Minimum wages could change from 1 July 2013. Sign up for updates and we'll send you updates about this years review of minimum wages and how it affects you.
The national minimum wage is the minimum wage that applies to employees who aren’t covered by an award or agreement. It covers the whole national workplace relations system.
Most employees in the national workplace relations system are covered by an award. See Finding the Right Pay for tools and information to help you find minimum wages under awards.
National minimum wage for adults
Currently the full-time minimum wage is $15.96 per hour or $606.40 per week. This means that most employees in the national system shouldn't get less than this.
Casuals covered by the national minimum wage get an extra 23% ($19.63 per hour).
National minimum wages for apprentices, juniors & trainees
There are special national minimum wages for trainees, apprentices and juniors who don’t have an award or agreement. From 1 July 2012 these are:
Juniors:
- Under 16 years of age $5.87
- At 16 years of age $7.55
- At 17 years of age $9.22
- At 18 years of age $10.90
- At 19 years of age $13.17
- At 20 years of age $15.59.
Apprentices
- Year 1 of apprenticeship $10.22
- Year 2 of apprenticeship $12.08
- Year 3 of apprenticeship $14.87
- Year 4 of apprenticeship $17.65.
Trainees
National minimum wages for employees with a disability
There are 2 special national minimum wages for employees with disability.
For details see Employees with disability.
Annual wage reviews
The Fair Work Commission reviews minimum wages each year. Any changes start from 1 July.
The review looks at the pay rates in:
- modern awards
- the national minimum wage - for employees who don’t have an award or a workplace agreement.
Visit the Fair Work Commission - annual wage reviews 
for more information.