Minimum wage Australia 14-year-old: What your take-home pay looks like after tax and Medicare

Understanding the minimum wage for a 14-year-old in Australia

If you're a 14-year-old starting your first job in Australia, you might be wondering what you'll actually take home after tax and the Medicare levy. The answer isn't straightforward because the minimum wage for a 14-year-old is not a single figure. It depends on the award that covers your job and your age.

Fair Work explains that all employees are entitled to a minimum wage, but for most employees the rate is set by the award covering their industry or occupation. For junior employees under 21, awards and the National Minimum Wage Order provide special rates that are a percentage of the adult minimum. The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on 38 ordinary hours). This is the rate for award/agreement-free adults.

For a 14-year-old, the rate is typically lower. The Fair Work Commission's National Minimum Wage Order 2026 includes a special national minimum wage for juniors, but the exact percentage is not published in a simple table. You need to look at the relevant award or the order itself. For example, some retail awards may set a 14-year-old's rate at 45% to 50% of the adult rate. That could mean an hourly rate of roughly $11.90 to $13.22. Always check with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool.

How to work out your take-home pay

Once you know your gross hourly rate, you can estimate your weekly, fortnightly, or annual pay. Then you subtract income tax and the Medicare levy to find what reaches your bank account.

Let's use an example for an adult on the full national minimum wage to show the calculation. Then we'll note how it differs for a 14-year-old.

Example: Adult on $26.44 per hour, 38 hours per week

• Weekly gross: $1,004.90
• Annual gross: $52,255 (52 weeks)
• Tax on $52,255 (2026-27 rates):
• First $18,200: $0
• Next $26,800 ($18,201 to $45,000): $4,020
• Remaining $7,255 ($45,001 to $52,255) at 30c per $1: $2,176.50
• Total tax before offsets: $6,196.50
• Low Income Tax Offset: reduces tax by $700 (since income under $37,500? Actually $52,255 is above $45,000, so LITO is $325 minus 1.5c per $1 over $45,000 = $325 - $108.83 = $216.17)
• Net tax: $6,196.50 - $216.17 = $5,980.33
• Medicare levy: 2% of $52,255 = $1,045.10 (full rate, as income above $35,013)
• Total deductions: $5,980.33 + $1,045.10 = $7,025.43
• Annual take-home: $52,255 - $7,025.43 = $45,229.57
• Weekly take-home: about $869.80

For a 14-year-old earning, say, $13.00 per hour for 10 hours a week:

• Weekly gross: $130
• Annual gross: $6,760
• Tax: $0 (under $18,200)
• Medicare levy: $0 (under $28,011)
• Take-home: $130 per week

Key points for a 14-year-old

• Junior rates vary: You must find the correct award rate. The Fair Work Ombudsman's website has a Pay and Conditions Tool to help.
• Tax-free threshold: If your total income for the year is under $18,200, you pay no tax. Many 14-year-olds working part-time will fall under this.
• Medicare levy exemption: With income below $28,011, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced amount.
• Superannuation: If you earn $450 or more in a month, your employer must pay super at 12% (from 1 July 2026) on top of your wages. This is not deducted from your take-home pay.

Using our tools

You can use our Take-home pay calculator to estimate your after-tax salary. Just enter your hourly rate and hours. For a 14-year-old, remember to use the correct junior rate. You can also read more about the Minimum wage and how it applies to different ages.

Final note

This guide is an estimate. Your actual take-home pay depends on your exact award rate, hours worked, and whether you have any other income. Always refer to the Australian Taxation Office and Fair Work for official information. The figures for the national minimum wage are from Fair Work: $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week. The Medicare thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) are the latest published single-person amounts from the ATO.