Queensland minimum wage for non-award employees

Queensland's Industrial Relations Act 1999 (PDF, 1.9MB) provides for a minimum rate of pay for all employees whether or not they are covered by an award or agreement.

All employees (subject to certain exemptions below) have a legally enforceable entitlement to a minimum rate of pay no matter what sort of work they do. This entitlement became operative from the beginning of the first pay period commencing after 1 April 2003.

In the 2008 State Wage Case General Ruling effective from 1 September 2008, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission ordered a Queensland Minimum Wage (QMW) weekly rate for full time employees of $552.00 (previously $528.40).

Employees not covered by an award or agreement

Minimum wages for employees not covered by an award or agreement are to be calculated in accordance with the following arrangements:

Full-time adults - employees 20 years of age and over working on a full time basis are entitled to the QMW weekly rate of $552.00 from 1 September 2008.
Juniors - employees under 20 years of age are entitled to a rate of pay calculated as a percentage of the QMW based on either their age or experience (whichever gives the higher rate).
Part-time and casuals - employees engaged on a part time or casual basis are entitled to the QMW weekly rate divided by 40 for each hour worked.
Hours exceeding 40 per week - employees (whether full time, part time or casual) are entitled to the QMW weekly rate divided by 40 for any hours worked in excess of 40 per week.

The table below sets out the rates of pay resulting from the 2008 State Wage Case General Ruling:

From 1 September 2008

Age
Percentage

Full time
per week

Part time or Casual
per hour

17 years and under or 1st year of experience*

55%

$303.60

$7.59

18 years or 2nd year of experience*

65%

$358.80

$8.97

19 years but less than 3rd year of experience

75%

$414.00

$10.35

3rd year of experience

85%

$469.20

$11.73

20 years and over

100%

$552.00

$13.80

* Whichever gives the higher rate

From 1 September 2008
Age	Percentage	Full time per week	Part time or Casual per hour
17 years and under or 1st year of experience*	55%	$303.60	$7.59
18 years or 2nd year of experience*	65%	$358.80	$8.97
19 years but less than 3rd year of experience	75%	$414.00	$10.35
3rd year of experience	85%	$469.20	$11.73
20 years and over	100%	$552.00	$13.80
* Whichever gives the higher rate

Exemptions

The QMW is not applicable to the following employees:

A disabled person or a person working in supported employment services;
Note: This exclusion only applies to persons working in a supported employment service.
A person whose services are paid wholly by commission or percentage rewards;
A piece rate worker ;
A volunteer;
An apprentice or trainee under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 1.39mB) (their rates are prescribed in awards, agreements or orders); and
Employees who, at the 20 December 2002, were covered by a certified agreement, Queensland workplace agreement, industrial agreement, enterprise flexibility agreement or an order setting wage rates for apprentices or trainees during the currency of that agreement or order.

Last updated: 28 August 2008

Employment conditions

Queensland minimum wage for non-award employees

Employees not covered by an award or agreement

Exemptions