Graduates of architecture get paid leave to study for and sit the Architectural Practice Examination (cl 13.6).
Architect award pay rates 2026–27
Architect pay rates by level, 2026–27
Annual, weekly and hourly minimums exactly as clause 13.1 publishes them; casual rates from Schedule B.2 (hourly rate plus 25%).
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual (award salary) | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — EntryGraduate, not yet registered | $34.40 | $1,307.20 | $68,191 | $43.00 |
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — 1st pay point | $36.22 | $1,376.30 | $71,798 | $45.28 |
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — 2nd pay point | $38.04 | $1,445.40 | $75,401 | $47.55 |
| Level 2(a) Experienced Graduate of Architecture | $39.77 | $1,511.30 | $78,838 | $49.71 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — EntryNewly registered architect | $39.77 | $1,511.30 | $78,838 | $49.71 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — 1st pay point | $41.00 | $1,558.00 | $81,276 | $51.25 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — 2nd pay point | $42.23 | $1,604.80 | $83,716 | $52.79 |
Casual hourly rates include the 25% casual loading (casual loading calculator).
Which award covers architects
Architects and graduates of architecture employed by architectural practices and other employers of architects are covered by the Architects Award 2020 [MA000079], an occupational award that applies whatever industry the employer is in.
Under the award, an architect is an employee registered as an architect under Australian legislation. Before registration you are a Graduate of Architecture (Level 1, entry to 2nd pay point), then an Experienced Graduate of Architecture (Level 2(a)). A Registered Architect enters Level 2(b) and moves up two pay points as they show the National Competency Standards in Architecture.
Employers must run an annual review of a graduate's progress towards registration, and confirm progression to the next pay point in writing once the objectives are reasonably met (cl 13.3).
The award sets annual salaries; the weekly rate is annual × 6 ÷ 313 (cl 13.2), which clause 13.1 prints to the nearest 10 cents. Most architects are paid a contract salary above these figures, but an award-covered employee can't be paid less.
Read the Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Architect penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime, including all work on a public holiday | 150% | No casual loading on overtime (cl 10.2) |
The Architects Award has no weekend or evening penalty rates. Work outside or beyond ordinary hours, and all public holiday work, is overtime (cl 17.1, 23.3).
Overtime
- All time worked in excess of or outside the spread of ordinary hours is paid at 150% of the minimum hourly rate, or under another agreed arrangement that doesn't avoid award obligations, isn't unfair to you and is recorded (cl 17.1).
- Time off instead of overtime pay must equal the overtime payment: 2 hours at 150% buys 3 hours off, taken within 6 months (cl 17.3).
- Casuals aren't paid the 25% loading on overtime hours (cl 10.2).
Architect pay after tax
| Classification | Gross a year | Tax and Medicare | Take-home a year | A week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — Entry | $68,191 | −$12,341 | $55,850 | $1,074 |
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — 1st pay point | $71,798 | −$13,495 | $58,303 | $1,121 |
| Level 1 Graduate of Architecture — 2nd pay point | $75,401 | −$14,648 | $60,753 | $1,168 |
| Level 2(a) Experienced Graduate of Architecture | $78,838 | −$15,748 | $63,090 | $1,213 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — Entry | $78,838 | −$15,748 | $63,090 | $1,213 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — 1st pay point | $81,276 | −$16,529 | $64,747 | $1,245 |
| Level 2(b) Registered Architect — 2nd pay point | $83,716 | −$17,309 | $66,407 | $1,277 |
2026–27 resident rates with the Medicare levy and no HECS-HELP; super is paid on top. Full breakdown: take-home pay on $80,000 (the nearest step to $78,838), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What architects actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Architects and Landscape Architects (ANZSCO 2321) at $2,308 a week ($61 an hour), against $1,852 a week for all occupations. That is $797 a week above the Level 2(b) Registered Architect — Entry minimum of $1,511.30.
Full-time, non-managerial adults before tax (ABS, May 2025): a market figure, not a legal minimum. Average and median pay explained.
What this page does not show
- Student of Architecture rates (cl 13.5), which are percentages of the graduate entry rate by years of service.
- Enterprise agreement and public sector architect scales.
Architect pay questions
Pay rates for related jobs
Every office, property and professional job is on the job pay rates hub.
How this page is sourced▼
Minimum rates: the Architects Award 2020, consolidated to 1 July 2026, read on 24 September 2026. Median: Jobs and Skills Australia, Architects and Landscape Architects (ANZSCO 2321).
Sources & References
- 1Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] — consolidated to 1 July 2026— Fair Work Commission
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 4
Last verified: 24 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.
Areas of Expertise