2018-19 | $18.93 | $719.20 | 3.5% | 1 Jul 2018 |
| 2017-18 | $18.29 | $694.90 | 3.3% | 1 Jul 2017 |
| 2016-17 | $17.70 | $672.70 | 2.4% | 1 Jul 2016 |
| 2015-16 | $17.29 | $656.90 | 2.5% | 1 Jul 2015 |
| 2014-15 | $16.87 | $640.90 | 3.0% | 1 Jul 2014 |
| 2013-14 | $16.37 | $622.20 | 2.6% | 1 Jul 2013 |
| 2012-13 | $15.96 | $606.40 | 2.9% | 1 Jul 2012 |
| 2011-12 | $15.51 | $589.30 | 3.4% | 1 Jul 2011 |
| 2010-11 | $15.00 | $569.90 | — | 1 Jul 2010 |
Weekly rate for 38 ordinary hours. Increases are as announced by the Commission, on the weekly rate. Source: Fair Work Commission National Minimum Wage Orders; the 2026-27 rate is from [2026] FWCFB 3500.
The Years That Stand Out
- 2020-21 (1.75%): the smallest increase in the series, decided during the COVID-19 downturn.
- 2023-24 (8.6%): the largest, as the Commission responded to inflation of 7.0% in the year to the March quarter 2023.
- 2026-27 (6.0%): the National Minimum Wage rose faster than award rates (4.75%) because the Commission began lifting the lowest award classification, which the minimum wage is aligned to, in the first of three stages. It used the Reserve Bank’s forecast of 4.8% inflation for the year to June 2026 as its benchmark.
Whether the minimum wage kept pace with prices in a given year depends on which inflation figure you compare against and when. For the official series, see the ABS Consumer Price Index.
How the Fair Work Commission Sets the Minimum Wage
The Commission conducts an Annual Wage Review every year under the Fair Work Act 2009, with the result applying from 1 July. Key features of the process:
- Submissions: the Australian Government, employer groups, unions and community organisations file evidence and argue for a particular increase.
- Economic evidence: the Commission considers inflation, wages growth, employment, business conditions and productivity, drawing on its own statistical report.
- Legislative criteria: the Act requires it to weigh the needs of the low paid, equal remuneration, the performance of the economy and relative living standards.
- Decision: an expert panel publishes a reasoned decision setting both the National Minimum Wage and the increase to modern award rates.
The Minimum Wage Now
The latest increase is the last row of the table. For the current figures in full, after tax and with award comparisons and the date of the next review, read what is the minimum wage in Australia. Under-21s are paid a percentage of it; see minimum wage by age. Every year in the table above is free to download as CSV from the Australian tax and pay data page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the minimum wage increased since 2010?
The National Minimum Wage rose from $569.90 a week ($15.00 an hour) on 1 Jul 2010 to $1,004.90 ($26.44 an hour) from 1 Jul 2026, an increase of 76.3% over 16 annual reviews.
What was the largest minimum wage increase?
The largest increase since 2010 was 8.6% from 1 Jul 2023, taking the hourly rate from $21.38 to $23.23. The smallest was 1.75% from 1 Jul 2020, during the COVID-19 downturn.
What was the minimum wage in 2024 and 2025?
From 1 July 2024 the National Minimum Wage was $24.10 an hour ($915.90 a week). From 1 July 2025 it was $24.95 an hour ($948.00 a week). It rose to $26.44 from 1 Jul 2026.
How often does the minimum wage increase?
Once a year. The Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review sets the National Minimum Wage and all modern award rates, usually announced in late May or June, with the new rates applying from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The next review is the Annual Wage Review 2027.
How this history was compiled▼
Rates are taken from the Fair Work Commission's National Minimum Wage Orders, for 38 ordinary hours a week. The table is generated from a single tested constant; an automated test checks that each hourly rate is the weekly rate divided by 38 and that each computed increase agrees with the Commission’s announced percentage.
Sources & References
- 1National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (PR799279)— Fair Work Commission
- 2National minimum wage orders and Annual Wage Reviews— Fair Work Commission
- 3Minimum wages— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 4Consumer Price Index, Australia— Australian Bureau of Statistics
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
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Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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