Junior rates apply only to Retail Employee Levels 1 to 3 (cl 17.2), and the percentages for 18- and 19-year-olds with more than 6 months with their employer rise in steps from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026 ([2026] FWCFB 75; determination PR813655). See the junior pay rates page for the schedule.
Which award covers retail workers
Retail workers in shops, supermarkets, department stores and other retail businesses are covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2020 [MA000004], unless the business is covered by a more specific award — pharmacies (Pharmacy Award), fast food outlets (Fast Food Award), and motor vehicle retailing (Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award) have their own.
Most shop assistants, checkout operators, store workers, trolley collectors and merchandisers are Retail Employee Level 1 (Schedule A.1.3). Forklift and ride-on equipment operators are Level 2. Senior salespeople and second-in-charge of a department are Level 3, and a department manager with up to 2 staff, a shift or nightfill supervisor, or a butcher, baker or florist using a trade qualification is Level 4.
Large supermarket and department store chains usually pay under an enterprise agreement. The employer pages linked on this site set out what Coles, Woolworths, Kmart and Bunnings agreements pay.
Read the General Retail Industry Award 2020 [MA000004] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 July 2026), or see every classification on our MA000004 award rates page.
Retail Worker 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.
Retail worker pay rates by level, 2026–27
General Retail Industry Award cl 17.1, Table 4, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Casual is the hourly rate plus the 25% casual loading (cl 11.1).
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1Shop assistant, checkout operator, store worker, trolley collector | $27.81 | $1,056.80 | $54,954 | $34.76 |
| Retail Employee Level 2Forklift or ride-on equipment operator | $28.45 | $1,081.00 | $56,212 | $35.56 |
| Retail Employee Level 3Senior salesperson, second-in-charge of a department | $28.89 | $1,097.80 | $57,086 | $36.11 |
| Retail Employee Level 4Department manager (up to 2 staff), trade-qualified butcher, baker or florist | $29.45 | $1,119.10 | $58,193 | $36.81 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.66 | $1,165.10 | $60,585 | $38.33 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $1,182.10 | $61,469 | $38.89 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $32.67 | $1,241.40 | $64,553 | $40.84 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $33.99 | $1,291.80 | $67,174 | $42.49 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Retail Worker penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday after 6 pm | 125% | 150% |
| Saturday | 125% | 150% |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 225% | 250% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate for ordinary hours (cl 22.1, Table 12). Casual percentages include the 25% casual loading. Shiftworkers have separate rates that are not shown here.
Overtime
- Full-time and part-time: 150% for the first 3 hours Monday to Saturday, then 200%; Sunday 200%; public holiday 250% (cl 21.2(c), Table 11).
- Casual: 175% for the first 3 hours Monday to Saturday, then 225%; Sunday 225%; public holiday 275% — the casual loading is included.
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance (overtime of more than 1 hour without 24 hours' notice) | $24.56 per occasion | Or the employer supplies a meal. (cl 19.2(b)(i)) |
| Laundry of special clothing — full-time | $6.42 per week | (cl 19.3(c)(i)) |
| First aid allowance | $14.55 per week | (cl 19.10(b)) |
| Liquor licence allowance | $34.69 per week | (cl 19.12) |
| Motor vehicle allowance | $1.00 per km | (cl 19.7) |
Retail Worker pay after tax
On the Retail Employee Level 1 rate of $1,056.80 a week, a full-time retail worker earns $54,954 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $54,954 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$6,831 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,099 |
| Take-home per year | $47,024 |
| Take-home per week | $904 |
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 $55,000 (the nearest step to $54,954), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What retail workers actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Sales Assistants (General) (ANZSCO 6211) at $1,241 a week ($32 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
- Junior percentages and the phase-in schedule — see the junior pay rates page.
- Shiftworker penalty rates and baking production early-morning rates.
- Retail Employee Levels 5 to 8 duty definitions (Schedule A.5–A.8).
Retail Worker 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 General Retail Industry 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
- 1General Retail Industry Award 2020 [MA000004] — 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: 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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