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FAQ

What is the current minimum wage?

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Minimum wage rates are reviewed every year. From April 1 2022 the current rates are:

From 1 April, 2022, the adult minimum wage rates (before tax) that apply for employees aged 16 or over are:

  • $21.20 an hour; which is:
  • $848.00 for a 40-hour week

The minimum rates that apply to starting-out workers, and employees on the training minimum wage (before tax), are:

  • $16.96 an hour; which is:
  • $678.40 for a 40-hour week

There are three minimum wage rates:

  • The adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not starting-out workers or trainees, and all employees who are involved in supervising or training other employees.
  • The starting-out wage applies to starting-out workers. Starting-out workers are:
    • 16- and 17-year-old employees who have not yet completed six months of continuous employment with their current employer.
    • 18- and 19-year-old employees who have been paid a specified social security benefit for six months or more, and who have not yet completed six months continuous employment with any employer since they started being paid a benefit. Once they have completed six months continuous employment with a single employer, they will no longer be a starting-out worker, and must be paid at least the adult minimum wage rate.
    • 16- to 19-year-old employees who are required by their employment agreement to undertake industry training for at least 40 credits a year in order to become qualified.
  • The training minimum wage applies to employees aged 20 years or over who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year as part of their employment agreement, in order to become qualified.
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