Electrical Award Pay Rates by Level
Ordinary hourly rates (the minimum rate plus the all-purpose industry and tool allowances) for full-time and part-time employees under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rate as full-time employees at their classification — the difference is hours, not rate. The casual column adds the 25% loading (cl 11.2).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical worker grade 1 | $1,046.31 | $27.53 | $34.41 |
| Electrical worker grade 2 | $1,054.51 | $27.75 | $34.69 |
| Electrical worker grade 3 | $1,088.31 | $28.64 | $35.80 |
| Electrical worker grade 4 | $1,122.01 | $29.53 | $36.91 |
| Electrical worker grade 5 | $1,182.82 | $31.13 | $38.91 |
| Electrical worker grade 6 | $1,218.02 | $32.05 | $40.06 |
| Electrical worker grade 7 | $1,284.82 | $33.81 | $42.26 |
| Electrical worker grade 8 | $1,346.82 | $35.44 | $44.30 |
| Electrical worker grade 9 | $1,373.22 | $36.14 | $45.18 |
| Electrical worker grade 10 | $1,478.72 | $38.91 | $48.64 |
Weekly = the minimum weekly rate (cl 16.2) plus the $41.41 industry allowance (cl 18.3(a)) and, for grade 5 and above, the $22.31 tool allowance (cl 18.3(g)); hourly = that total divided by 38. This is the "ordinary hourly rate" in Schedule B.2.1, and every percentage in the award applies to it. The bare minimum rates are listed under "Which grade am I?".
Which level am I?
- Minimum rates before allowances: grade 1: $1004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour); grade 2: $1013.10 a week ($26.66 an hour); grade 3: $1046.90 a week ($27.55 an hour); grade 4: $1080.60 a week ($28.44 an hour); grade 5: $1119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour); grade 6: $1154.30 a week ($30.38 an hour); grade 7: $1221.10 a week ($32.13 an hour); grade 8: $1283.10 a week ($33.77 an hour); grade 9: $1309.50 a week ($34.46 an hour); grade 10: $1415.00 a week ($37.24 an hour) (cl 16.2).
- Grade 5: A trade-qualified electrical, electronics, instrumentation, refrigeration or linework worker — holds a trade certificate or tradesperson's rights certificate, or an AQF Certificate III in Electrotechnology (Schedule A.2.5). The tool allowance starts here.
- Grade 6: A grade 5 worker with 3 further training modules (or equivalent in-house training) and at least a year's experience as a grade 5 (Schedule A.2.6).
- Grade 7: A grade 5 worker with a Post Trade Certificate, 9 modules towards an Advanced Certificate or AQF Diploma, an AQF Certificate IV in Electrotechnology, or 2 years' experience in the industry (Schedule A.2.7).
The hourly rate you are paid is higher than the award's minimum rate table
Clause 16.2 lists minimum rates ($29.45 an hour for a grade 5). But the award adds an all-purpose industry allowance of $41.41 a week to every grade and a $22.31 tool allowance from grade 5, and its ordinary hourly rate — the figure every penalty and overtime percentage applies to — includes both (Schedule B.2.1). So a grade 5 is $31.13 an hour, not $29.45. Licensed electricians on an unrestricted licence get a further $40.29 a week all-purpose on top, which is not in the table.
Worked example: a grade 5 electrician's Saturday call-out
Sam is a permanent grade 5 electrician (ordinary hourly rate $31.13) asked to work 4 hours on a Saturday. His ordinary hours are Monday to Friday, so Saturday is overtime with a 4-hour minimum.
- First 2 hours at 150%: $31.13 × 1.5 = $46.70 an hour → $93.40.
- Next 2 hours at 200%: $31.13 × 2 = $62.26 an hour → $124.52.
- Total: $217.92 before tax. Any further all-purpose allowance, such as an electrician's licence allowance, raises the base before the percentages are applied.
Try your own hours in the overtime pay calculator or the casual loading calculator, add up a full week in the weekly pay calculator, or check the public holiday pay guide.
Electrical Award Pay Guide 2026-27: Every Level, Every Day
The hourly rate for each classification at each penalty band, in the layout of the Fair Work pay guide. Find your level, then the day you worked.
