Queensland Minimum Wage Rate will increase by 2.5%

Minimum wages in the Retail Award increase from 1 September.

The FWC’s Pay Calculator and Pay guides now have updated rates.

For the list of awards that will increase later in the year, see When does the increase start?

Following the Annual Wage Review 2021, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced a 2.5% increase to the national minimum wage and all award wages. The increase to award wages is happening in 3 stages. The FWC has also issued decisions to change some terms and conditions in several awards.

What do you need to do?

You can find the new minimum pay rates in the FWC’s Pay Calculator and Pay guides, for all awards that increased from 1 July and 1 September 2021. The Pay Calculator and pay guides will be updated for the awards increasing in November closer to their start date. For the list of awards that increase in November, see When does the increase start?

You can also use Find my award if you’re not sure which award applies to you.

Who does the increase apply to?

The increase applies to anyone who is paid minimum award wages or the national minimum wage.

Most employees are covered by an award. If you’re not sure which award applies, use Find my award.

If you’re covered by a registered agreement, you should check it to see whether this increase affects you.

For anyone not covered by an award or an agreement, the new national minimum wage is $772.60 per week or $20.33 per hour.

When does the increase start?

The new national minimum wage applies from your first full pay period on or after 1 July 2021.

There was also an increase to the Super guarantee for all eligible employees from 1 July 2021.

The increase to minimum award pay rates is happening in 3 stages.

The increase doesn’t affect employees who already get paid more than their new minimum wage.

1 July 2021 award increase

Most awards increased from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2021.

1 September 2021 award increase

The increase for the Retail Award applies from the first full pay period on or after 1 September 2021. This means if you have a weekly pay period that starts on Mondays, the new rates apply from Monday 6 September 2021.

You can find the new minimum rates in our Pay Calculator and Pay guides.

1 November 2021 award increase

21 awards increase from the first full pay period on or after 1 November 2021. Read more »

Please note, wage rate changes will need to be done manually which we do in consultation with our payroll clients. We strongly recommend that you make time to check your settings.

For assistance, contact our Xero Platinum Certified business bookkeepers at Notch Above Bookkeeping, Australia-wide, on 1300 015 130.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman