Award Rates A–Z
Every award we publish a full, clause-cited rate table for. The headline figure is the adult Level 1 (or first adult) classification — the rate a new adult starter is most likely to be on. Casual adds the 25% loading.
| Award | Level 1 hourly | Casual | Weekly (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care Award 2010MA000018Personal care and support staff in residential aged care · Direct care — level 1 (Introductory) | $32.61 | $40.76 | $1,239.00 |
| Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020MA000020Building, civil and engineering construction site workers · Level 1(a) (CW/ECW 1) | $28.44 | $35.55 | $1,080.65 |
| Cleaning Services Award 2020MA000022Commercial cleaners and trolley collectors · Level 1 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,028.90 |
| Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020MA000002Office, administration and call-centre staff · Level 1 — Year 1 | $26.97 | $33.71 | $1,024.70 |
| Commercial Sales Award 2020MA000083Commercial travellers, merchandisers and advertising sales reps · Probationary Traveller | $26.59 | $33.24 | $1,010.52 |
| Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020MA000025Electricians and electrical, electronic and communications contractors · Electrical worker grade 1 | $27.53 | $34.41 | $1,046.31 |
| Fast Food Industry Award 2020MA000003Takeaway outlets and food courts · Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.80 |
| Fitness Industry Award 2020MA000094Gyms, pools, fitness trainers and sport coaches · Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| General Retail Industry Award 2020MA000004Shops, supermarkets and retail stores · Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.80 |
| Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2020MA000005Hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists · Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.80 |
| Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020MA000027Allied health professionals and health support services staff · Support Services Level 1 | $26.97 | $33.71 | $1,024.70 |
| Horticulture Award 2020MA000028Fruit and vegetable pickers, packers and horticulture workers · Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020MA000009Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels · Level 1 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.90 |
| Legal Services Award 2020MA000116Law firm clerical, administrative and law clerk staff · Level 1 — Legal clerical and administrative | $28.24 | $35.30 | $1,073.10 |
| Live Performance Award 2020MA000081Theatre, concert and venue production and support staff · Level 1 — Production and Support Staff 1 (induction/training) | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Local Government Industry Award 2020MA000112Councils: depot, library, customer service and community staff · Level 1 | $27.11 | $33.89 | $1,030.10 |
| Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020MA000010Metal, engineering and manufacturing workers and tradespeople · C14 / V1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Meat Industry Award 2020MA000059Meat processing, manufacturing and retail butchery workers · MI 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Mining Industry Award 2020MA000011Mining operators, technicians and tradespeople · Entry level (Introductory) | $27.53 | $34.41 | $1,046.31 |
| Miscellaneous Award 2020MA000104Catch-all for employees not covered by any other award · Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Nurses Award 2020MA000034Nursing assistants, enrolled and registered nurses · Registered nurse level 1 — pay point 1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $1,219.50 |
| Pastoral Award 2020MA000035Farm and livestock hands, station hands and dairy workers (shearers are piece rate) · FLH1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
| Pharmacy Industry Award 2020MA000012Community pharmacies — assistants, students, interns and pharmacists · Pharmacy assistant level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.80 |
| Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020MA000036Plumbers, mechanical services workers and fire sprinkler fitters · Plumbing worker Level 1(a) — new entrant | $27.97 | $34.96 | $1,062.71 |
| Real Estate Industry Award 2020MA000106Real estate agencies, sales, leasing and property management staff · Level 1 (Associate) — first 12 months | $26.59 | $33.24 | $1,010.60 |
| Restaurant Industry Award 2020MA000119Restaurants, cafés, reception centres and roadhouses · Level 1 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.90 |
| Road Transport and Distribution Award 2020MA000038Truck, forklift and delivery drivers, couriers and loaders · Transport Worker Grade 1 | $26.87 | $33.59 | $1,021.00 |
| Security Services Industry Award 2020MA000016Security officers and guards · Security Officer Level 1 | $28.42 | $35.53 | $1,080.10 |
| Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010MA000100Social and community services, disability and home care · SACS Level 1 pay point 1 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $1,046.90 |
| Timber Industry Award 2020MA000071Sawmill, forestry, furniture and pulp and paper workers · General Timber — Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.10 |
Every figure is read from constants transcribed from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated award texts and regression-tested. Rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
Level 1 rates sit close together because the Annual Wage Review floor lifts the lowest classifications to a common minimum. They diverge higher up: the SCHADS social and community services stream reaches $71.19 an hour at its top classification because of the Equal Remuneration Order, and a pharmacist manager earns $52.15.
Not listed? Australia has more than 120 modern awards. For any other award, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool and open its pay guide — we would rather send you to the source than print a number we have not verified.
What Are Award Rates in Australia?
