Timber Award Pay Rates by Level
Adult minimum rates for the General Timber, Wood and Timber Furniture and Pulp and Paper streams for full-time and part-time employees under the Timber 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 12.2).
| Classification level | Weekly (38 hrs) | Hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Timber — Level 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| General Timber — Level 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| General Timber — Level 3 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| General Timber — Level 4 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| General Timber — Level 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| General Timber — Level 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| General Timber — Level 7 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 3 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4A | $1,080.20 | $28.43 | $35.54 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 1 | $1,013.50 | $26.67 | $33.34 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 2 | $1,046.90 | $27.55 | $34.44 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 3 | $1,067.30 | $28.09 | $35.11 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 4 | $1,087.40 | $28.62 | $35.78 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 7 | $1,189.40 | $31.30 | $39.13 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 8 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 9 | $1,256.20 | $33.06 | $41.33 |
Weekly rates are the award’s minimum weekly rate for a full-time employee (cl 20.1(a)–(c)); hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38.
Which level am I?
- Three streams: The General Timber stream (Schedule A), the Wood and Timber Furniture stream (Schedule B) and the Pulp and Paper stream (Schedule C) each have their own classification definitions and minimum rate table. Find your stream first, then your level.
- Level 4A: A Wood and Timber Furniture stream grade only, sitting between Level 4 and Level 5 (cl 20.1(b)).
- Pulp and Paper: Has nine levels and starts higher: Level 1 is $26.67 an hour against $25.74 in the other two streams (cl 20.1(c)).
- Forest work: A forest work allowance of $35.81 a week and a low loader allowance are paid for all purposes (cl 22.2) and raise the ordinary hourly rate for the employees who get them. They are not in the rows above.
Find your stream first: the three tables are different
The Timber Industry Award has separate minimum rates for the General Timber stream, the Wood and Timber Furniture stream (which adds a Level 4A) and the Pulp and Paper stream (nine levels, starting at $26.67 rather than $25.74). The casual public holiday rate of 275% is tabulated only for the General Timber stream (cl 27.1(d)), and casual day workers are paid casual overtime rates — not weekend penalty rates — for Saturday and Sunday work unless ordinary weekend hours have been agreed. Forest work and low loader allowances are paid for all purposes and are not in the rate tables.
Worked example: a casual Level 4 sawmill worker on overtime
Tom is a casual General Timber Level 4 ($27.97 an hour minimum). His casual ordinary rate is $34.96 (the minimum plus 25%). He works 3 hours beyond the ordinary daily hours on a Wednesday.
- A casual's overtime percentages apply to the casual rate (cl 12.3, Schedule D.3.3). First 2 hours at 150%: $34.96 × 1.5 = $52.44 an hour → $104.88.
- The third hour at 200%: $34.96 × 2 = $69.92.
- Total: $174.80 before tax. A permanent Level 4 doing the same overtime would earn $41.96 an hour for 2 hours and $55.94 for the third.
Casual overtime in this award is the casual rate times the overtime percentage, so it compounds: 150% becomes 187.5% and 200% becomes 250% of the minimum rate.
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.
