Am I getting paid enough?
Check if your pay meets the minimum wage and correct award rates for your role.
National Minimum Wage
The current national minimum wage is $24.10 per hour (or $915.90 per 38-hour week) from 1 July 2025. This is the absolute minimum any employee can be paid, regardless of their award. Junior employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate based on their age.
Modern Award rates
Most employees in Australia are covered by a Modern Award, which sets minimum pay rates higher than the national minimum wage. Your award rate depends on your industry, role, and classification level. For example, a Level 3 Hospitality employee earns $26.10/hr, which is above the national minimum. Check which award covers you using the Award Finder.
Casual loading
Casual employees must be paid a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate (or the relevant award casual rate). This loading compensates for not receiving paid leave entitlements. If you're casual and being paid the same as permanent employees, you're being underpaid.
Penalty rates
If you work weekends, public holidays, evenings, or overtime, you're entitled to penalty rates under your award. Saturday rates are typically 125-150% of base, Sunday rates 150-200%, and public holidays 225-250%. Check your award's specific penalty rates with our calculator.
What to do if you're underpaid
1. Check your award and classification level. 2. Compare your actual pay against the correct rates using our calculators. 3. Keep records of your hours worked and pay received. 4. Raise the issue with your employer first — many underpayments are genuine mistakes. 5. If unresolved, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for free help. You can recover up to 6 years of underpayments.
Use these tools
General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.