09/06/2026
📣 Heads up, business owners wage changes are coming!
The Fair Work Commission has just handed down its 2026 Annual Wage Review decision, and there are some important numbers your business needs to know about before 1 July.
Here's what's changing from 1 July 2026:
🐾 National Minimum Wage increases by 6% — rising from $24.95 to $26.44 per hour (that's over $1,004 per week, the first time it's crossed the $1,000 mark!)
🐾 Modern Award rates increase by 4.75% — so if your team is covered by an award, their minimum rates are going up too
This affects around 2.7 million Australian workers, and the new rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, so depending on your pay cycle, this could kick in a little later than you expect.
What should you do before 1 July?
✅ Check which award (if any) covers your employees
✅ If you're paying above award, double-check that your current rate is still above the new minimums after the increase
✅ Review your employment contracts and pay slips
✅ Make sure your casual loading calculations are correct too
Not sure where to start? That's exactly what I'm here for. A payroll health check before 30 June can save you a lot of stress, and keep you on the right side of the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Drop me a message or head to the link in my bio to get in touch. 🐶
Send a message to learn more