Award rates are the legally enforceable minimum pay rates set out in modern awards — instruments made by the Fair Work Commission under the Fair Work Act 2009 for an industry or occupation. An award sets the minimum hourly rate for each classification, plus overtime, penalty rates, allowances and some leave rules.
Awards are the middle tier of Australia's safety net. The National Minimum Wage sits beneath them for award-free employees; an enterprise agreement, where one applies, replaces the award but must leave employees better off overall. Use our take-home pay calculator to turn an award rate into after-tax pay.
How Are Award Rates Set Each Year?
The Fair Work Commission reviews every award rate in the Annual Wage Review, decided each June. New rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July — not universally on 1 July. For 2026-27 the increase was 4.75%.
That percentage was not applied uniformly. It was subject to two floors — $1,004.90 a week for ongoing employment and $978.10 for an entry-level rate in the first six months — so the lowest classifications in some awards were lifted to the floor. Hospitality Introductory and Manufacturing C14 sit on the $978.10 floor; hospitality Level 1 and Manufacturing C13 on the $1,004.90 floor. Adding 4.75% to last year’s rate gives the wrong answer for them.
National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates
The national minimum wage for 2026-27 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week for 38 hours — about $52,255 a year before tax. It applies directly only to employees no award or agreement covers. A casual on the national minimum wage receives $33.05 an hour. See the minimum wage in Australia for the full rules.
An award rate is a floor, not a suggestion
If an award covers your job, your employer must pay at least its rate for your classification — paying only the national minimum wage instead is an underpayment. Report underpayment to the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
How Do Penalty Rates Work?
Penalty rates are percentages of the base hourly rate paid for work at unsociable times. They differ between awards far more than most tables suggest. Using the General Retail Industry Award Level 1 ($27.81/hr) as the worked example:
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual | Level 1 $ (perm / casual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 100% | 125% | $27.81 / $34.76 |
| Monday to Friday after 6pm | 125% | 150% | $34.76 / $41.72 |
| Saturday | 125% | 150% | $34.76 / $41.72 |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% | $41.72 / $48.67 |
| Public holiday | 225% | 250% | $62.57 / $69.53 |
| Overtime Mon–Sat, first 3 hours | 150% | 175% | $41.72 / $48.67 |
| Overtime Mon–Sat, after 3 hours | 200% | 225% | $55.62 / $62.57 |
General Retail Industry Award (MA000004). Casual penalties add the 25% loading rather than multiplying by it. See retail award rates for every level.
The same day pays differently under different awards
- Sunday: 150% in retail and 150% in hospitality, but 125% for a fast food Level 1 employee and 200% for a security officer or clerk.
- Evenings: hospitality adds a flat $2.95 an hour rather than a percentage; security weeknights between 6pm and 6am are 121.7%.
- Pharmacy penalties change with the time of day — Saturday is 125% between 8am and 6pm but 200% before 8am.
- Manufacturing compounds casual penalties: a casual’s 150% is 150% of the casual rate, which is $48.27 at C14.
For how overtime and shift loadings work in general, see our overtime and penalty rates guide.
How Is Award Pay Calculated? A Worked Week
Award pay is the classification rate multiplied by hours, with the penalty for each day applied. A Level 1 casual retail worker ($34.76/hr ordinary) working this roster earns:
| Day | Hours | Rate | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8 | $34.76 (casual base) | $278.08 |
| Wednesday | 8 | $34.76 (casual base) | $278.08 |
| Saturday | 6 | $41.72 (casual Saturday 150%) | $250.32 |
| Sunday | 5 | $48.67 (casual Sunday 175%) | $243.35 |
| Week | 27 | — | $1,049.83 |
That is $1,049.83 gross for 27 hours, an average of $38.88 an hour. The employer pays superannuation on top. Enter your own roster in the weekly pay calculator to see the after-tax figure.
Award Rate or Enterprise Agreement?
An enterprise agreement is negotiated for a single employer and, once approved, replaces the award for the employees it covers. It must pass the Better Off Overall Test against the award, so an agreement can restructure penalty rates but cannot leave employees worse off overall. Large retailers and fast food chains commonly operate under agreements — see pay rates by employer. If an agreement is terminated, the award applies again.
How Do You Find Your Award?
- Open the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool.
- Choose your industry and answer the questions about your role.
- Note the award name, code (for example MA000004) and your classification level.
- Check your classification rate in the A–Z table above, or in the award's pay guide.
To price a particular day, shift or employment type, run the award, level and hours through the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool; our Fair Work pay calculator guide explains what it asks and the rates behind it.
If no award covers you, you are award-free: the National Employment Standards and the national minimum wage still apply. To check what is on your payslip, read understanding your payslip.