Full-time and part-time
| Classification | Ordinary hours (day work)100% | Public holiday250% |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical worker grade 1 | $27.53 | $68.83 |
| Electrical worker grade 2 | $27.75 | $69.38 |
| Electrical worker grade 3 | $28.64 | $71.60 |
| Electrical worker grade 4 | $29.53 | $73.83 |
| Electrical worker grade 5 | $31.13 | $77.83 |
| Electrical worker grade 6 | $32.05 | $80.13 |
| Electrical worker grade 7 | $33.81 | $84.53 |
| Electrical worker grade 8 | $35.44 | $88.60 |
| Electrical worker grade 9 | $36.14 | $90.35 |
| Electrical worker grade 10 | $38.91 | $97.28 |
Casual
| Classification | Ordinary hours (day work)125% | Public holiday312.5% |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical worker grade 1 | $34.41 | $86.03 |
| Electrical worker grade 2 | $34.69 | $86.72 |
| Electrical worker grade 3 | $35.80 | $89.50 |
| Electrical worker grade 4 | $36.91 | $92.28 |
| Electrical worker grade 5 | $38.91 | $97.28 |
| Electrical worker grade 6 | $40.06 | $100.16 |
| Electrical worker grade 7 | $42.26 | $105.66 |
| Electrical worker grade 8 | $44.30 | $110.75 |
| Electrical worker grade 9 | $45.18 | $112.94 |
| Electrical worker grade 10 | $48.64 | $121.59 |
Casual columns marked “of casual rate” apply the percentage to the casual hourly rate; the others are a percentage of the minimum rate that already includes the loading. Figures are rounded to the cent. A dash means the column does not apply to that classification.
Electrical Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Electrical worker grade 1 | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday (day worker)All Sunday work is paid at 200%; casuals 250% of the ordinary rate (cl 20.4(a)). | 200% | $55.06 | 250% | $68.83 |
| Public holiday (day worker)Casuals 312.5% of the ordinary rate (cl 20.4(b), Schedule B.3.1). Minimum 4 hours.Public holiday pay calculator & dates by state → | 250% | $68.83 | 312.5% | $86.03 |
Source: cl 20.4 and Schedule B.2.1 / B.3.1.
Day workers' ordinary hours are Monday to Friday between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm (cl 13.2–13.3). Saturday work is overtime. Sunday and public holiday work is paid at the flat rates above.
For a casual, the permanent percentage is applied to the ordinary rate after adding the 25% loading — the award's own note says so. That is why a casual Sunday is 250% of the ordinary rate, not 225%, and a casual public holiday is 312.5%.
The shiftwork loadings (afternoon, night, permanent night and shift weekend rates) are in cl 13.13–13.16 and Schedule B.2.3; this page does not reproduce them.
Electrical Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Electrical worker grade 1 | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside ordinary hours, Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours | 150% | $41.30 | 187.5% · $51.62 |
| Outside ordinary hours, Monday to Saturday — after 2 hours | 200% | $55.06 | 250% · $68.83 |
| Sunday — all day | 200% | $55.06 | 250% · $68.83 |
| Public holiday — all day | 250% | $68.83 | 312.5% · $86.03 |
Source: cl 20.1 and Schedule B.2.2.
For a casual the overtime percentage is applied to the casual rate: 187.5% of the ordinary rate for the first 2 hours and 250% after that (cl 20.1(b)).
A minimum of 4 hours at the overtime rate is paid for overtime on a Saturday, Sunday, rostered day off or public holiday, and for each call-back (cl 20.3, 20.5). Each day's work stands alone (cl 20.1(c)).
Electrical Award Junior Rates
The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award has no junior rates scale for non-apprentices. Apprentices are paid a percentage of the grade 5 minimum rate by year of apprenticeship (cl 16.4), which this page does not reproduce. Any age-percentage table attributed to the Electrical Award is not from the award.
Electrical Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 18, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Industry allowanceAll-purpose. Already in the rates above. | $41.41 per week | cl 18.3(a) |
| Tool allowance (grade 5 and above)All-purpose. Already in the rates above for grade 5 and up. | $22.31 per week | cl 18.3(g) |
| Electrician's licence allowanceAll-purpose. NOT in the rates above — add it for an electrical mechanic who may be required to use an unrestricted licence. | $40.29 per week | cl 18.3(b) |
| Leading hand — in charge of 3 to 10 employees | $48.12 per week | cl 18.3(c) |
| Leading hand — in charge of 11 to 20 employees | $67.15 per week | cl 18.3(c) |
| Leading hand — in charge of more than 20 employees | $90.65 per week | cl 18.3(c) |
| Nominee allowance (at least) | $102.96 per week | cl 18.3(d) |
| First aid allowance | $23.50 per week | cl 18.4(c) |
| Availability for duty | $98.48 per week | cl 20.6 |
| Meal allowance | $20.60 per meal | cl 18.5(a)(i) |
| Travel time allowance | $8.69 per day | cl 18.6(c) |
| Motor vehicle allowance | $1.00 per km | cl 18.6(b) |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- A casual must be engaged and paid for at least 2 consecutive hours each time they attend work (cl 11.6).
