Security Award Pay Rates by Level
Adult minimum rates for full-time and part-time employees under the Security Services 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 11.1(a)).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Officer Level 1 | $1,080.10 | $28.42 | $35.53 |
| Security Officer Level 2 | $1,111.00 | $29.24 | $36.55 |
| Security Officer Level 3 | $1,129.80 | $29.73 | $37.16 |
| Security Officer Level 4 | $1,148.70 | $30.23 | $37.79 |
| Security Officer Level 5 | $1,185.70 | $31.20 | $39.00 |
Weekly rates are the award’s minimum weekly rate for a full-time employee (cl 15.1, Table 4); hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38.
The night rate is 121.7%, not 115% or 125%
Security night work (6.00 pm to 6.00 am, Monday to Friday) is paid at 121.7% of the minimum hourly rate — $34.59 at Level 1 — and 130% for an officer on permanent night work. A casual gets 146.7% (155% on permanent nights). The award has no junior rates, so an 18-year-old guard is owed the full adult rate for their level.
Security 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 6am–6pm100% | Mon–Fri night121.7% | Saturday150% | Sunday200% | Public holiday250% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Officer Level 1 | $28.42 | $34.59 | $42.63 | $56.84 | $71.05 |
| Security Officer Level 2 | $29.24 | $35.59 | $43.86 | $58.48 | $73.10 |
| Security Officer Level 3 | $29.73 | $36.18 | $44.60 | $59.46 | $74.33 |
| Security Officer Level 4 | $30.23 | $36.79 | $45.35 | $60.46 | $75.58 |
| Security Officer Level 5 | $31.20 | $37.97 | $46.80 | $62.40 | $78.00 |
Casual
| Classification | Mon–Fri 6am–6pm125% | Mon–Fri night146.7% | Saturday175% | Sunday225% | Public holiday275% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security Officer Level 1 | $35.53 | $41.69 | $49.74 | $63.95 | $78.16 |
| Security Officer Level 2 | $36.55 | $42.90 | $51.17 | $65.79 | $80.41 |
| Security Officer Level 3 | $37.16 | $43.61 | $52.03 | $66.89 | $81.76 |
| Security Officer Level 4 | $37.79 | $44.35 | $52.90 | $68.02 | $83.13 |
| Security Officer Level 5 | $39.00 | $45.77 | $54.60 | $70.20 | $85.80 |
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.
Security Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Security Officer Level 1 | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday — midnight to 6.00 am and 6.00 pm to midnight | 121.7% | $34.59 | 146.7% | $41.69 |
| Monday to Friday night work — employee on permanent night work | 130% | $36.95 | 155% | $44.05 |
| Saturday | 150% | $42.63 | 175% | $49.74 |
| Sunday | 200% | $56.84 | 225% | $63.95 |
| Public holidayPublic holiday pay calculator & dates by state → | 250% | $71.05 | 275% | $78.16 |
Source: cl 20.2, Table 7.
Night work is 121.7%, not a round number — and 130% for an employee on permanent night work, meaning more than two-thirds of their ordinary shifts in a roster cycle include the period between midnight and 6.00 am (cl 20.3).
The casual column in Table 7 is inclusive of the 25% casual loading, and cl 11.1(b) confirms the loading is paid in addition to any shift, weekend or public holiday penalty.
Security Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on Security Officer Level 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday — first 2 hours | 150% | $42.63 |
| Monday to Saturday — after 2 hours | 200% | $56.84 |
| Sunday — all day | 200% | $56.84 |
| Public holiday — all day | 250% | $71.05 |
Source: cl 19.3(a), Table 5.
Casuals are paid overtime for time worked beyond 10 hours a shift (12 by agreement) or beyond 38 hours a week, or an average of 38 across a roster of up to 8 weeks (cl 19.2(c)). An employer must not require more than 14 hours of work in a 24-hour period (cl 19.1).
Security Award Junior Rates
The Security Services Industry Award has no junior rates clause. An 18-year-old security officer is entitled to the full adult rate for their level. Any age-percentage table attributed to the Security Award is not from the award.
Security Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 17, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| First aid allowanceUp to a maximum of $38.19 per week. | $7.68 per shift | cl 17.2(b) |
| Firearm allowanceUp to a maximum of $19.21 per week. | $3.84 per shift | cl 17.3 |
| Broken shift allowance | $18.30 per rostered shift | cl 17.4 |
| Supervision allowance — 1 to 5 employees | $47.68 per week | cl 17.5(a) |
| Supervision allowance — 6 to 10 employees | $55.02 per week | cl 17.5(b) |
| Supervision allowance — 11 to 20 employees | $71.40 per week | cl 17.5(c) |
| Supervision allowance — over 20 employees | $84.28 per week | cl 17.5(d) |
| Relieving officer allowance | $47.23 per week | cl 17.6(a) |
| Aviation allowance (security regulated airport) | $2.11 per hour | cl 17.7 |
| Meal allowance (more than 1 hour after the shift, not advised the previous day) | $22.14 per occasion | cl 17.8(b) |
| Vehicle allowance — motor vehicle | $1.00 per km | cl 17.9(b)(i) |
| Vehicle allowance — motor cycle | $0.34 per km | cl 17.9(b)(ii) |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- Ordinary hours may be rostered as broken shifts of up to 2 periods of duty; each period must be paid for at least 3 hours even if the employee works a shorter time (cl 13.3(h)–(i)), and the broken shift allowance is payable on top.
- Call back: an employee required to return to work after finishing is paid for at least 2 hours (Monday to Saturday disciplinary or administrative attendance), 3 hours (Monday to Saturday for any other purpose) or 4 hours (Sunday) (cl 19.5, Table 6).
What does a security 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:
- Classification definitions for Security Officer Levels 1 to 5 (Schedule A) — we publish the rate for each level but not the duties that place an officer at that level
- National Training Wage (Schedule E of the Miscellaneous Award) trainee rates
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 PR799297 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
Security Award questions and answers
What are the security award pay rates for 2026-27?
Under the Security Services Industry Award 2020 (MA000016), adult minimum rates run from $28.42 an hour ($1,080.10 a week) for Security Officer Level 1 to $31.20 an hour ($1,185.70 a week) for Security Officer Level 5. They apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Security Award?
Casuals receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate, so Security Officer Level 1 becomes $35.53 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.
What allowances are paid under the Security Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 17) includes: first aid allowance $7.68 per shift; firearm allowance $3.84 per shift; broken shift allowance $18.30 per rostered shift; supervision allowance — 1 to 5 employees $47.68 per week; supervision allowance — 6 to 10 employees $55.02 per week. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
Does the Security Award have junior rates?
The Security Services Industry Award has no junior rates clause. An 18-year-old security officer is entitled to the full adult rate for their level.
When did the new security award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000016 rates were varied by determination PR799297 following the Annual Wage Review 2026. If your pay period started before 1 July 2026, the old rate lawfully applies to that whole period.
How much is a security guard paid on a Sunday?
Sunday is 200% of the minimum hourly rate for permanent officers and 225% for casuals. At Level 1 that is $56.84 and $63.95 an hour. Saturday is 150% (casuals 175%) and public holidays 250% (casuals 275%).
What is permanent night work under the security award?
An officer is on permanent night work over a roster cycle if more than two-thirds of their ordinary shifts include the period between midnight and 6.00 am. They are paid 130% for night hours (casuals 155%) instead of 121.7%.
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 23 September 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000016 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799297 and PR799454). 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 — Security Services Industry Award 2020 (MA000016)— Fair Work Commission
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000016— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2026— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 23 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.
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