From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026, 18, 19 and 20 year olds under the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards who have worked for their employer for more than 6 months get a higher percentage of the adult rate. An 18 year old moves from 70% to 75%, and the steps continue until they reach the full adult rate by 1 July 2029.
The Fair Work Commission made the changes in three determinations issued on 26 August 2026, after deciding earlier in 2026 that junior rates should stop applying to 18 to 20 year olds who are past their first 6 months with the employer. Under 18s, and 18 to 20 year olds in their first 6 months, keep the same percentages.
Key takeaways
- Three awards: General Retail (levels 1 to 3), Fast Food (all levels) and Pharmacy (assistants levels 1 and 2).
- Ages 18 to 20, more than 6 months with the employer. 18 year olds go to 75%, 19 year olds to 85%, and 20 year olds under the Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards to 95%.
- Full adult rate by 1 July 2029 at the latest, in steps every July and December (Pharmacy: every July).
- No change for under 18s, or for anyone in their first 6 months with the employer.
- Leave taken after the change is paid at the new rate.
Who gets the rise
Junior rates are percentages of the adult rate paid to employees under 21. The December change covers:
- General Retail Industry Award: retail employees at levels 1, 2 and 3. Juniors at level 4 and above are paid the adult rate.
- Fast Food Industry Award: every classification.
- Pharmacy Industry Award: pharmacy assistants at levels 1 and 2. Every other classification is paid the adult rate.
You need to be 18, 19 or 20 and have been employed by your current employer for more than 6 months. If you are under 18, or still in your first 6 months, your percentage stays where it is.
Fair Work Ombudsman, Junior wage changes to Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards (read 29 October 2026): "These changes mean that employees between the ages of 18 and 20 will be entitled to the adult pay rate for their classification if they've been employed by their employer for more than 6 months." "Pay rates for employees aged 18 to 20 won't change if they've been employed for less than 6 months with their employer. There are also no wage changes for employees under the age of 18." Determination PR813655, clause 17.2(b): "An employer must pay a junior employee in any other classification under this award the minimum adult rate".
The phase-in to 2029
Percentage of the adult hourly rate for employees with more than 6 months' service, Retail Award levels 1 to 3 and Fast Food Award:
| Age | 1 Dec 2026 | 1 Jul 2027 | 1 Dec 2027 | 1 Jul 2028 | 1 Dec 2028 | 1 Jul 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, more than 6 months | 75% | 80% | 85% | 90% | 95% | 100% |
| 19, more than 6 months | 85% | 90% | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 20, more than 6 months (Fast Food) | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 20, more than 6 months (Retail) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Pharmacy assistants levels 1 and 2 follow a different timetable, with one step each July after December:
| Age | 1 Dec 2026 | 1 Jul 2027 | 1 Jul 2028 | 1 Jul 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, more than 6 months | 75% | 85% | 95% | 100% |
| 19, more than 6 months | 85% | 95% | 100% | 100% |
| 20, more than 6 months | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Every other junior percentage stays the same at every step. Under the Retail and Pharmacy Awards that is 45% under 16, 50% at 16 and 60% at 17 (the Fast Food Award pays 40% under 16). In the first 6 months it is 70% at 18, 80% at 19 and 90% at 20.
Fair Work Commission determinations of 26 August 2026 in matter AM2024/24, following [2026] FWCFB 75 and [2026] FWCFB 222: PR813655 (General Retail, Table 5), PR813654 (Fast Food, Table 4) and PR813656 (Pharmacy, Table 4), read 29 October 2026. Principal decision: [2026] FWCFB 75.
Hourly rates from 1 December 2026
Retail Award minimum hourly rates for ordinary hours, from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026. The casual rate includes the 25% casual loading.
