Minimum Wage in South Australia 2026–27

The minimum wage rate in South Australia

The Fair Work Commission set the National Minimum Wage in the Annual Wage Review 2026, and it applies to employees in the national system from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. That is the same figure in every state. For the full rate history, junior table and what the award floors are, see minimum wage in Australia.

After-tax figures use the 2026-27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy for a full-time adult, with the tax-free threshold claimed and no HECS-HELP debt. Income tax is set by the Commonwealth, so the take-home figure is identical in every state. Your employer also pays about $6,271 a year in super on top. Run your own hours through the take-home pay calculator.

Is there a South Australian minimum wage?

Private-sector employees in South Australia are in the national system and get the National Minimum Wage and modern award rates. South Australian state public sector and local government employees remain under the state system.

Fair Work Ombudsman: “State public sector and local government employees aren't covered by the national system and remain under the state system.”

No separate South Australian minimum wage applies to private-sector employees. South Australia referred its private-sector industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth, so the Fair Work Commission's $26.44 floor and its modern awards apply, with SafeWork SA as the state body listed by the Fair Work Ombudsman for those outside the national system.

State public sector and local government employees in South Australia remain in the state system. Their pay comes from state awards and enterprise agreements, not from a state minimum wage, so we do not publish a figure for them: check with SafeWork SA or your employer.

Most people are paid above the minimum anyway, under a modern award. Check your award’s rates or the pay rates by job, which apply the same way in South Australia.

Under-21s and apprentices in South Australia

Under-21 and apprentice pay in South Australia follows the national junior percentages or the scales in your modern award, the same as in every national-system state.

These percentages apply only to employees with no award or agreement (National Minimum Wage Order 2026, cl 8.2). Awards set their own junior scales; see minimum wage by age, or go to a 16, 17 or 18 year old. Apprentice rates are covered in apprentice electrician pay.

SA public holidays in the 2026-27 minimum wage year

13 whole-day public holidays fall between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 in South Australia. A full-time or part-time employee who has the day off on a day they would normally work is paid their base rate for those hours: at the minimum wage and a standard 38-hour week that is about $200.94 for the day. If you work the day, your award sets the penalty rate. Dates are from the state government’s own list; the SA public holiday pay page has 2026 and 2027 in full, plus part-day and regional holidays.

The list shows whole-day, state-wide holidays only. Check the pay page for any regional or part-day holidays that apply to your workplace.

Payroll tax in South Australia: when employing minimum-wage staff triggers it

South Australia payroll tax for 2026-27 starts at $1,500,000 of annual taxable wages, with a headline rate of 4.95%, administered by RevenueSA. Once the rate applies, it is charged on SA wages less a deduction of up to $600,000 a year ($50,000 a month). Interstate employers get the SA share of the $600,000.

On wages alone, $1,500,000 is about 29 full-time adult employees on the minimum wage ($52,255 each). That is our own arithmetic: super and other taxable wages also count, and groups and interstate apportionment change the test, so a real business reaches the threshold sooner. Use the SA payroll tax page or the payroll tax calculator for a proper estimate, and the employer cost calculator for the full cost of a worker.

Long service leave in South Australia on the minimum wage

Under the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA), 10 years of continuous service qualifies you to take 13 weeks of leave. South Australia pays the largest entitlement in the country: 13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service, then 1.3 weeks for every year after that, at the same rate whether you are full-time, part-time or casual. A pro-rata payment becomes available once you complete 7 years, worth 1.3 weeks for each COMPLETED year — 8½ years pays 10.4 weeks, not 11.05. It is not payable if you are dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or you end the contract unlawfully, such as by walking out without working your notice. At the full-time minimum wage ($1,004.90 a week) 13 weeks is worth about $13,064. Full-time, part-time and casual workers accrue at the same 1.3 weeks a year — employment status does not change the rate. A casual's contracts must form a continuous series; a prolonged gap or a clear termination can break it. Weeks that do not count as service (such as unpaid leave) must be added on before the 10 years is reached. Work out your own entitlement with the SA long service leave calculator.

Where to check or complain in South Australia

National-system employees can ask the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94). For the state-system and state-run matters on this page:

• SafeWork SA (Government of South Australia)

Minimum wage in other states

The national rate is the same, but the state rules differ:

• Minimum wage in New South Wales: NSW state awards rose 4.75% in the 2026 State Wage Case.
• Minimum wage in Victoria: Victoria is almost entirely in the national system.
• Minimum wage in Western Australia: WA is the only state with its own State Minimum Wage.
• Minimum wage in Tasmania: Tasmanian local government is in the national system.
• Minimum wage in Queensland: QLD set its own state minimum from 1 September 2026.
• Minimum wage in Australian Capital Territory: The ACT is wholly in the national system, with a lower payroll tax threshold from 1 July 2026.
• Minimum wage in Northern Territory: The NT is wholly in the national system, with the highest payroll tax threshold.

Frequently asked questions