Meat Industry Award Pay Rates by Level
Adult minimum rates for full-time and part-time employees under the Meat Industry 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 12.4(a)).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| MI 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| MI 3 | $1,010.90 | $26.60 | $33.25 |
| MI 4 | $1,034.60 | $27.23 | $34.04 |
| MI 5 | $1,052.90 | $27.71 | $34.64 |
| MI 6 | $1,074.50 | $28.28 | $35.35 |
| MI 7 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| MI 8 | $1,160.20 | $30.53 | $38.16 |
Weekly rates are the award’s minimum weekly rate for a full-time employee (cl 16.1); hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38.
Which level am I?
- MI 1 to MI 7: Production, processing and trade classifications in meat processing, manufacturing and retail establishments, from entry-level labour (MI 1) to trade-qualified and advanced (MI 7) (cl 13, Schedule A).
- MI 8: The highest classification. The award's own penalty tables for meat processing and manufacturing establishments stop at MI 7; MI 8 appears in the retail establishment tables (Schedule B.3), so the processing and manufacturing weekend columns below are not shown for MI 8.
- Establishment type: The spread of hours and weekend rates depend on whether you work in a meat processing, meat manufacturing or meat retail establishment (cl 14.3–14.5). Retail employees of a processing or manufacturing establishment are treated as retail.
Your weekend rate depends on the type of establishment — and casuals lose the loading on weekends
The Meat Industry Award has three sets of ordinary hours and weekend rates. Meat processing establishments work ordinary hours Monday to Friday, with Saturday at 150% and Sunday at 200% only if agreed. Meat manufacturing establishments can work up to 4 ordinary hours on a Saturday at 125%. Meat retail (including retail staff of a processing or manufacturing business) is paid 125% on a Saturday and 150% on a Sunday. For a casual working a weekend, the weekend penalty is paid instead of the 25% loading, not on top of it, so a casual Saturday in retail is 125%, the same as a permanent employee.
Worked example: a casual MI 3 in a processing plant doing overtime
Jess is a casual MI 3 in a meat processing establishment. Her minimum rate is $26.60 an hour and her casual ordinary rate is $33.25. She works 5 hours beyond her ordinary hours on a Wednesday.
- The casual loading is not paid on overtime (cl 22.1(c)), so overtime is worked out on the minimum rate: $26.60.
- The first 3 hours at 150%: $26.60 × 1.5 = $39.90 an hour → $119.70.
- The next 2 hours at 200%: $53.20 an hour → $106.40.
- Total: $226.10 before tax.
A permanent MI 3 is paid exactly the same overtime rates, which is why the Meat award's casual overtime column matches the permanent one.
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.
Meat Industry 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 | Mon–Fri ordinary hours100% | Saturday — processing (if agreed)150% | Sunday — processing (if agreed)200% | Saturday — manufacturing / retail125% | Sunday — retail150% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI 1 | $25.74 | $38.61 | $51.48 | $32.18 | $38.61 |
| MI 2 | $26.44 | $39.66 | $52.88 | $33.05 | $39.66 |
| MI 3 | $26.60 | $39.90 | $53.20 | $33.25 | $39.90 |
| MI 4 | $27.23 | $40.85 | $54.46 | $34.04 | $40.85 |
| MI 5 | $27.71 | $41.57 | $55.42 | $34.64 | $41.57 |
| MI 6 | $28.28 | $42.42 | $56.56 | $35.35 | $42.42 |
| MI 7 | $29.45 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $36.81 | $44.18 |
| MI 8 | $30.53 | – | – | $38.16 | $45.80 |
Casual
| Classification | Mon–Fri ordinary hours125% | Saturday — processing (if agreed)150% | Sunday — processing (if agreed)200% | Saturday — manufacturing / retail125% | Sunday — retail150% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MI 1 | $32.18 | $38.61 | $51.48 | $32.18 | $38.61 |
| MI 2 | $33.05 | $39.66 | $52.88 | $33.05 | $39.66 |
| MI 3 | $33.25 | $39.90 | $53.20 | $33.25 | $39.90 |
| MI 4 | $34.04 | $40.85 | $54.46 | $34.04 | $40.85 |
| MI 5 | $34.64 | $41.57 | $55.42 | $34.64 | $41.57 |
| MI 6 | $35.35 | $42.42 | $56.56 | $35.35 | $42.42 |
| MI 7 | $36.81 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $36.81 | $44.18 |
| MI 8 | $38.16 | – | – | $38.16 | $45.80 |
Casual figures are the award's casual percentages, which already include the 25% loading where it applies. Figures are rounded to the cent. A dash means the column does not apply to that classification.