What Changed for 2026-27?
- A 4.75% increase with floors from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The national minimum wage rose from $24.95 to $26.44 an hour. See the minimum wage history.
- Junior rates are rising from 1 December 2026 in the retail, fast food and pharmacy awards, for 18–20 year olds with more than 6 months' service — a phase-in to the adult rate by 2029, not an immediate jump. See the fast food, retail and pharmacy schedules.
- Payday Super: from 1 July 2026 the 12% superannuation guarantee must be paid with each pay rather than quarterly.
Award Rates in NSW, QLD, Victoria and Other States: Is There a Difference?
No. Modern award rates are set nationally by the Fair Work Commission, so the General Retail Industry Award 2020 level 1 rate of $27.81 an hour is the same in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, and the same holds for all 30 awards in the A–Z above (Fair Work Ombudsman, minimum wages). Two groups of employees sit outside the national system.
Western Australia. Sole traders, partnerships and other unincorporated WA employers are in the WA state system, which has its own minimum wage of $998.30 a week ($26.27 an hour) from 1 July 2026 (wa.gov.au). Incorporated WA employers are in the national system and pay the modern award rates.
Queensland. State and local government employees are covered by the Queensland state system. Its minimum wage is $1,004.90 a week from 1 September 2026, after the 4.75% increase in the [2026] QIRC 280 decision (QIRC). Queensland private-sector employees are on the national awards.
What does differ by state is the calendar around the rate. Each state declares its own public holidays, so which days attract public-holiday penalty rates depends on where you work: see the NSW, Queensland and Victoria pay pages. Long service leave is state law, with a different accrual in each jurisdiction (long service leave calculator).
Under every award sits the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour, the floor for employees no award covers; see minimum wage Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Award rate questions and answers
What are the award rates for 2026-27?
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, adult Level 1 rates in the major modern awards run from $25.74 to $32.61 an hour — for example Aged Care $32.61, Building and Construction General On-site $28.44, Cleaning Services $27.08, Clerks—Private Sector $26.97. Higher classifications pay more, and casuals receive a 25% loading.
What is a modern award?
A modern award is a legally binding instrument made by the Fair Work Commission that sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, overtime, allowances and some leave and hours rules for employees in an industry or occupation. There are more than 120 modern awards.
How often do award rates change?
Once a year, after the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review decided each June. New rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July. The 2026-27 increase was 4.75%, subject to floors of $1,004.90 a week (ongoing) and $978.10 (entry level), so the lowest classifications in some awards were lifted to the floor instead.
What is the minimum wage in Australia?
The national minimum wage for 2026-27 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38-hour week. It applies directly to employees not covered by an award or agreement; award-covered employees must be paid at least their award classification rate.
Do award rates differ by state?
No. Modern award rates are set nationally and are the same in every state and territory for national system employees. State public sector employees and some others are covered by state instruments instead.
How much is casual loading?
25% on top of the minimum hourly rate in most awards. Retail Level 1 is $27.81 an hour, so a casual receives $34.76. In most awards casual penalty rates add the loading rather than multiplying by it — casual Sunday in retail is 175%, not 150% x 1.25 — but the Manufacturing award compounds, applying penalties to the casual rate.
Do junior employees get lower award rates?
In many awards, yes, as a percentage of the adult rate — but the scales differ. Hospitality reaches the adult rate at 20; retail, fast food, pharmacy and clerks at 21. The Security and SCHADS awards have no junior rates, so a young employee gets the full adult rate. From 1 December 2026 retail, fast food and pharmacy rates for 18–20 year olds with more than 6 months' service begin rising towards the adult rate.
Are penalty rates the same in every award?
No. Sunday is 150% in retail and hospitality but 200% in the security and clerks awards, and only 125% for a fast food Level 1 employee. Hospitality evening work is a flat cash amount per hour, and pharmacy rates change with the time of day. Always check your own award.
How do I find which award covers me?
Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool at calculate.fairwork.gov.au, or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. Coverage depends on your employer's industry and the work you do, not your job title.
Is superannuation included in award rates?
No. The 12% superannuation guarantee is paid by the employer on top of award wages. From 1 July 2026 it must be paid with each pay rather than quarterly.
How this guide works▼
Every rate on this page is read from constants transcribed from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated award texts (consolidated to 1 July 2026) and the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides, with the clause cited on each award page, and pinned by automated tests. Rates apply to national system employees from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. We list only awards we have verified line by line; for any other award we link to Fair Work rather than publish an unverified figure.
Sources & References
- 1Awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 2Find my award— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 4National Minimum Wage Order 2026 (PR799279)— Fair Work Commission
- 5Consolidated modern award texts— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
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