Quick Scoop
In Australia, the main pay rise going into effect now is
for workers on the **minimum wage** and **award wages**. Around 100,000 of the
lowest-paid workers will get about a 6% increase, and about 2.8 million
workers on modern awards will get a 4.75% rise from 1 July 2026.
Who gets it
- Minimum wage workers: the national minimum hourly rate rises from $24.95 to $26.44.
- Award-reliant workers: about 2.8 million people covered by modern awards get 4.75% more.
- Some aged care workers are also included in the broader award changes and related pay adjustments.
What it means
This is a broad wage increase, not a blanket raise for
every employee in Australia. It mainly helps lower-paid workers whose pay is
set by the Fair Work system rather than by individual contracts.
Simple example
If someone is on the minimum wage, their pay goes up
to $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026. For a full-time worker, that is roughly a
noticeable weekly lift, while award workers get a 4.75% rise depending on
their classification.
Bottom line
The people getting a pay rise in Australia right now are
mostly **minimum wage** and **award wage** workers, with the biggest boost
going to the lowest-paid employees.