| Age and service | Retail level 1 | Retail level 2 | Retail level 3 | Level 1 casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, up to 6 months | $19.47 | $19.91 | $20.22 | $24.34 |
| 18, over 6 months | $20.86 | $21.34 | $21.67 | $26.08 |
| 19, up to 6 months | $22.25 | $22.76 | $23.11 | $27.81 |
| 19, over 6 months | $23.64 | $24.18 | $24.56 | $29.55 |
| 20, up to 6 months | $25.03 | $25.60 | $26.00 | $31.29 |
| 20, over 6 months | $27.81 | $28.45 | $28.89 | $34.76 |
Fast Food Award minimum hourly rates for ordinary hours, full-time and part-time:
| Age and service | Fast food level 1 | Fast food level 2 | Fast food level 3, in charge of one or no person | Fast food level 3, in charge of 2 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, up to 6 months | $19.47 | $20.62 | $20.93 | $21.19 |
| 18, over 6 months | $20.86 | $22.09 | $22.43 | $22.71 |
| 19, up to 6 months | $22.25 | $23.56 | $23.92 | $24.22 |
| 19, over 6 months | $23.64 | $25.03 | $25.42 | $25.73 |
| 20, up to 6 months | $25.03 | $26.51 | $26.91 | $27.25 |
| 20, over 6 months | $26.42 | $27.98 | $28.41 | $28.76 |
The Pharmacy determination sets percentages only. Applied to the adult rates in our Pharmacy Award pay table (weekly rate divided by 38 hours), the December hourly rates are:
| Classification | 70% | 75% | 80% | 85% | 90% | 95% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy assistant level 1 | $19.47 | $20.86 | $22.25 | $23.64 | $25.03 | $26.42 |
| Pharmacy assistant level 2 | $19.91 | $21.34 | $22.76 | $24.18 | $25.60 | $27.02 |
From 1 December, 75% is the rate for an 18 year old past 6 months, 85% for a 19 year old and 95% for a 20 year old. 70%, 80% and 90% are the first 6 months rates.
When your pay changes
Each determination comes into operation on 1 December 2026, but it applies to you from the start of your first full pay period that starts on or after that date. Later steps work the same way.
Example: you are 19, have worked at a supermarket for 2 years and are paid weekly from Thursday. 1 December 2026 is a Tuesday, so your first full pay period starting on or after it begins on Thursday 3 December. From that shift your rate goes from 80% to 85% of the adult rate: at level 1, from $22.25 to $23.64 an hour.
PR813655, clause B: "In accordance with ss 165(3) and 166(5) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) this determination does not take effect in relation to a particular employee until the start of the employee's first full pay period that starts on or after 1 December 2026." Note 2 to Table 5: "Percentages in the above table take effect in relation to a particular employee from the start of the employee's first full pay period starting on or after the specified date."
The 6 month rule
The test is time employed by your current employer: each table says "employed by the employer", so time with a previous employer in the same industry does not count. One exception: if the business you work for is sold or transferred and you move across, your time with the old employer counts.
Casual employees are covered too, since the tables apply to every junior employee at the listed classifications. A casual adds the 25% loading on top of the junior hourly rate, as the Retail table above shows.
Junior rates under other awards
This change is limited to the three awards. Other awards with junior rates, such as the Hospitality, Restaurant and Health Services Awards, keep their own percentages. Juniors under the Hospitality and Restaurant Awards who sell or serve alcohol must be paid the adult rate whatever their age.
Many awards have no junior rates at all, including the Building and Construction, Electrical, Plumbing, Security and SCHADS Awards, so a 17 year old under those awards gets the adult rate for their classification.
Fair Work Ombudsman, Junior pay rates (updated 19 August 2026): "Junior pay rates are specific rates paid to employees under 21 years old." "Juniors covered by these awards who sell or serve alcohol, including as a part of their general waiting duties, must be paid the adult rate for their classification regardless of their age."
What it does to your leave pay
Juniors get the same leave as adults: 4 weeks of annual leave a year and 10 days of paid personal leave if you are full-time, pro rata if part-time. Under s 90(1) of the Fair Work Act, annual leave is paid at your base rate when you take it, so leave taken after your pay rises is paid at the new percentage, including leave you built up before. The 17.5% leave loading is worked out on the new rate too.
If you leave the job, untaken annual leave is paid out at the rate you are on at the end. The annual leave payout calculator works out the gross amount, and the casual loading calculator shows the loading on any hourly rate. Our award pay tables show adult rates, so enter your junior hourly rate by hand.
Author & reviewer
Sarah has spent over a decade advising Australian SMBs on Fair Work, NES compliance, and payroll. Based in Sydney, she has worked across hospitality, retail and professional services.