Meat Industry Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on MI 1 | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing — Saturday ordinary hours (only if agreed under cl 14.3(b))Casuals are paid the same 150%, not 150% plus a loading (Schedule B.1.3). | 150% | $38.61 | 150% | $38.61 |
| Processing — Sunday ordinary hours (only if agreed under cl 14.3(b))Casuals are paid the same 200%, with no loading on top (Schedule B.1.3). | 200% | $51.48 | 200% | $51.48 |
| Manufacturing — Saturday, up to 4 ordinary hours between 6 am and 6 pmA casual gets this 125% instead of the casual loading (cl 24.2(a)(ii)). | 125% | $32.18 | 125% | $32.18 |
| Retail — Saturday ordinary hours between 4 am and 6 pmA casual gets this 125% instead of the casual loading (cl 24.3(c)). | 125% | $32.18 | 125% | $32.18 |
| Retail — Sunday ordinary hours between 8 am and 6 pmCasuals are paid the weekend penalty instead of the casual loading (cl 24.3(c)). | 150% | $38.61 | 150% | $38.61 |
Source: cl 24 and Schedule B.1–B.3.
Weekend penalties are paid in place of the casual loading, not on top of it: a casual who works ordinary hours on a weekend gets the weekend rate shown (cl 24.1, 24.2(a)(ii), 24.3(c)). That is why a casual Saturday in a processing establishment is 150%, not 175%.
Spreads of hours: processing, Monday to Friday 6.00 am to 8.00 pm (Saturday and Sunday only by agreement); manufacturing, Monday to Saturday 6.00 am to 6.00 pm with up to 4 ordinary hours on Saturday; retail, Monday to Friday 4.00 am to 9.00 pm, Saturday 4.00 am to 6.00 pm and Sunday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm (cl 14.3–14.5).
Public holiday pay is not tabulated here. It is a different rate per holiday: Christmas Day and Anzac Day 200%, Good Friday 150% for the first 4 hours then 200%, any other public holiday 150% for the first 2 hours then 200%; and for employees other than casuals those rates are paid in addition to the ordinary pay for the day (cl 31.3).
Meat Industry Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on MI 1 | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday — first 3 hours | 150% | $38.61 | 150% · $38.61 |
| Monday to Saturday — after 3 hours | 200% | $51.48 | 200% · $51.48 |
| Sunday — all overtime in meat processing establishments | 200% | $51.48 | 200% · $51.48 |
Source: cl 22.1 and Schedule B.1.2 / B.2.2 / B.3.2.
Overtime is all time outside the ordinary spread of hours for the establishment type (cl 22.1(a)). Sunday overtime in a meat processing establishment has a minimum payment of 4 hours (cl 22.1(b)).
The casual loading is not paid on overtime hours, so a casual's overtime percentages are the same as a permanent employee's (cl 22.1(c)).
Meat Industry Award Junior Rates
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 16.2), and apply to the adult rate for the classification (full-time juniors: the weekly rate; part-time and casual juniors: the hourly rate). The dollar columns apply the percentage to MI 1 ($978.10 a week) and divide by 38. The full adult rate applies from age 20.
| Age | % of adult rate | Weekly on MI 1 | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 17 | 50% | $489.05 | $12.87 | $16.09 |
| 17 | 60% | $586.86 | $15.44 | $19.30 |
| 18 | 75% | $733.58 | $19.30 | $24.13 |
| 19 | 85% | $831.39 | $21.88 | $27.35 |
| 20 and over | 100% | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
For how junior scales compare across awards and against the National Minimum Wage, see our junior pay rates guide.
Meat Industry Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 20 and Schedule C, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Leading hand — supervising 3 to 9 employees | $17.91 per week | cl 20.2(c)(i) |
| Leading hand — supervising 10 or more employees | $25.74 per week | cl 20.2(c)(ii) |
| Cold temperature — below zero but not below −16°CHigher bands: $1.33, $1.88 and $2.56 an hour as it gets colder (cl 20.2(a)). | $0.77 per hour | cl 20.2(a) |
| First aid allowance | $4.18 per day | cl 20.2(b) |
| Clothing — meat processing establishmentsOr $0.74 a day. | $3.70 per week | cl 20.3(a)(i) |
| Meal allowance (overtime of 1.5 hours or more) | $19.14 per occasion | cl 20.3(b) |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- A casual's minimum engagement is 4 hours a day or shift (2 hours for casual cleaners and 3 hours for casual bookkeeping clerks) (cl 12.3, 12.2). A casual's ordinary hours cannot exceed 38 in a week (cl 14.1(c)).
- A full-time employee's ordinary hours are 38 a week, or an average of 38 within 152 hours in 28 days, and no more than 10 hours on any day or shift (cl 14.1).
- Cleaners can work ordinary hours from 6.30 am to midnight and get 105% for hours starting after 8.30 am and before noon, and 112.5% for hours starting at noon or later and finishing by midnight (cl 14.2, 24.4).
