UK Couple Shocked by Aussie Wages: 'UK Could Never' – Here's What They Earn

A British couple has been left stunned by how much they are able to earn working casual jobs in hospitality and retail in Australia. Shane and Anna, from Lincolnshire, are currently living on the Gold Coast on working holiday visas. Shane, a mechanical fitter, works as a barista, while Anna has a casual retail job. They told Yahoo Finance they’ve been surprised at how much they are paid for casual minimum wage jobs. Shane is on a base rate of $32.50 an hour, while Anna is on $34.48 an hour. Anna recently shared a video on TikTok breaking down a fortnight where she was paid $2,079, including evening and Saturday rates of $41.37, a public holiday rate of $68.95, plus a clothing allowance and sales incentive. “When you think about a casual wage being basically $34 and then you get all your loading fees for late nights, Saturdays and Sundays, public holidays, that just doesn’t exist in England,” Anna said. In Australia, the national minimum wage is $24.95 per hour, and for workers covered by the retail industry award, adult base pay rates start at $33.19 per hour for casual employees. That’s compared to the UK, where the minimum wage is roughly $23.90. The couple also noted that the cost of living in Australia is more favorable. “In the UK, if you’re on a minimum wage job, let’s say £12, if you were to buy a coffee out at Starbucks you’re talking £6 to £7, which equates to half an hour of your hourly wage. Whereas here, I’m on $32.50 and Anna’s on $34, and we can get a coffee, a flat white, for $4.50 or $5. So that’s a fraction of the hourly wage compared to a half hour’s wage back in the UK,” Shane said. The couple works roughly 35 to 38 hours a week and rents an apartment on the Gold Coast with two friends for $1,100 a week. They aren’t the first to share their surprise at the comparatively high wages on offer in Australia. Last year, Liverpool woman Lauren shared she was earning $34 as a base rate working at IGA, with higher rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays.