{"id":18040,"date":"2026-07-15T11:21:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T05:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/?p=18040"},"modified":"2026-07-15T12:12:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T06:42:45","slug":"national-minimum-wage-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/resources\/blogs\/national-minimum-wage-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"National Minimum Wage Increase 2026: What Australian Small Businesses Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18040\" class=\"elementor elementor-18040\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-684f1151 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"684f1151\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f80aa8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f80aa8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The national minimum wage increase 2026 lifts Australia&#8217;s minimum wage to $1,004.90 a week, or $26.44 an hour, for a standard 38-hour week. This is the first time the National Minimum Wage has passed $1,000 a week. The change follows the Fair Work Commission&#8217;s Annual Wage Review 2026 decision, handed down on 2 June 2026, and applies to pay periods starting on or after 1 July 2026.<\/p><p>For Australian SMEs, this isn&#8217;t just a payroll line item. It touches award classifications, casual loadings, enterprise agreements, and the timing of your very next pay run. Here&#8217;s what business owners need to check before the new rates apply.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b65fd91 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6b65fd91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is the new national minimum wage from 1 July 2026?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79be99ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79be99ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From 1 July 2026, the National Minimum Wage rises to $1,004.90 per week, or $26.44 per hour, based on a 38-hour week. This applies to employees who aren&#8217;t covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement.<\/p><p>It&#8217;s a significant milestone. This move reflects the Fair Work Commission&#8217;s Expert Panel weighing cost-of-living pressures against business conditions across the economy.<\/p><p>If any of your staff are award-free and paid at or near the minimum, this is the figure to check first.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd13f5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dd13f5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How much are modern award wages increasing in 2026?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7e62ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7e62ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most Australian employees aren&#8217;t paid the National Minimum Wage directly. They&#8217;re covered by a modern award, and the award wage increase July 2026 rates rose separately, by 4.75 per cent.<\/p><p>The Fair Work Commission&#8217;s Annual Wage Review 2026 decision set a floor for the lowest award classifications too. Under the new rates:<\/p><ul><li>The Australia lowest wage ongoing rate in any award must be at least $1,004.90 per week, or $26.44 per hour<\/li><li>Entry-level rates, which apply for the first six months of employment, must be at least $978.10 per week, or $25.74 per hour<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5030c74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5030c74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf your business runs on award rates, whether in retail, hospitality, administration, or a range of other sectors, this Fair Work Commission wage increase 2026 decision is the one to work through award by award, classification by classification.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61be20b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61be20b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When exactly does the new rate apply to my business?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67acb1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67acb1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is where a lot of employers trip up. The new rates don&#8217;t apply from 1 July itself. They apply from your first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.<\/p><p>For most businesses, that means the increase lands partway through a pay cycle, not neatly on the calendar date. If your pay week runs Wednesday to Tuesday, for example, and 1 July falls midweek, the old rates still apply to that pay period. The new rates kick in with the next full cycle.<\/p><p>Getting this date wrong in either direction, applying it too early or too late, creates underpayment or overpayment issues that are genuinely painful to unwind later. It&#8217;s worth confirming the exact date against your own pay cycle before processing your next run.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0030ede elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0030ede\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Does the increase affect casual employees and juniors?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ea4305 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ea4305\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Yes. The casual minimum wage 2026 rate, including the standard 25 per cent casual loading, rises to $33.05 per hour under the National Minimum Wage order.<\/p><p>Junior employees, apprentices, and trainees are also affected, though their rates are typically calculated as an age-based percentage of the adult rate or set out separately within the relevant award. If you employ any of these groups, don&#8217;t assume last year&#8217;s percentage scale still applies without checking the updated figures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228457c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"228457c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Do enterprise agreements need to be reviewed too?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b58ed9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b58ed9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Often, yes. An enterprise agreement&#8217;s base pay rate can&#8217;t legally fall below the base rate in the relevant modern award. If your award rates have increased and your enterprise agreement rates haven&#8217;t kept pace, there&#8217;s a real risk your agreement rates now sit below the legal minimum.<\/p><p>This is worth checking even if you assumed your enterprise agreement was &#8220;set and forget.&#8221; A quick comparison against the updated award rates avoids an unpleasant surprise at your next payroll reconciliation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d88e2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d88e2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What happens if I don't update pay rates in time?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e410a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e410a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Underpaying employees, even unintentionally, creates a Fair Work compliance issue. Businesses that miss the update may need to back-pay affected staff, and repeated or systemic underpayments can attract closer scrutiny from the Fair Work Ombudsman.<\/p><p>Beyond the legal risk, incorrect rates flow through to your PAYG withholding, superannuation contributions, and <a href=\"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/resources\/blogs\/monthly-and-quarterly-bas\/\">BAS reporting<\/a>, all of which then need correcting alongside the wage adjustment. Getting the rate right the first time is far less work than fixing it after the fact.