Your Pay Rights Australia 2026

Everything you need to check your pay is correct, in one place. Whether you are on minimum wage, earning penalties, or comparing job offers — the tools below will give you the answer in seconds.

Minimum Wage & Award Rates

Your employer must pay you at least the national minimum wage or the rate set by your Modern Award — whichever is higher. If you are under 21 or an apprentice, different rates may apply. These tools let you check in under a minute.

Minimum Wage CheckerCheck the current national minimum wage by age and employment type.Award Pay RatesLook up base pay rates across 40 Modern Awards. Search by job title or browse by industry.Pay Rate LookupLook up base pay rates by award and classification level.Am I Being Underpaid?Check if your pay is below minimum wage and calculate potential back pay over 6 years.Am I Being Ripped Off at Work?Quick check: enter your job, age and hourly rate to see if your pay is legal.Apprentice Wages CalculatorCalculate minimum apprentice pay rates by year and age, including super.Junior Rates Pay Rise CalculatorSee your step-by-step rise as junior rates are phased out for 18-20 year olds on the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy awards from 1 December 2026.

Salary & Take-Home Pay

Know what you actually take home after tax, Medicare, and HECS. Convert between hourly, weekly, and annual rates. If you are part-time, calculate your pro rata salary properly.

Take Home Pay CalculatorCalculate your after-tax pay including Medicare levy and HECS repayments.Salary to Hourly ConverterConvert between annual, monthly, fortnightly, weekly, and hourly pay rates.Pro Rata Salary CalculatorCalculate your pro rata salary and leave entitlements for part-time hours.Job Comparison CalculatorCompare two job offers side-by-side on after-tax pay, super, and effective hourly rate.Which Job Should I Take?Factor in commute costs, WFH value, super and after-tax pay to find the true winner.

Casual vs Permanent

Casual workers get a 25% loading but miss out on paid leave, notice, and redundancy pay. Use these calculators to see whether casual or permanent actually pays more in your situation.

Casual Loading CalculatorCalculate your casual loaded rate and compare total pay to permanent employment.Casual vs Part-Time ComparisonCompare the annual cost and entitlements of casual versus part-time side by side.

Penalties, Overtime & Shift Loading

Working weekends, public holidays, or overtime? You are almost certainly entitled to penalty rates. These tools calculate the exact multiplier for your award and shift type — and can work out back pay if you have been underpaid.

Penalty Rate CalculatorCalculate penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and overtime by award.Penalty Rate Quick CalculatorQuickly calculate time-and-a-half, double-time, or any penalty multiplier on your base pay.Overtime CalculatorCalculate overtime pay at time-and-a-half or double-time rates.Public Holiday Rate CheckerFind public holiday penalty rates by state and award for the year ahead.Shift Cost CalculatorCalculate the total cost of a shift including all applicable penalty rates and loadings.Back Pay CalculatorCalculate how much you are owed in unpaid wages including super shortfall.

Pay Rates by Employer

What 413 of Australia's largest employers have to pay in 2026 — the award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties and the enterprise agreements on record for each one.

Browse employer pay guides →

Guides & Articles

Deep dives on pay rates, wage reviews, and your rights when something does not add up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2026?

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours) from 1 July 2026, following the Annual Wage Review 2026 decision (a 6% increase).

What is casual loading and how much should I get?

Casual loading is typically 25% on top of the base hourly rate. It compensates you for not receiving paid leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Some awards set a different percentage.

Can my employer pay me less than the award rate?

No. It is illegal to pay below the minimum rates set by your applicable Modern Award or the national minimum wage. If you are being underpaid, you can recover up to 6 years of back pay.

How do I know what award I'm covered by?

Your award depends on your industry and the type of work you do, not your job title. Use the Award Finder tool to look up the Modern Award covering your role, or check your payslip and employment contract.