Apprentice mechanics are paid a percentage of the R6 rate by year and Year 12 completion (cl 16.8). Those rates are not shown here.
Which award covers mechanics
Mechanics working in car dealerships, service centres, independent workshops, tyre and auto-electrical businesses, and roadside service are covered by the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 [MA000089]. The award covers repairing and servicing "motor vehicles of all kinds, including motor cars, trucks, caravans, motorcycles, trailerable boats, agricultural machinery" (cl 4.2(a)), so diesel and heavy vehicle mechanics in a truck workshop are covered too.
A qualified mechanic — trade certificate or a Certificate III gained through an apprenticeship — is tradesperson or equivalent Level I (R6). The award lists motor mechanic/automotive technician, motorcycle mechanic, brake mechanic, automotive electrician, panel beater, painter and wheel aligner at this level (Schedule A.1.5).
Level II (R7) is for a tradesperson who also holds a Certificate IV automotive qualification (for example Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis) and is required to perform technical duties above R6, such as diagnosing complex faults. Master Technician and Automotive Technical Advisor are R7 titles (Schedule A.1.6).
A diesel fitter employed by a mine, a manufacturer or another business that is not principally in vehicle repair, services or retail may be covered by a different award, such as the Mining Industry Award or the Manufacturing Award. The employer's industry decides it (cl 4.1).
Read the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 [MA000089] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026).
Mechanic award pay rates 2026–27
These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rates for the hours they work.
Mechanic pay rates, 2026–27
Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award cl 16.2, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The casual column is the weekday daytime rate (25% loading); casual loadings are higher at other times (see below).
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R6 — Tradesperson Level I (motor mechanic)Qualified mechanic: trade certificate or Certificate III | $29.45 | $1,119.10 | $58,193 | $36.81 |
| R7 — Tradesperson Level II (master technician)Also holds a Certificate IV automotive qualification | $32.22 | $1,224.40 | $63,669 | $40.28 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Other workshop classifications (non-trade)
Clause 16.2. Workshop employees without a trade qualification are classified R2 to R5 by skill level and duties (Schedule A.1.1–A.1.4).
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 — Vehicle RS&R industry employee Level 3 | $27.08 | $1,029.10 | $53,513 | $33.85 |
| R4 — Vehicle RS&R industry employee Level 4 | $27.97 | $1,062.90 | $55,271 | $34.96 |
| R5 — Vehicle RS&R industry employee Level 5 | $28.64 | $1,088.20 | $56,586 | $35.80 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Diesel mechanic pay: which award applies
A diesel mechanic's minimum depends on who employs you, not on the engine. In a truck or machinery workshop or a dealership you are a motor mechanic under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award, at the R6 trade rate. A heavy diesel fitter maintaining plant on a mine site is usually covered by the Mining Industry Award, and a maintenance fitter in a factory by the Manufacturing Award.
On a mine the award's trade level is Level 3—Competent for maintenance trades employees, and every rate includes a $41.41 a week industry allowance paid for all purposes, which is why the hourly rate is higher. Most large mining operations pay under enterprise agreements well above these minimums.
| Where you work | Award and level | Hourly | Weekly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck or machinery workshop; dealership | Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award — R6 | $29.45 | $1119.10 | $36.81 |
| Factory or processing plant maintenance | Manufacturing Award — C10 tradesperson | $29.45 | $1119.10 | $36.81 |
| Maintaining plant on a mine site | Mining Industry Award — Level 3 (maintenance trades) | $30.54 | $1160.51 | $38.18 |
Minimums from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The mining row includes the all-purpose industry allowance (Schedule B.1.3). Casual is the hourly rate plus 25%; the Vehicle Repair Award's casual loading rises outside weekday daytime hours.
Mechanic penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday, 6 am to 6 pm | 100% | 125% |
| Monday–Friday, 6 pm to 6 am | 100% (shift rates may apply) | 150% |
| Afternoon shift only (starts after noon, by 6 pm) | 118% | — |
| Night shift only (starts after 6 pm, by 4 am) | 130% | — |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Permanent weekend and public holiday rates are cl 23.2; shift rates are cl 25.2 and do not apply to casuals (cl 25.1(b)). Casuals are paid a time-based loading instead (cl 11.3(a)): 25% on weekday days, 50% on weekday evenings and nights, 75% on Saturday, 125% on Sunday and 175% on public holidays. Loadings are not cumulative — the highest applicable one is paid (cl 11.3(b)).
Overtime
- Monday to Saturday: 150% for the first 3 hours, then 200% until the overtime ends; Sunday 200%; public holiday 250% (cl 24.3).
- Casual overtime (more than 10 hours a day or an average of 38 a week): 75% loading for the first 3 hours, then 125% (cl 11.3(a)).
- A mechanic recalled for breakdown, accident or emergency work outside normal hours is paid 200%, with a minimum of 2 hours for the first call-back each day (cl 24.9).
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Tool allowance | $13.86 per week | Tradespeople required to provide their own hand tools (cl 19.6(a)). Apprentices get a reduced amount by year. |
| Meal allowance | $18.67 per meal | Overtime of more than 1.5 hours without notice the previous day (cl 19.2(a)). |
| First aid allowance | $22.38 per week | If you hold a first aid qualification and are appointed to perform first aid duty (cl 18.3). |
| Leading hand allowance | $48.57 per week | In charge of 3 to 10 employees; $73.19 for 11–20 and $93.00 for more than 20 (cl 18.2). |
| Dirty work allowance | $0.84 per hour | Work the foreperson and employee agree is unusually dirty or offensive; minimum $3.30 a day (cl 18.6). |
Mechanic pay after tax
On the R6 — Tradesperson Level I (motor mechanic) rate of $1,119.10 a week, a full-time mechanic earns $58,193 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $58,193 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$7,851 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,164 |
| Take-home per year | $49,178 |
| Take-home per week | $946 |
2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy; no HECS-HELP repayment and no Medicare levy surcharge. Superannuation is paid on top by your employer. For the full breakdown see take-home pay on $60,000 (the nearest step to $58,193), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What mechanics actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Motor Mechanics (ANZSCO 3212) at $1,622 a week ($40 an hour), against $1,852 a week for all occupations.
Median weekly pay of full-time, non-managerial adult employees before tax and salary sacrifice, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as published by Jobs and Skills Australia. It reflects what employers actually pay, including people on enterprise agreements or above-award salaries, so it is a market figure, not a legal minimum.
What this page does not show
- Apprentice and adult apprentice rates (cl 16.8).
- Vehicle salesperson commission provisions (cl 28) and driveway attendant rates (cl 27).
- Unapprenticed junior rates (cl 16.6), which apply only to the non-trade classifications listed in that clause.
Mechanic pay questions
Pay rates for other jobs
How this page is sourced▼
Every minimum rate was read from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated text of the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020, consolidated to 1 July 2026, on 23 September 2026. Casual rates are the award's own published figures wherever it publishes them. Nothing is estimated.
The median comes from Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile and is a market figure, not an entitlement. Take-home figures use the same tax engine as the rest of this site. Award rates change every 1 July, so re-check after the next Annual Wage Review.
Sources & References
- 1Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 [MA000089] — consolidated to 1 July 2026— Fair Work Commission
- 2
- 3Mining Industry Award 2020 [MA000011] — consolidated to 1 July 2026— Fair Work Commission
- 4Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 5Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 6Motor Mechanics (ANZSCO 3212) occupation profile — ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025— Jobs and Skills Australia
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
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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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