Junior pay rates by age from 1 July 2026 under the General Retail and Fast Food awards, the awards most young workers start on: hourly, casual and weekend rates for 15 to 20 year olds.
A 16-year-old casual gets at least $17.39 an hour in retail or fast food. A 15-year-old casual gets $15.64 in retail and $13.90 in fast food.
Junior hourly rates by age
| Age | Retail hourly | Retail casual | Fast food hourly | Fast food casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $12.51 | $15.64 | $11.12 | $13.90 |
| 16 | $13.91 | $17.39 | $13.91 | $17.39 |
| 17 | $16.69 | $20.86 | $16.69 | $20.86 |
| 18 | $19.47 | $24.34 | $19.47 | $24.34 |
| 19 | $22.25 | $27.81 | $22.25 | $27.81 |
| 20 (employed 6 months or less) | $25.03 | $31.29 | $25.03 | $31.29 |
| 21 and over (adult) | $27.81 | $34.76 | $27.81 | $34.76 |
Entry level (Level 1). The retail 20-year-old figure is for someone employed 6 months or less; casual rates include the 25% loading.
General Retail Industry Award junior rates
Retail employee level 1, the entry level, from 1 July 2026. Higher levels get the same percentage of their own adult rate.
| Age | % of adult | Hourly | Casual hourly | Saturday | Sunday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 45% | $12.51 | $15.64 | $15.64 | $18.77 | $18.77 | $21.89 |
| 16 | 50% | $13.91 | $17.39 | $17.39 | $20.87 | $20.87 | $24.34 |
| 17 | 60% | $16.69 | $20.86 | $20.86 | $25.04 | $25.04 | $29.21 |
| 18 | 70% | $19.47 | $24.34 | $24.34 | $29.21 | $29.21 | $34.07 |
| 19 | 80% | $22.25 | $27.81 | $27.81 | $33.38 | $33.38 | $38.94 |
| 20 (employed 6 months or less) | 90% | $25.03 | $31.29 | $31.29 | $37.55 | $37.55 | $43.80 |
| 20 (employed more than 6 months) | 100% | $27.81 | $34.76 | $34.76 | $41.72 | $41.72 | $48.67 |
| 21 and over (adult) | 100% | $27.81 | $34.76 | $34.76 | $41.72 | $41.72 | $48.67 |
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000004 (published 24 June 2026), General Retail Industry Award [MA000004].
Fast Food Industry Award junior rates
Level 1, the entry level, from 1 July 2026. Higher levels get the same percentage of their own adult rate.
| Age | % of adult | Hourly | Casual hourly | Saturday | Sunday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 40% | $11.12 | $13.90 | $13.90 | $13.90 | $16.68 | $16.68 |
| 16 | 50% | $13.91 | $17.39 | $17.39 | $17.39 | $20.87 | $20.87 |
| 17 | 60% | $16.69 | $20.86 | $20.86 | $20.86 | $25.04 | $25.04 |
| 18 | 70% | $19.47 | $24.34 | $24.34 | $24.34 | $29.21 | $29.21 |
| 19 | 80% | $22.25 | $27.81 | $27.81 | $27.81 | $33.38 | $33.38 |
| 20 | 90% | $25.03 | $31.29 | $31.29 | $31.29 | $37.55 | $37.55 |
| 21 and over (adult) | 100% | $27.81 | $34.76 | $34.76 | $34.76 | $41.72 | $41.72 |
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000003 (published 24 June 2026), Fast Food Industry Award [MA000003].
How it works
- Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the same level, set by each award. Other awards (such as hospitality) have their own percentages.
- Your rate goes up when you reach the next age.
- Super is paid for workers under 18 who work more than 30 hours a week, and for all workers 18 and over.
- Trade-qualified juniors in fast food must be paid the adult rate.
Common questions
How much does a 15 year old get paid in Australia?
Under the General Retail Award, an employee under 16 gets $12.51 an hour ($15.64 as a casual) at the entry level from 1 July 2026. Under the Fast Food Award it's $11.12 ($13.90 casual).
How much does a 16 year old get paid?
$13.91 an hour in retail ($17.39 casual) and $13.91 in fast food ($17.39 casual), which is 50% of the adult rate.
How much does a 17 year old get paid?
$16.69 an hour in retail or fast food, or $20.86 as a casual: 60% of the adult rate.
When do you get the adult rate?
At 21 in fast food. In retail, a 20-year-old who has worked for the employer for more than 6 months gets the full adult rate ($27.81 an hour); otherwise at 21.
Do juniors get penalty rates?
Yes. Juniors get the same weekend, evening and public holiday penalties as adults, worked out on their junior rate.
When do junior rates go up?
When you reach the next age, and each 1 July after the Annual Wage Review. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also the national minimum wage, Woolworths and Coles pay rates and the penalty rates calculator.
Checked 2026-10-21. General information only.