In Australia, published rates for a journalist start at A$1,221.10 a week on staff.
On staff
A$1,221.10 a week
Sources
7 documents
What journalist work in Australia pays, according to the documents that set rates there, each quoted as printed. How the pay guide works →
What the published rates say
Week
Level 13, minimum weekly rate (full-time)FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$2,322.60
Journalist Grade 8, minimum weekly rate (full-time)FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$1,848
Median weekly earnings, full-time, before taxJSA · Official statistics · 1 May 2025
A$1,722
Level 7, minimum weekly rate (full-time)FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$1,513.70
Level 1, minimum weekly rate (full-time)FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$1,221.10
Journalist Grade 1, minimum weekly rate (full-time)FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$1,221.10
Hour
Level 13, minimum hourly rateFWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$61.12
Journalist Grade 8, minimum hourly rateFWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$48.63
Level 1, minimum hourly rateFWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$32.13
Journalist Grade 1, minimum hourly rateFWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026
A$32.13
Each published rate as a day's pay
On staff · 8 figures
A$1,221.10 a week
A$61.12 an hour
US$ a day at the ECB rate for the month. A month is 12 payments over 260 working days, or 13 or 14 where the agreement says so; a year is 260 days; a shift counts as a day.
| Type of work | What | As printed | US$ a day | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On staff | Level 1, minimum weekly rate (full-time) | A$1,221.10 a week | $170.01 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Level 1, minimum hourly rate | A$32.13 an hour | $178.94 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Level 7, minimum weekly rate (full-time) | A$1,513.70 a week | $210.75 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Median weekly earnings, full-time, before tax | A$1,722 a week | $239.75 | JSA · Official statistics · 1 May 2025 |
| On staff | Journalist Grade 8, minimum weekly rate (full-time) | A$1,848 a week | $257.30 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Journalist Grade 8, minimum hourly rate | A$48.63 an hour | $270.83 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Level 13, minimum weekly rate (full-time) | A$2,322.60 a week | $323.38 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
| On staff | Level 13, minimum hourly rate | A$61.12 an hour | $340.39 | FWC · Award · 1 Jul 2026 |
Every figure, as printed
Open a row for the wording in the document and its dates.
Printed
1221.10DocumentJournalists Published Media Award 2020 minimum rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799347)
Printed
32.13DocumentJournalists Published Media Award 2020 minimum rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799347)
Printed
1513.70DocumentJournalists Published Media Award 2020 minimum rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799347)
Printed
2322.60DocumentJournalists Published Media Award 2020 minimum rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799347)
Printed
61.12DocumentJournalists Published Media Award 2020 minimum rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799347)
Printed
1221.10DocumentBroadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award journalist rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799371); applies to TV and radio journalists
Printed
32.13DocumentBroadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award journalist rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799371); applies to TV and radio journalists
Printed
1848.00DocumentBroadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award journalist rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799371); applies to TV and radio journalists
Printed
48.63DocumentBroadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award journalist rates, from 1 Jul 2026 · Award StatusIn force · 1 Jul 2026 First full pay period commencing on or after 1 Jul 2026 (PR799371); applies to TV and radio journalists
Printed
$1,722DocumentMedian weekly earnings of journalists and other writers, Australia, May 2025 · Official statistics StatusIn force · 1 May 2025
Printed
4%DocumentNine Publishing journalists' enterprise agreement 2024 (AE526231) pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force · 1 Oct 2024
Printed
3.75%DocumentNine Publishing journalists' enterprise agreement 2024 (AE526231) pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force · 1 Oct 2024
Printed
3.75%DocumentNine Publishing journalists' enterprise agreement 2024 (AE526231) pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force · 1 Oct 2024
Printed
a pay rise of 4% in the first yearDocumentABC enterprise agreement 2025-2028 pay rises, accepted by staff May 2026 · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
followed by a 3.25% increase in the next two yearsDocumentABC enterprise agreement 2025-2028 pay rises, accepted by staff May 2026 · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
3% annual pay risesDocumentSBS enterprise agreement 2026 pay rises, approved by staff 3 Mar 2026 · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
$1,500 bonusDocumentSBS enterprise agreement 2026 pay rises, approved by staff 3 Mar 2026 · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
A pay rise of 5.25% in the first yearDocumentGuardian Australia enterprise agreement 2024 pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
3.5% in the second yearDocumentGuardian Australia enterprise agreement 2024 pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
3.25% in the third yearDocumentGuardian Australia enterprise agreement 2024 pay rises · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
Freelance rates of pay at Nine's publications have gone backwards in real terms by 59% over the past 20 yearsDocumentMEAA campaign on Nine freelance rates: down 59% in real terms over 20 years, 2 Apr 2025 · Union demand StatusIn talks
Questions people ask
In Australia, published rates for a journalist start at A$1,221.10 a week on staff.
FWC, JSA, MEAA, in 8 documents.
A journalist's minimum nearby
Lowest staff minimum in each country's agreements, as US$ a day.
About this data. These rates are compiled from publicly available sources and quoted as printed, with their date. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any figure. For information only: Journalist.net does not recommend or set rates. How we count