Kmart salary in Australia

If you're thinking about working at Kmart Australia, one of the first questions you're probably asking is what the pay actually looks like and whether there's a minimum age you need to meet. These are completely reasonable things to want to know before you submit your application, and the answers can vary depending on which role you're going for, which state you're in, and how much experience you bring with you.

Kmart is one of Australia's biggest discount retailers, with stores across every state and territory — from suburban shopping centres in Sydney and Melbourne to regional centres in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia. The company employs tens of thousands of people, making it one of the more significant retail employers in the country. Understanding what they pay across different roles gives you a realistic picture of what to expect before you walk through the door.

For context on how to actually apply, head over to our Kmart job application guide. And if you want to hear what current and former staff actually think of working there, check out our Kmart employee reviews for honest perspectives.

Minimum Age to Work at Kmart Australia

Kmart's minimum hiring age in Australia is generally 15, which puts them in line with other major discount retailers in the country. That said, the practical reality is a little more nuanced. While some Kmart stores will consider applicants as young as 15 for casual positions — particularly in quieter, regional locations — many stores in major cities prefer to hire from 16 or 17 upwards, partly because of the scheduling limitations that apply to very young workers under state-based employment laws.

In New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, there are specific rules around how many hours young workers under 16 can work on school days, the times they're allowed to work, and the types of tasks they can be assigned. Store managers have to factor this in when rostering, which means a 15-year-old might find the available hours quite limited in a busy metropolitan store.

Once you hit 18, these restrictions fall away and you become far more rostering-flexible from a management perspective. For casual team member roles, the sweet spot for most stores seems to be 16 to 19 year olds who are available across a mix of after-school, weekend, and holiday shifts. If you're 15 and keen to work at Kmart, it's worth applying — just be transparent about your availability and understand that some stores may hold off until you're slightly older.

Kmart Salary Rates by Position in 2026

Kmart's pay rates are governed by the General Retail Industry Award 2020 for most store-level roles, though specific rates can vary if there's an Enterprise Agreement in place at a particular location. The figures below represent approximate annual equivalents based on current award rates and publicly available salary data — casual employees will earn an additional 25 percent loading on top of the base hourly rate.

Position	Hourly Rate (Approx)	Annual Equivalent (Full-Time)
Casual Team Member (15–16 years)	$10.30 – $12.50	N/A (junior/casual rates)
Casual Team Member (17 years)	$13.00 – $15.00	N/A (junior/casual rates)
Team Member (18+ adult rate)	$22.00 – $25.00	$43,000 – $49,000
Senior Team Member	$25.00 – $27.00	$49,000 – $53,000
Department Supervisor	$27.00 – $31.00	$53,000 – $61,000
Assistant Store Manager	$35.00 – $42.00	$68,000 – $82,000
Store Manager	$45.00 – $60.00+	$88,000 – $118,000+
Loss Prevention Officer	$26.00 – $30.00	$51,000 – $59,000
Online Fulfilment Team Member	$22.00 – $25.50	$43,000 – $50,000
Visual Merchandiser	$25.00 – $28.00	$49,000 – $55,000

These figures are approximate and may differ depending on your specific store, state, employment type (casual, part-time, or full-time), and years of service. Penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work apply on top of the base rates shown above.

How Kmart's Pay Compares to Other Australian Retailers

Kmart sits in the middle of the retail pay spectrum in Australia. It pays at or slightly above the General Retail Industry Award minimums for most positions, which puts it broadly in line with Big W and Target (both also Wesfarmers-owned brands). Department stores like Myer and David Jones tend to pay slightly more for comparable roles, though they also tend to have higher expectations around product knowledge and customer service standards.

Supermarket retailers like Coles and Woolworths operate under different awards and generally pay a bit more for comparable entry-level roles, though the work environment and pace are quite different from a Kmart store. Within the discount and variety retail space specifically, Kmart is a solid mid-range payer — not the highest, but reliably above the absolute minimum.

For many people in cities like Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane, Kmart is one of the more accessible retail employers and the pay is considered fair for the type of work involved. The casual loading (25 percent above base) makes casual rates meaningfully higher than the equivalent full-time hourly figure, which suits people who want to work flexibly without committing to a set schedule.