- Ordinary hours average 38 a week over a cycle of up to 28 days; ordinary hours of up to 12 a day can be worked by agreement (cl 13.4–13.5).
- A single call-out on availability duty is paid for a minimum of 2 hours at the appropriate rate (cl 20.6(b)).
What does an electrical award rate take home?
Working a mix of shifts? Enter your hours in the weekly pay calculator, or turn a salary into net pay with the take-home pay calculator.
What This Page Does Not Cover
These parts of the award carry rules or rates we have not verified line by line, so we publish no figures for them:
- Shiftwork rates (cl 13.13–13.16 and Schedule B.2.3)
- Apprentice rates (cl 16.4 and Schedule B.4) and the Schedule E National Training Wage
- Special wage-related allowances: multi-storey, towers, tree clearing and ordering materials (cl 18.3(e)–(f), 18.4)
- The all-purpose electrician's licence, leading hand and nominee allowances, which change the ordinary hourly rate for the people who get them
An enterprise agreement, if one covers your workplace, replaces these award rates — though it must leave you better off overall.
When These Rates Took Effect
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. If your pay period began before 1 July 2026, the previous rate lawfully applies to that whole period and the rise starts with the next one. The award was varied by determination PR799306 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If you have been paid below these rates, our backpay calculator works out what is owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Electrical Award questions and answers
What are the electrical award pay rates for 2026-27?
The ordinary hourly rate, which includes the industry allowance and (for grade 5 and above) the tool allowance, runs from $27.53 an hour for grade 1 to $38.91 for grade 10 (Schedule B.2.1). The bare minimum rates in cl 16.2 are $26.44 to $37.24 an hour. The rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Electrical Award?
Electrical worker grade 1 is $34.41 an hour as a casual. Casual penalties and overtime in this award are worked out on the casual rate, so they multiply rather than add: a permanent rate of 200% is 250% of the ordinary hourly rate for a casual, 250% becomes 312.5%, and 150% overtime becomes 187.5% (cl 20.1(b), 20.4).
What allowances are paid under the Electrical Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 18) includes: industry allowance $41.41 per week; tool allowance (grade 5 and above) $22.31 per week; electrician's licence allowance $40.29 per week; leading hand — in charge of 3 to 10 employees $48.12 per week; leading hand — in charge of 11 to 20 employees $67.15 per week. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
Does the Electrical Award have junior rates?
The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award has no junior rates scale for non-apprentices. Apprentices are paid a percentage of the grade 5 minimum rate by year of apprenticeship (cl 16.4), which this page does not reproduce.
When did the new electrical award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000025 rates were varied by determination PR799306 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If your pay period started before 1 July 2026, the old rate lawfully applies to that whole period.
What is the electrician's Sunday and public holiday rate?
Work on a Sunday is paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for a permanent employee and 250% for a casual; a public holiday is 250% and 312.5% (cl 20.4). At grade 5 that is $62.26 and $77.83 an hour permanent, and $77.83 and $97.28 casual. The minimum payment is 4 hours.
What do electrical apprentices earn?
For apprentices who started on or after 1 January 2014 the rate is a percentage of the grade 5 minimum rate: 1st year 50% (55% if Year 12 is completed), 2nd year 60% (65%), 3rd year 70%, 4th year 82%, plus the tool allowance and part of the other all-purpose allowances (cl 16.4(a)(ii)). Adult apprentices start at 80% of grade 5 in the first year. We do not publish apprentice dollar rates here.
Is the electrician's licence allowance in the table?
No. The $40.29 weekly electrician's licence allowance (cl 18.3(b)) is paid to an electrical mechanic who holds, and may be required to use, an unrestricted licence. It is all-purpose, so it is added to the ordinary hourly rate before overtime and penalties. Leading hand, nominee and other all-purpose allowances work the same way.
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 5 October 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000025 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799306 and PR799463). Clause numbers are cited against each table. Hourly is the published weekly rate divided by 38; derived dollar figures are rounded half up to the cent.
Automated tests pin the published rates, check every hourly rate against its weekly rate, and assert the rules this award is most often modelled wrongly on — including which casual penalties add the loading and which compound on the casual rate. Parts of the award we have not verified are listed as gaps rather than estimated.
Sources & References
- 1
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000025— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2026— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 5 October 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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