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People reading this page usually work these out too.
South Australia pays the largest entitlement in the country: 13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service, then 1.3 weeks for every year after that, at the same rate whether you are full-time, part-time or casual. A pro-rata payment becomes available once you complete 7 years, worth 1.3 weeks for each COMPLETED year — 8½ years pays 10.4 weeks, not 11.05. It is not payable if you are dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or you end the contract unlawfully, such as by walking out without working your notice.
Long service leave you take as leave is taxed like ordinary pay. This schedule is for an unused balance paid out when the job ends. See take-home pay on $105,000 for the year that includes it, or the final pay calculator for the whole termination payment.
Long service leave in South Australia comes from the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA), administered by SafeWork SA. It accrues at 1.3000 weeks for every year of continuous service with one employer. At 10 years you can take 13 weeks of paid leave; after that, 1.3 weeks (9.1 days) for each subsequent year, which can be taken as it accrues with the employer's approval.
| Continuous service | Weeks accrued | Weeks you can take | Worth at $1,600 a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 6.50 | — | $10,400 |
| 7 years | 9.10 | — | $14,560 |
| 8 years | 10.40 | — | $16,640 |
| 10 years | 13.00 | 13.00 | $20,800 |
| 12 years | 15.60 | 15.60 | $24,960 |
| 15 years | 19.50 | 19.50 | $31,200 |
| 20 years | 26.00 | 26.00 | $41,600 |
| 25 years | 32.50 | 32.50 | $52,000 |
“Accrued” is what is paid out when employment ends and a pro-rata entitlement exists. “Can take” is what you can use as leave while still employed — a dash means the 10-year qualifying period has not been reached.
A pro-rata payment first becomes possible at 7 years of continuous service in South Australia. Below that, nothing is owed however the job ends.
From 7 years the accrued balance is paid out however the employment ends — resignation, dismissal, redundancy or death. SafeWork SA names two exceptions: dismissal for serious and wilful misconduct, and a worker who terminates the contract unlawfully, such as by not working the required notice.
Whatever is owed is paid in your final pay, with unused annual leave and any notice. Work the whole thing out with the final pay calculator, and remember that annual leave is a separate entitlement handled by the annual leave calculator.
Full-time, part-time and casual workers accrue at the same 1.3 weeks a year — employment status does not change the rate. A casual's contracts must form a continuous series; a prolonged gap or a clear termination can break it. Weeks that do not count as service (such as unpaid leave) must be added on before the 10 years is reached.
Because the entitlement is measured in weeks, a part-timer earns the same number of weeks as a full-timer and is paid at their own ordinary weekly rate. Put your actual weekly pay into the calculator above rather than a full-time equivalent.
SafeWork SA's long service leave guidance does not state whether an SA entitlement can be cashed out. Check with SafeWork SA before agreeing to anything.
Tax on long service leave is federal, so it is the same in South Australia as everywhere else. Leave you take is taxed like ordinary pay. An unused balance paid out at termination follows the ATO's unused-leave schedule:
| Leave accrued | Resignation, retirement or dismissal | Genuine redundancy or invalidity |
|---|---|---|
| Before 16 August 1978 | 5% taxed at marginal rates | 5% taxed at marginal rates |
| 16 Aug 1978 – 17 Aug 1993 | Flat 32% | Flat 32% |
| After 17 August 1993 | Marginal rate | Flat 32% |
For anyone who started work after 17 August 1993, only the last row applies. A 10-year SA entitlement of 13.00 weeks on $1,600 a week is $20,800 gross, landing in a year worth about $104,000 — see take-home pay on $105,000 for what that leaves after tax. The calculator above applies the same split to your own dates.
If one of those describes you, the figures on this page are not yours. SafeWork SA is the regulator for the Act itself; for a federal award or agreement, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
SA is one of eight jurisdictions with its own Act. The qualifying period runs from 7 years (Victoria and the ACT) to 10, and the rate from 0.8667 weeks a year to 1.3 (South Australia and the Northern Territory).
| State | Take leave at | Weeks then | Pro-rata from |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 10 years | 8.67 | 5 years |
| VIC | 7 years | 6.0667 | 7 years |
| QLD | 10 years | 8.6667 | 7 years |
| WA | 10 years | 8.667 | 7 years |
| SA | 10 years | 13 | 7 years |
| TAS | 10 years | 8.667 | 7 years |
| ACT | 7 years | 6.0667 | 5 years |
| NT | 10 years | 13 | 7 years |
The long service leave hub sets all eight side by side, including what each pays if you resign at 8 years.
13.00 weeks. Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA) accrues 1.3000 weeks for every year of continuous service, and 10 years is the point at which you can take it — 13 weeks. 1.3 weeks (9.1 days) for each subsequent year, which can be taken as it accrues with the employer's approval.
9.10 weeks has accrued, but SA does not let you take long service leave until 10 years. Seven years does matter for another reason: it is the point at which a pro-rata payment becomes possible if the job ends.
Yes. From 7 years of continuous service SA pays the accrued balance however the employment ends — resignation, dismissal, redundancy or death, unless you are dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or you end the contract unlawfully.
Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA) accrues 1.3000 weeks for each year of continuous service, paid at your ordinary weekly rate at the time you take the leave or the job ends. Part years are dropped: 8½ years is paid as 8.
Full-time, part-time and casual workers accrue at the same 1.3 weeks a year — employment status does not change the rate. A casual's contracts must form a continuous series; a prolonged gap or a clear termination can break it. Weeks that do not count as service (such as unpaid leave) must be added on before the 10 years is reached.
SafeWork SA's long service leave guidance does not state whether an SA entitlement can be cashed out. Check with SafeWork SA before agreeing to anything.
Tax is federal, so it is the same in every state. If your service started after 17 August 1993, the payout is taxed at your marginal rate when you resign, retire or are dismissed. If you leave through genuine redundancy, invalidity or an early retirement scheme, the ATO withholds a flat 32% instead. No tax is withheld from unused leave paid after an employee's death.
SafeWork SA lists: workers whose long service leave comes from the federal system rather than the SA Act; community services workers covered by SA's portable long service leave scheme. If you are in one of those groups, your long service leave comes from somewhere else — check with the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or your scheme.
Last verified: 28 August 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Employment & Workplace Rights Editor
B.Com (Hons), Cert IV Financial Planning
Penny is a financial journalist and workplace compliance specialist with over a decade of experience writing about Australian employment law, Fair Work entitlements, and payroll. She has contributed to publications covering industrial relations and personal finance, and previously advised small businesses on award interpretation and pay compliance.
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