Key Facts: Wages in Oceania
- Continent
- Oceania
- Countries and Territories Covered
- 19 (14 sovereign countries, 5 dependent territories)
- Highest Minimum Wage
- Australia: $17.19/hr (USD equivalent)
- Lowest Minimum Wage
- Solomon Islands: $1.01/hr (USD equivalent)
- Continental Average Minimum Wage
- $4.71/hr (USD equivalent, 15 countries with hourly rates)
- Countries Without Statutory Minimum Wage
- 3 ( Nauru, Niue, Tonga)
Oceania
14 countries and 5 territories 2026
Continental Average
15 countries with hourly rates
$4.71/hr
Oceania has wage data for 14 sovereign countries and 5 dependent territories as of 2026. Minimum wages range from $1.01/hr in Solomon Islands to $17.19/hr in Australia (USD equivalent). The continental average minimum wage is $4.71/hr. 3 countries have no statutory minimum wage.
Oceania spans 19 countries with a combined population of 45.8 million, across Australia and New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia. The continent is economically diverse, with Australia as its largest economy at $1.8 trillion GDP. Minimum wages vary dramatically — from $1/hr in Solomon Islands to $17/hr in Australia, a 17:1 ratio. 3 countries rely on collective bargaining or sector-level agreements instead of a statutory minimum. The continent uses 10 different currencies, reflecting its economic diversity.
Economic Profile
- High Income
- 6
- Upper Middle
- 7
- Lower Middle
- 6
By Region
- Avg. Min Wage
- $4.71/hr
- Median Min Wage
- $2.65/hr
- Avg. Salary
- $1,346.08/mo
- Wage Spread
- 17:1 ratio
Minimum Wage Rankings (USD equivalent)
| # | Country | Local Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Australia | A$24.95 /hr | |
| 2 |  New Zealand | NZ$23.95 /hr | |
| 3 |  New Caledonia
territory
| ₣991.73 /hr | |
| 4 |  French Polynesia
territory
| ₣904.82 /hr | |
| 5 |  Cook Islands
territory
| $10 /hr | |
| 6 |  Marshall Islands | $3.50 /hr | |
| 7 |  Palau | $3.50 /hr | |
| 8 |  Micronesia | $2.65 /hr | |
| 9 |  Vanuatu | Vt300 /hr | |
| 10 |  Fiji | FJ$5 /hr | |
Average Salary Rankings (USD equivalent)
| # | Country | Local Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | A$7,833 /mo | |
| 2 | New Zealand | NZ$5,666.67 /mo | |
| 3 | Palau | $1,800 /mo | |
| 4 | Marshall Islands | $1,400 /mo | |
| 5 |  Nauru | A$2,000 /mo | |
| 6 | Micronesia | $1,200 /mo | |
| 7 | Fiji | FJ$2,500 /mo | |
| 8 | French Polynesia
territory
| ₣145,975 /mo | |
| 9 | Vanuatu | Vt75,000 /mo | |
| 10 |  Papua New Guinea | K2,200 /mo | |
Countries Without Statutory Minimum Wage
All Countries and Territories in Oceania
Australia
Min. wage: A$24.95 /hr
Avg. salary: A$7,833 /mo
Cook Islands
Min. wage: $10 /hr
Fiji
Min. wage: FJ$5 /hr
Avg. salary: FJ$2,500 /mo
French Polynesia
Min. wage: ₣904.82 /hr
Avg. salary: ₣145,975 /mo
Kiribati
Min. wage: A$1.80 /hr
Avg. salary: A$800 /mo
Marshall Islands
Min. wage: $3.50 /hr
Avg. salary: $1,400 /mo
Micronesia
Min. wage: $2.65 /hr
Avg. salary: $1,200 /mo
Nauru
No statutory minimum wage
Avg. salary: A$2,000 /mo
New Caledonia
Min. wage: ₣991.73 /hr
New Zealand
Min. wage: NZ$23.95 /hr
Avg. salary: NZ$5,666.67 /mo
Niue
No statutory minimum wage
Palau
Min. wage: $3.50 /hr
Avg. salary: $1,800 /mo
Papua New Guinea
Min. wage: K5 /hr
Avg. salary: K2,200 /mo
Samoa
Min. wage: T4.84 /hr
Avg. salary: T1,400 /mo
Solomon Islands
Min. wage: SI$8 /hr
Avg. salary: SI$2,500 /mo
Tonga
No statutory minimum wage
Avg. salary: T$1,200 /mo
Tuvalu
Min. wage: A$1.50 /hr
Avg. salary: A$800 /mo
Vanuatu
Min. wage: Vt300 /hr
Avg. salary: Vt75,000 /mo
Wallis and Futuna
Min. wage: ₣93,500 /mo