Your employer must pay you at least the minimum rate shown in your award or agreement. This rate will depend on the type of work, and the actual times you work. Of course, you may be paid more.
Depending on your age, you may be paid a junior wage, which is less than the adult rate.
You may also be paid allowances for doing certain tasks, overtime pay for working outside your regular hours or penalty rates for working nights, weekends or public holidays.
All employees (subject to certain exemptions) have a legally enforceable entitlement to a minimum rate of pay no matter what sort of work they do and whether or not they are covered by an award or agreement.
The Queensland Minimum Wage (QMW) weekly rate for full time employees is $552.00, effective 1 September 2008.
If you are not covered by an industrial instrument 
, 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).
Refer to our Queensland Minimum Wage resource page for further information.
A junior is any employee who is younger than the age set down in an award, or in other industrial instruments, defining adult (or senior) employment status - typically this can be an age between 18 and 21 years. Most awards and agreements set different wage rates for each age group up to senior status.
Usually a junior would receive a percentage of the appropriate minimum adult rate.
An allowance is a condition of employment and a provision for payment in addition to the standard minimum rate of pay. Young workers are entitled to the same entitlements as adult employees. However, in some instances the allowance may be calculated as a proportionate percentage of the adult allowance. As an example, allowances can be for a disability (e.g. wet work); responsibility or skill relating to work (e.g. first aid) or a reimbursement of costs incurred (e.g. clothing, travel or motor vehicle).
Your industrial instrument will mention the frequency for payment of wages in your industry. i.e. at least once a fortnight. If not mentioned in your industrial instrument, the Industrial Relations Act 1999 (PDF, 1.9MB) sets a maximum pay period – at least monthly. You may be paid in cash, by cheque or deposit into your bank account.
Your employer cannot take money out of your pay without your written permission, or unless it is required by law, such as tax.
You must get a payslip, which shows your pay and any deductions, such as tax. It may also show an amount your employer has paid for your superannuation.
View our general Payment and Deduction of Wages section for more detailed information.
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Employment and Industrial Relations) 2006
IRIS award service 