What does a meat industry 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:
- Public holiday dollar rates, which differ by holiday and are paid in addition to ordinary pay for non-casuals (cl 31.3)
- Daily hire employees (cl 11), payment by results (cl 18), and relieving inspection duties (cl 19)
- Shiftwork rates (cl 23), load out area and cleaner rates other than those described above, and annual leave for shiftworkers
- Apprentice and trainee rates (cl 16.3–16.5) and the supported wage system
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 PR799339 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
Meat Industry Award questions and answers
What are the meat industry award pay rates for 2026-27?
Under the Meat Industry Award 2020 (MA000059), adult minimum rates run from $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week) for MI 1 to $30.53 an hour ($1,160.20 a week) for MI 8. They apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Meat Industry Award?
Casuals receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate, so MI 1 becomes $32.18 an hour. Casual penalty rates add the loading rather than multiplying by it — the casual column in the award is the permanent percentage plus 25 percentage points, except processing — Saturday ordinary hours (only if agreed under cl 14.3(b)) (casual 150%) and processing — Sunday ordinary hours (only if agreed under cl 14.3(b)) (casual 200%) and manufacturing — Saturday, up to 4 ordinary hours between 6 am and 6 pm (casual 125%) and retail — Saturday ordinary hours between 4 am and 6 pm (casual 125%) and retail — Sunday ordinary hours between 8 am and 6 pm (casual 150%).
What allowances are paid under the Meat Industry Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 20 and Schedule C) includes: leading hand — supervising 3 to 9 employees $17.91 per week; leading hand — supervising 10 or more employees $25.74 per week; cold temperature — below zero but not below −16°C $0.77 per hour; first aid allowance $4.18 per day; clothing — meat processing establishments $3.70 per week. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
What are the junior rates under the Meat Industry Award?
Junior rates are a percentage of the adult rate for the classification (cl 16.2): Under 17 50%, 17 60%, 18 75%, 19 85%. The full adult rate applies from age 20. They apply to the adult rate for the classification (full-time juniors: the weekly rate; part-time and casual juniors: the hourly rate).
When did the new meat industry award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000059 rates were varied by determination PR799339 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If your pay period started before 1 July 2026, the old rate lawfully applies to that whole period.
Is the lowest MI 1 rate below the national minimum wage?
Yes. The MI 1 minimum of $25.74 an hour is below the national minimum wage of $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 a week) that applies from 1 July 2026. Fair Work explains that some awards contain introductory pay rates that can be lower than the National Minimum Wage, but the lowest award rate that applies to ongoing employment must be at least $26.44. Check your classification in Schedule A: the award sets MI 1 as its lowest grade. If you are being paid less than $26.44 an hour after your introductory period, check your level and contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
What are meat industry weekend penalty rates?
In a meat processing establishment, ordinary hours may be worked on a Saturday (150%) and Sunday (200%) if agreed (cl 24.1): $38.61 and $51.48 at MI 1. In meat manufacturing, up to 4 ordinary hours on a Saturday are 125% (cl 24.2). In meat retail, Saturday is 125% and Sunday 150% (cl 24.3). Casuals receive the weekend rate instead of the 25% loading.
What is the meat industry public holiday rate?
It differs by holiday. Employees, including casuals, who work on Christmas Day and Anzac Day are paid 200% of the minimum hourly rate for all time worked; on Good Friday 150% for the first 4 hours and 200% after; and on any other public holiday 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after. For employees other than casuals those payments are in addition to the minimum rate for the day (cl 31.3). Because of that nuance this page does not publish a single dollar figure.
What is MI 8 in the Meat Industry Award?
MI 8 is the highest classification at $30.53 an hour ($1,160.20 a week). The award's own processing and manufacturing penalty tables stop at MI 7, while the retail establishment tables include MI 8.
How much do meat industry juniors earn?
Juniors are paid a percentage of the adult weekly rate for their classification: under 17, 50%; 17, 60%; 18, 75%; 19, 85%; adult rate from 20 (cl 16.2). Part-time and casual juniors are paid the percentage of the adult hourly rate instead, so the hourly figure can differ by a cent from the weekly-based figure on this page. At MI 1 an 18-year-old is paid about $19.30 an hour.
What is the minimum engagement for casuals in the meat industry?
4 hours on each day or shift (cl 12.3). Casual cleaners may be engaged for 2 hours and casual bookkeeping clerks for 3 hours (cl 12.2). A casual's ordinary hours cannot exceed 38 in a week.
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 5 October 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000059 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280 and PR799339). 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 that casual penalties add the loading rather than multiplying by it. Parts of the award we have not verified are listed as gaps rather than estimated.
Sources & References
- 1Consolidated award text — Meat Industry Award 2020 (MA000059)— Fair Work Commission
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000059— 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.
Areas of Expertise