Adult Employees

From the 1st July 2011, the Australian national minimum wage is $589.30 per week, or $15.51 per hour. This hourly rate is based on the normal 38 hour week, and is for Adults.

Employers and employee groups can set minimum wages, for specific occupations, that are different to the federal rate, but this cannot be less than the above minimum wage.

In 2010 the minimum rate was $569.90 per week or $15.00 per hour.
In 2009 the minimum rate was $543.78 per week or $14.31 per hour.

Junior Employees

The minimum hourly wage rates for Australians under 21 years old are:

• Under 16 years of age $5.71
• At 16 years of age $7.34
• At 17 years of age $8.96
• At 18 years of age $10.59
• At 19 years of age $12.80
• At 20 years of age $15.15

Links:

• www.fairwork.gov.au/…/national-minimum
• www.fairwork.gov.au/…/paycheck

List of historic Australian Federal Minimum wage:

Adult per hour

• 1997 $359.40 per week www.aph.gov.au/library
• 1998 $373.40 per week
• 1999 $385.40 per week
• 2000 $400.40 per week
• 2001 $413.40 per week
• 2002 $431.40 per week
• 2003 $448.40 per week
• 2004 $467.40 per week
• 2005 $484.40 per week or $12.75 per hour
• 2006 $511.86 per week or $13.47 per hour www.fwa.gov.au/…/2006wagereview
• 2007 $522.12 per week or $13.74 per hour www.fwa.gov.au/…/2007wagereview
• 2008 $543.78 per week or $14.31 per hour www.fwa.gov.au/…/2008wagereview
• 2009 $543.78 per week or $14.31 per hour www.fwa.gov.au/…/2009wagereview
• 2010 $569.90 per week or $15.00 per hour www.fwa.gov.au/…/PR072010.htm
• 2011 $589.30 per week or $15.51 per hour www.fairwork.gov.au

Children’s Minimum Wages in Australia

Children will obviously we paid a lower minimum rate, which can vary depending on the occupation.

An example of a Junior rate of pay for the Retail Industry in QLD, taken from:  www.fairwork.gov.au/…/paycheck

The July 2011 rates for the above General Retail Industry Award MA000004 award are now:
17. Minimum weekly wages

Per week  - Classifications
$647.30 Retail Employee Level 1
$662.80 Retail Employee Level 2
$673.10 Retail Employee Level 3
$686.20 Retail Employee Level 4
$714.50 Retail Employee Level 5
$724.80 Retail Employee Level 6
$761.00 Retail Employee Level 7
$792.00 Retail Employee Level 8

18. Junior rates
Junior employees will be paid the following percentage of the appropriate wage rate in clause 17:

Age –  % of weekly rate of pay
Under 16 years of age 45%
16 years of age 50%
17 years of age 60%
18 years of age 70%
19 years of age 80%
20 years of age 90%