Every employee in Australia is entitled to at least the pay set by their award, agreement or the National Minimum Wage, which is $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026. You should get a pay slip within one working day of payday, and you keep your core entitlements during probation. Check your rate with the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
$26.44 per hour or $1004.90 per week for employees not covered by an award or registered agreement; awards can be higher, and some awards have lower introductory rates.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Pay slips must be given to an employee within 1 working day of payday, in electronic form or hard copy.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay slips (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Employees on probation keep the same entitlements as other employees, including the NES, and are still entitled to notice and to be paid unused accumulated annual leave if they do not pass.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Probation (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Job ads can't include pay rates that breach the Fair Work Act or an award or enterprise agreement.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Job ads (retrieved 6 October 2026)
For most employees the minimum pay is set by the award that covers their industry or job. If no award or registered agreement covers you, the National Minimum Wage applies: $26.44 per hour or $1004.90 per week from 1 July 2026, before tax. Some awards, especially for new employees, have introductory rates that can be lower than the National Minimum Wage, so read the award. Use the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool to find the minimum rate, penalty rates and allowances for your award and classification.
An employer must give you a pay slip within one working day of payday, on paper or electronically. It must show the employer and employee names, the employer's ABN if any, the pay period and payment date, gross and net pay, your hourly rate and hours if you are paid by the hour, any loadings, penalties or allowances, deductions and super contributions. If a pay slip is missing something or the numbers look wrong, ask your employer first and use the Fair Work Ombudsman's help if the problem is not fixed.
Many jobs start with a probation period, often 3 to 6 months. You still receive the same entitlements as other employees, including the National Employment Standards, and full-time and part-time employees accrue and can use paid leave. If you do not pass probation you are still entitled to notice when employment ends and to be paid out for unused accumulated annual leave. Probation is not the same as the time you need to work to apply for an unfair dismissal claim.
A job ad cannot advertise a rate lower than the award, agreement or National Minimum Wage order that applies, and you can make an anonymous report to the Fair Work Ombudsman. A trial shift can be unpaid only when it is a short, supervised demonstration of the skills the job needs. Time beyond what is reasonably required must be paid. If you are asked to work for free for a full shift or more, be cautious and check the Fair Work page.
Yes. Home Affairs states that national workplace laws protect all workers regardless of their immigration status, and that contracts or agreements cannot take away your rights. A visa may limit the hours you can work, so check your conditions in VEVO. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
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Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find my award tool, or ask your employer which award or agreement covers you. The Pay and Conditions Tool shows your rates.
Before tax. The Fair Work Ombudsman says minimum wage refers to gross pay.
Yes if they are eligible. The super guarantee is 12% of qualifying earnings and applies to full-time, part-time and casual employees who are over 18, or under 18 and working more than 30 hours a week.
Raise it with your employer in writing. If it is not fixed, the Fair Work Ombudsman gives information and help with pay problems.
No. Pay is agreed between you and the employer and must meet the award, agreement or National Minimum Wage. CrossNation does not promise pay.
The CrossNation salary guides show award minimums read from the Fair Work award text, with the date they were read.