Timber 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 — first 2 hrs150% | Saturday — after 2 hrs200% | Sunday200% | Public holiday250% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Timber — Level 1 | $25.74 | $38.61 | $51.48 | $51.48 | $64.35 |
| General Timber — Level 2 | $26.44 | $39.66 | $52.88 | $52.88 | $66.10 |
| General Timber — Level 3 | $27.08 | $40.62 | $54.16 | $54.16 | $67.70 |
| General Timber — Level 4 | $27.97 | $41.96 | $55.94 | $55.94 | $69.93 |
| General Timber — Level 5 | $29.45 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| General Timber — Level 6 | $30.38 | $45.57 | $60.76 | $60.76 | $75.95 |
| General Timber — Level 7 | $32.13 | $48.20 | $64.26 | $64.26 | $80.33 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 1 | $25.74 | $38.61 | $51.48 | $51.48 | $64.35 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 2 | $26.44 | $39.66 | $52.88 | $52.88 | $66.10 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 3 | $27.08 | $40.62 | $54.16 | $54.16 | $67.70 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4 | $27.97 | $41.96 | $55.94 | $55.94 | $69.93 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4A | $28.43 | $42.65 | $56.86 | $56.86 | $71.08 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 5 | $29.45 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 6 | $30.38 | $45.57 | $60.76 | $60.76 | $75.95 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7 | $32.13 | $48.20 | $64.26 | $64.26 | $80.33 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 1 | $26.67 | $40.01 | $53.34 | $53.34 | $66.68 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 2 | $27.55 | $41.33 | $55.10 | $55.10 | $68.88 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 3 | $28.09 | $42.14 | $56.18 | $56.18 | $70.23 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 4 | $28.62 | $42.93 | $57.24 | $57.24 | $71.55 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 5 | $29.45 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 6 | $30.38 | $45.57 | $60.76 | $60.76 | $75.95 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 7 | $31.30 | $46.95 | $62.60 | $62.60 | $78.25 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 8 | $32.13 | $48.20 | $64.26 | $64.26 | $80.33 |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 9 | $33.06 | $49.59 | $66.12 | $66.12 | $82.65 |
Casual
| Classification | Mon–Fri ordinary hours125% | Public holiday (General Timber only)275% |
|---|---|---|
| General Timber — Level 1 | $32.18 | $70.79 |
| General Timber — Level 2 | $33.05 | $72.71 |
| General Timber — Level 3 | $33.85 | $74.47 |
| General Timber — Level 4 | $34.96 | $76.92 |
| General Timber — Level 5 | $36.81 | $80.99 |
| General Timber — Level 6 | $37.98 | $83.55 |
| General Timber — Level 7 | $40.16 | $88.36 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 1 | $32.18 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 2 | $33.05 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 3 | $33.85 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4 | $34.96 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4A | $35.54 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 5 | $36.81 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 6 | $37.98 | – |
| Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7 | $40.16 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 1 | $33.34 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 2 | $34.44 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 3 | $35.11 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 4 | $35.78 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 5 | $36.81 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 6 | $37.98 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 7 | $39.13 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 8 | $40.16 | – |
| Pulp and Paper — Level 9 | $41.33 | – |
Casual columns marked “of casual rate” apply the percentage to the casual hourly rate; the others are a percentage of the minimum rate that already includes the loading. Figures are rounded to the cent. A dash means the column does not apply to that classification.
Timber Award Penalty Rates
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on General Timber — Level 1 | Casual | $ casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day worker — Saturday, first 2 hoursAll Saturday work for weekly employees on the employer's instructions: minimum 3 hours (cl 27.1(a)). The casual overtime rates apply to a casual who works Saturday (see Overtime). | 150% | $38.61 | – | – |
| Day worker — Saturday, after 2 hours | 200% | $51.48 | – | – |
| Day worker — SundayMinimum 3 hours (cl 27.1(b)). Pulp and Paper: 200% for a minimum of 4 hours (cl 27.3(c)(ii)). | 200% | $51.48 | – | – |
| Day worker — public holiday (minimum 3 hours)Casual 275% applies in the General Timber stream only (cl 27.1(d)).Public holiday pay calculator & dates by state → | 250% | $64.35 | 275% | $70.79 |
| Afternoon shift or rotating night shiftCasual 140% (Schedule D.3.2). | 115% | $29.60 | 140% | $36.04 |
| Night shift — non-rotatingCasual 155% (Schedule D.3.2). | 130% | $33.46 | 155% | $39.90 |
Source: cl 27 and Schedule D.
Day workers' ordinary hours are 6.30 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday (cl 17.2(a)), and can be worked on any day by agreement (cl 17.2(c)). Without that agreement, weekend work is paid at the Saturday and Sunday rates above.
The award tabulates casual weekend rates for shiftworkers (Saturday 175%, Sunday 225%, Schedule D.3.2) but not for a casual day worker, who is paid the casual overtime rates for Saturday and Sunday work. We therefore publish no casual Saturday or Sunday dollar column for day work.
Shift loadings: afternoon shift 115%, rotating night shift 115%, non-rotating night shift 130% (cl 27.3(b)). Saturday, Sunday and public holiday ordinary shifts are 150% (Saturday), 200% (Sunday and public holiday) in substitution for the shift loading (cl 27.3(d)).