Penalty Rates and Additional Pay

Under the General Retail Industry Award, Kmart employees are entitled to penalty rates when they work outside standard hours. Weekend penalty rates are particularly relevant for retail workers — Saturday work typically attracts a 25 percent loading, while Sunday work brings a 100 percent loading (effectively double time) for full-time and part-time employees, and a 75 percent loading for casuals on top of their already-loaded casual rate.

Public holidays attract even higher rates — generally 225 percent of the ordinary rate for most employees. If you're someone who doesn't mind working Sundays and public holidays, your effective take-home pay at Kmart can end up meaningfully higher than the base figures suggest. Many long-term team members specifically structure their availability around high-penalty shifts to maximise what they earn.

Pay for Young Workers and Junior Rates

Junior rates under the General Retail Industry Award apply to employees under 21 years old. These rates are calculated as a percentage of the adult rate, with the percentage increasing as the employee gets older. At 15 years old, the junior rate is approximately 40 percent of the adult rate; at 18 it's around 70 percent; and by 20 it's around 90 percent before reaching the full adult rate at 21.

For students working casually, the 25 percent casual loading applies on top of the junior rate. So a 17-year-old working as a casual team member on a Saturday afternoon is earning the junior rate plus casual loading plus Saturday penalty rates — which can add up to a reasonable amount compared to what you might initially expect from a junior rate.

If you want to understand exactly what Kmart pays young employees, our detailed breakdown of how much Kmart pays 16 and 17 year olds covers the junior rates in more detail.

Superannuation and Leave Entitlements

Kmart is required to contribute superannuation on behalf of eligible employees at the current legislated rate. Full-time and part-time employees accrue annual leave at the rate of 4 weeks per year, personal/carer's leave, compassionate leave, and other entitlements under the National Employment Standards. Casual employees are not entitled to paid leave accruals, but the 25 percent casual loading is intended to compensate for this.

Some Kmart stores also offer staff discounts, though these vary by location and are not a guaranteed or uniform benefit across all stores. Long-service leave applies to employees who have worked continuously for the required period under the relevant state legislation.

Career Progression and Pay Growth at Kmart

One of the genuine strengths of working at Kmart for an extended period is the career pathway that opens up. Many current Kmart store managers and assistant managers started as casual team members in their teens and worked their way through the business over years. The pay jumps between team member, senior team member, supervisor, assistant manager, and store manager are meaningful — and Kmart does promote from within regularly, which is something candidates often underestimate when they're just looking at starting pay.

In cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane where Kmart has a high concentration of stores, internal transfers between stores are also relatively common. This can help ambitious employees gain experience in different store formats and sizes, which tends to accelerate progression into management roles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kmart Pay

What is the minimum wage at Kmart Australia?

Kmart pays at minimum the General Retail Industry Award rates. For adult casual team members, this works out to approximately $22 to $25 per hour including the casual loading. Junior rates for under-21s are lower and calculated as percentages of the adult rate based on age.

Does Kmart pay weekly or fortnightly?

Kmart Australia pays employees fortnightly. Pay is typically processed every two weeks, with payment arriving in your bank account within a day or two of the pay period closing.

Does Kmart give pay rises?

Yes, automatic pay increases apply under the General Retail Industry Award as employees get older (for those on junior rates) and as they move up pay grades. Store managers can also recommend pay rises for strong performers, and Enterprise Agreements at some locations may include annual increments.

Can a 15-year-old work at Kmart?

Yes, Kmart does hire 15-year-olds in some locations, though it varies by store. The availability of junior rates means the pay is lower at this age, and store managers also need to manage the scheduling restrictions that apply to workers under 16 in most states.

Are there Kmart job opportunities for people with no experience?

Yes, many Kmart team member roles don't require prior retail experience. The company provides in-store training, and the entry-level positions are genuinely accessible to first-time workers. Enthusiasm, reliability, and good availability are often more important than past experience at the team member level.

If you're preparing for your Kmart interview and want to know exactly what to expect, our Kmart interview questions guide covers the most common questions and how to answer them.