Minimum Wage for a 19 Year Old in Australia 2026-27
Award-free minimum $21.82/hr, plus the junior rate 19 year olds actually get under the Retail, Fast Food and Hospitality awards — hourly, casual and weekly, from 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 3 September 202619 year olds earn a minimum of $21.82/hr (83% of the adult rate) if no award applies
Casual rate: $27.28/hr (with 25% loading). Based on the national minimum wage of $26.44/hr for adults (21+).
Most 19 year olds work under an award with its own junior scale: Retail Award $22.25/hr, Fast Food Award $22.25/hr, Hospitality Award $22.47/hr (Level 1, permanent; casuals add 25%). Full table below.
Award junior rates for 19 year olds (1 July 2026)
Each award sets its own junior percentages — they are not the national minimum wage ladder. Level 1 rates for the awards 19 year olds most often work under:
| Award | Age band | % of adult | Per hour | Casual/hr | Per week (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail AwardRetail Employee Level 1 | 19 | 80% | $22.25 | $27.81 | $845.44 |
| Fast Food AwardFast Food Employee Level 1 | 19 | 80% | $22.25 | $27.81 | $845.44 |
| Hospitality AwardLevel 1 (junior employees other than office juniors) | 19 | 85% | $22.47 | $28.09 | $853.86 |
| Cleaning AwardCleaning Services Employee Level 1 | 19 | 80% | $21.66 | $27.08 | $823.12 |
| Hair & Beauty AwardHair and Beauty Employee Level 1 | 19 — adult rate | 100% | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.78 |
| Pastoral AwardFarm and Livestock Hand Level 1 (FLH1) | 19 | 90% | $23.17 | $28.96 | $880.29 |
- Retail Award: A 20 year old moves to the full adult rate after 6 months with the same employer — before that, 90%.
- Retail Award: Higher classification levels carry the same percentages on a higher adult rate.
- Fast Food Award: The same percentages apply at Level 2 and Level 3 on those levels' adult rates.
- Hospitality Award: Hospitality juniors reach the full adult rate at 20, a year earlier than retail or fast food.
- Hospitality Award: Juniors aged 18 or over who are required to serve alcohol must be paid the adult rate for their level.
- Hair & Beauty Award: Hair & Beauty juniors are paid the full adult rate from 18. Apprentices are on apprentice rates instead.
- Pastoral Award: Pastoral juniors are paid the full adult rate from 20.
- Pharmacy, Manufacturing and Storage award juniors are also paid a percentage of the adult rate, but the FWC pay database does not publish those schedules as separate rows, so they are not quoted here — check the award or ask the advisor.
Source: Fair Work Commission Modern Awards Pay Database (junior rate rows, current from 1 July 2026), operative from 1 July 2026; read 2026-09-03. Where an award publishes junior rates weekly, hourly = weekly ÷ 38. Casual = hourly × 1.25 (25% casual loading). Higher classification levels use the same percentages on a higher adult rate.
What a 19 year old earns per week
Permanent (part-time) base pay before tax at typical junior hours. Casuals multiply by 1.25; weekend, public holiday and evening shifts add penalty rates on top.
| Rate | 10 hrs | 15 hrs | 20 hrs | 25 hrs | 38 hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Award-free minimum ($21.82/hr) | $218.20 | $327.30 | $436.40 | $545.50 | $829.16 |
| Retail Award ($22.25/hr) | $222.50 | $333.75 | $445.00 | $556.25 | $845.50 |
| Fast Food Award ($22.25/hr) | $222.50 | $333.75 | $445.00 | $556.25 | $845.50 |
| Hospitality Award ($22.47/hr) | $224.70 | $337.05 | $449.40 | $561.75 | $853.86 |
| Retail Award casual ($27.81/hr) | $278.10 | $417.15 | $556.20 | $695.25 | $1,056.78 |
Junior pay rates by job — age 19
| Job | Base rate | Casual rate | % of adult | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Worker | $22.25 | $27.81 | 80% | Retail Award |
| Barista | $22.47 | $28.09 | 85% | Hospitality Award |
| Waiter | $22.47 | $28.09 | 85% | Hospitality Award |
| Bartender | $22.47 | $28.09 | 85% | Hospitality Award |
| Kitchen Hand | $22.47 | $28.09 | 85% | Hospitality Award |
| Cleaner | $21.66 | $27.08 | 80% | Cleaning Award |
| Warehouse Worker | Junior % set by the award — schedule not in the FWC pay database, so no figure is quoted. Adult Level 1: $27.08/hr. | Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 | ||
| Hairdresser | $27.81 | $34.76 | 100% | Hair & Beauty Award |
| Beauty Therapist | $27.81 | $34.76 | 100% | Hair & Beauty Award |
| Pharmacy Assistant | Junior % set by the award — schedule not in the FWC pay database, so no figure is quoted. Adult Level 1: $27.81/hr. | Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 | ||
| Fast Food Worker | $22.25 | $27.81 | 80% | Fast Food Award |
| Farm Worker | $23.17 | $28.96 | 90% | Pastoral Award |
| Factory Worker | Junior % set by the award — schedule not in the FWC pay database, so no figure is quoted. Adult Level 1: $26.44/hr. | Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 | ||
Weekly earnings at age 19 — award-free minimum
Based on the national minimum junior rate of $21.82/hr:
| Hours/week | Base pay | Casual pay |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | $218.20 | $272.80 |
| 15 hours | $327.30 | $409.20 |
| 20 hours | $436.40 | $545.60 |
| 25 hours | $545.50 | $682.00 |
| 38 hours | $829.16 | $1,036.64 |
When does my pay go up?
When you turn 20, the award-free minimum rises to $25.84/hr (98% of the adult rate) — an increase of $4.02/hr. Under the Retail Award your rate becomes $25.03/hr (90%, then the full adult rate after 6 months with the employer) and under the Fast Food Award $25.03/hr.
Your employer must increase your pay rate from your birthday. If they don't, you may be entitled to back pay for every hour worked at the old rate.
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Frequently asked questions
How much should a 19 year old get paid in Australia?
The award-free national minimum wage for a 19 year old is $21.82/hr (83% of the adult $26.44/hr). Most 19 year olds are covered by an award with its own junior scale: $22.25/hr under the Retail Award, $22.25/hr under the Fast Food Award and $22.47/hr under the Hospitality Award (Level 1, from 1 July 2026). Casuals get 25% on top.
What is the minimum wage for 19 year olds?
The minimum wage for 19 year olds in Australia is $21.82/hr for permanent employees and $27.28/hr for casuals (including 25% casual loading) if no award applies. If an award covers your job, its junior rate applies instead — the table on this page lists the Retail, Fast Food, Hospitality, Cleaning, Hair & Beauty and Pastoral awards.
How much does a 19 year old earn in retail or at a supermarket?
Supermarkets and most shops are covered by the General Retail Industry Award. A 19 year old at Retail Employee Level 1 earns $22.25/hr (80% of the adult $27.81/hr), or $27.81/hr as a casual.
How much does a 19 year old get paid at McDonald's, KFC or Hungry Jack's?
Fast food chains are covered by the Fast Food Industry Award unless an enterprise agreement applies (an agreement must leave you better off overall). The award minimum for a 19 year old at Level 1 is $22.25/hr (80% of the adult rate), or $27.81/hr casual, plus penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and after 9pm.
How many hours can a 19 year old work?
At 19, you are legally an adult and there are no age-based restrictions on working hours. Full-time employees work 38 ordinary hours per week under the Fair Work Act, plus reasonable additional hours; your award sets minimum shift lengths and breaks.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.