Timber Award Overtime Rates
| Overtime worked | Full-time / part-time | $ on General Timber — Level 1 | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day work — first 2 hours | 150% | $38.61 | 150% of casual rate · $48.27 |
| Day work — after 2 hours | 200% | $51.48 | 200% of casual rate · $64.36 |
| Sunday | 200% | $51.48 | 200% of casual rate · $64.36 |
| Public holiday | 250% | $64.35 | – |
Source: cl 26.2 and Schedule D.2.3 / D.3.3.
Overtime is all time worked outside the 6.30 am to 6.00 pm spread or in excess of the ordinary daily hours (cl 26.1). Each day stands alone, and the hourly rate for overtime is the weekly rate divided by 38 (cl 26.2(c)–(d)).
For a casual day worker the percentages apply to the casual ordinary rate, so first-2-hours overtime is 187.5% and after-2-hours or Sunday overtime is 250% of the minimum rate (cl 12.3, Schedule D.3.3).
Shiftworkers' overtime differs: 200% on continuous work, otherwise 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after (cl 26.3(a)). Not reproduced in the table.
Timber Award Junior Rates
Unapprenticed juniors in the Timber Industry Award are paid a percentage of the Level 2 rate for their stream (age 16, 40%; 17, 55%; 18, 70%; 19, 85%; 20, 100%), calculated in multiples of 5 cents (cl 20.6–20.7). This page does not tabulate them. Apprentices are paid a percentage of Level 5 by year (cl 20.3). Any age-percentage table attributed to the Timber Award is not from the award.
Timber Award Allowances
Fixed-dollar allowances in cl 22 and cl 23, operative from 1 July 2026. Each is paid only where the clause’s conditions are met.
| Allowance | Amount | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Forest work allowance (not pieceworkers)Paid for all purposes. NOT in the rates above. | $35.81 per week | cl 22.3 |
| Low loader allowancePaid for all purposes. | $1.90 per extra tonne over 43 tonnes GCM | cl 22.4 |
| Leading hand — supervising 2 to 6 employees | $36.93 per week | cl 22.5(a) |
| Leading hand — supervising more than 6 employees | $57.07 per week | cl 22.5(b) |
| First aid allowance | $22.38 per week | cl 22.9 |
| Dirty work allowance | $3.69 per day | cl 22.11 |
| Height money | $2.24 per day or shift | cl 22.16 |
| Meal allowance (overtime) | $19.14 per meal | cl 23.3(a) |
| Vehicle allowance | $1.00 per km | cl 23.2(a) |
| Camping allowance (including firefighters)Maximum $225.36 a week. | $32.19 per working day | cl 23.5 |
Minimum Shifts and Hours
- A casual engaged for part of a day is paid for at least 4 hours (cl 12.1).
- Ordinary hours average 38 a week over a cycle of 1 to 4 weeks, worked between 6.30 am and 6.00 pm Monday to Friday (cl 17.2).
- Wood and Timber Furniture employees can be paid by results if the rates let an average worker earn at least 12.5% over the minimum weekly rate, with the weekly rate guaranteed (cl 20.2). General Timber pieceworkers are covered by cl 13 and are not in this table.
What does a timber award rate take home?
- Take-home on $25.74/hr (General Timber — Level 1)
- Take-home on $26.44/hr (General Timber — Level 2)
- Take-home on $27.08/hr (General Timber — Level 3)
- Take-home on $27.97/hr (General Timber — Level 4)
- Take-home on $29.45/hr (General Timber — Level 5)
- Take-home on $32.13/hr (General Timber — Level 7)
- Take-home on $25.74/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 1)
- Take-home on $26.44/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 2)
- Take-home on $27.08/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 3)
- Take-home on $27.97/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 4)
- Take-home on $29.45/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 5)
- Take-home on $32.13/hr (Wood and Timber Furniture — Level 7)
- Take-home on $27.55/hr (Pulp and Paper — Level 2)
- Take-home on $29.45/hr (Pulp and Paper — Level 5)
- Take-home on $31.30/hr (Pulp and Paper — Level 7)
- Take-home on $32.13/hr (Pulp and Paper — Level 8)
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:
- General Timber stream piecework and the district piece rates (cl 13 and Schedule H)
- Shiftworker overtime and shift Saturday, Sunday and public holiday dollar rates (Schedule D.2.2, D.2.4–D.2.5, D.3.2)
- Apprentice, saw doctor apprentice and unapprenticed junior rates (cl 20.3–20.7), fire fighting employees (cl 14) and watchpersons (cl 17.4)
- Casual Saturday and Sunday ordinary hours for day workers, and the casual public holiday rate in the Wood and Timber Furniture and Pulp and Paper streams, which the award does not tabulate
- Whether the forest work and low loader allowances (both for all purposes) apply to you, which would raise your ordinary hourly rate
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 PR799351 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
Timber Award questions and answers
What are the timber award pay rates for 2026-27?
