no, youre right.
The minimum wage for your age group is 36.8% of the adult minimum wage ($18.93) which would make it $6.97
So $6.97 is the absolute minimum you must be paid, but companies are free to pay you more if they want
but of course, that's not their fav thing & so they usually don't until unions get involved negotiate on your (re: workers) behalf.
KFC/Maccas/Hungry jacks/Kmart/Most similar type of chain stores that hire young staff, are all represented by the same union
That union, made a deal with those companies to secure a starting wage for their workers of $10 & increasing a little bit as you get older
Thats why your friends all get $10+ per hour at kfc & similar chain stores even tho the minimum is $6.97
So if youre starting with an independant company, they don't have to pay you $10, but its likely they will try to at least get close to it
I think you can reasonably expect to be paid around $9