<\/p><p>This is exactly the kind of detail that&#8217;s easy to miss when you&#8217;re juggling EOFY reporting, instant asset write-off decisions, and everyday operations at the same time. Reviewing pay rates as a standalone task, rather than folding it into general EOFY admin, helps make sure it doesn&#8217;t get lost.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9655f6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9655f6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In Conclusion\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60f7b9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"60f7b9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Reviewing pay rates against the new financial year is just one part of getting payroll right from 1 July. If you&#8217;d rather have this checked for you rather than cross-referencing awards line by line, Befree&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/services\/payroll-outsourcing\/\">Payroll Services<\/a> can help make sure your rates, classifications, and reporting are all aligned before your next pay run.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb4b3b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb4b3b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FAQs<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dac4c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"8dac4c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:300,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;expanded&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;one&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1480\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" open>\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1480\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Is the Australian minimum wage increase automatic, or do I need to update payroll manually?  <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1480\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b382e1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0b382e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85d695d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85d695d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIt&#8217;s not automatic in most systems. While many payroll platforms update built-in award templates, you still need to confirm your software has applied the correct rates for your specific award classifications and that the change date aligns with your first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1481\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1481\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Does this increase apply to award-free employees?  <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1481\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d845853 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d845853\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0e59d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0e59d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYes. Award-free and agreement-free employees are covered by the National Minimum Wage itself, which is now $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour. Employees covered by a modern award instead receive the 4.75 per cent award increase, subject to the new minimum floor.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1482\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1482\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What's the difference between the National Minimum Wage and award wages?  <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1482\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36983b2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"36983b2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-689a724 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"689a724\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe National Minimum Wage in Australia is the base rate that applies to employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Modern award wages are set separately for specific industries and occupations, and for 2026 they increased by 4.75 per cent rather than the roughly 6 per cent rise applied to the National Minimum Wage itself.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-1483\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-1483\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><h3 class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Where can I check the correct new rate for my industry?  <\/h3><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-1483\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec48ce6 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"ec48ce6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef6098f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef6098f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Fair Work Ombudsman&#8217;s Pay and Conditions Tool is the most reliable source for checking the exact rate for your award and classification. For the full Fair Work Commission decision, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairwork.gov.au\/about-us\/workplace-laws\/annual-wage-review\/annual-wage-review-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Annual Wage Review 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is the Australian minimum wage increase automatic, or do I need to update payroll manually?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"It&#8217;s not automatic in most systems. While many payroll platforms update built-in award templates, you still need to confirm your software has applied the correct rates for your specific award classifications and that the change date aligns with your first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Does this increase apply to award-free employees?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Award-free and agreement-free employees are covered by the National Minimum Wage itself, which is now $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour. Employees covered by a modern award instead receive the 4.75 per cent award increase, subject to the new minimum floor.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What's the difference between the National Minimum Wage and award wages?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The National Minimum Wage in Australia is the base rate that applies to employees not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement. Modern award wages are set separately for specific industries and occupations, and for 2026 they increased by 4.75 per cent rather than the roughly 6 per cent rise applied to the National Minimum Wage itself.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where can I check the correct new rate for my industry?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Fair Work Ombudsman&#8217;s Pay and Conditions Tool is the most reliable source for checking the exact rate for your award and classification. For the full Fair Work Commission decision, see the Annual Wage Review 2026.\"}}]}<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The national minimum wage increase 2026 lifts Australia&#8217;s minimum wage to $1,004.90 a week, or $26.44 an hour, for a standard 38-hour week. This is the first time the National Minimum Wage has passed $1,000 a week. The change follows the Fair Work Commission&#8217;s Annual Wage Review 2026 decision, handed down on 2 June 2026, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>2026 National Minimum Wage Increase: What Businesses Need to Know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Fair Work Commission lifted the National Minimum Wage to $1,004.90\/week from 1 July 2026. Here&#039;s what businesses must do to stay compliant.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"shwetha\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"2026 National Minimum Wage Increase: What Businesses Need to Know","description":"The Fair Work Commission lifted the National Minimum Wage to $1,004.90\/week from 1 July 2026. 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