Under the Timber Industry Award 2020 (MA000071), adult minimum rates run from $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week) for General Timber — Level 1 to $33.06 an hour ($1,256.20 a week) for Pulp and Paper — Level 9. They apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the casual rate under the Timber Award?
General Timber — Level 1 is $32.18 an hour as a casual. A casual's ordinary rate is the minimum plus 25% (cl 12.2). Casual overtime is then a percentage of that casual rate, so 150% becomes 187.5% and 200% becomes 250% of the minimum rate (Schedule D.3.3). The casual public holiday rate of 275% (the 250% plus the 25% loading) is tabulated for the General Timber stream only (cl 27.1(d)); for the other streams no casual public holiday dollar rate is printed.
What allowances are paid under the Timber Award?
The award's allowances clause (cl 22 and cl 23) includes: forest work allowance (not pieceworkers) $35.81 per week; low loader allowance $1.90 per extra tonne over 43 tonnes GCM; leading hand — supervising 2 to 6 employees $36.93 per week; leading hand — supervising more than 6 employees $57.07 per week; first aid allowance $22.38 per week. Allowances are paid on top of the classification rate when the employee meets the clause's conditions.
Does the Timber Award have junior rates?
Unapprenticed juniors in the Timber Industry Award are paid a percentage of the Level 2 rate for their stream (age 16, 40%; 17, 55%; 18, 70%; 19, 85%; 20, 100%), calculated in multiples of 5 cents (cl 20.6–20.7). This page does not tabulate them. Apprentices are paid a percentage of Level 5 by year (cl 20.3).
When did the new timber award rates start?
Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, not universally 1 July. The MA000071 rates were varied by determination PR799351 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 General Timber — Level 1 rate below the national minimum wage?
Yes. The General Timber — Level 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. Level 1 is an induction grade, with a term of up to 3 months unless extended under Schedule A. 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 the three streams in the Timber Award?
The award has a General Timber stream (Schedule A), a Wood and Timber Furniture stream (Schedule B) and a Pulp and Paper stream (Schedule C). Each has its own classification definitions and its own minimum rate table in cl 20.1, and the Furniture stream adds a Level 4A.
What are Timber Award weekend rates?
For weekly employees (not casuals), Saturday is 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after, with a 3-hour minimum, and Sunday is 200% with a 3-hour minimum (cl 27.1). At General Timber Level 4 that is $41.96, $55.94 and $55.94. Pulp and Paper employees working Sunday get 200% for a minimum 4 hours (cl 27.3(c)(ii)).
What is the Timber Award public holiday rate?
250% of the ordinary hourly rate for all work, with a minimum 3 hours (cl 27.1(c)). A General Timber casual is paid 275%, the 250% plus the 25% loading (cl 27.1(d)): $76.92 an hour at Level 4. The award does not tabulate a casual public holiday rate for the other two streams.
What is the Timber Award forest work allowance?
$35.81 a week for employees (other than pieceworkers) working in forests, paid for all purposes (cl 22.3). Because it is paid for all purposes it is part of the ordinary hourly rate that penalties and overtime are calculated on, so it raises those rates for the employees who get it.
How are junior timber workers paid?
An unapprenticed junior is paid a percentage of the Level 2 rate for their stream: age 16, 40%; 17, 55%; 18, 70%; 19, 85%; and 100% from 20, calculated in multiples of 5 cents (cl 20.6–20.7). Apprentices are paid a percentage of the Level 5 rate by year of apprenticeship (cl 20.3).
How these rates were verified▼
Every figure comes from one constants file transcribed on 5 October 2026 from the Fair Work Commission’s consolidated MA000071 award text, which incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280 and PR799351). 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 which casual penalties add the loading and which compound on the casual rate. Parts of the award we have not verified are listed as gaps rather than estimated.
Sources & References
- 1Consolidated award text — Timber Industry Award 2020 (MA000071)— Fair Work Commission
- 2Award summary and pay guide — MA000071— 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.
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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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