Clerks Private Sector Award pay rates 2026 (Australia)

Private sector employers throughout Australia and their employees who are wholly or principally engaged in clerical work, such as administration, reception, data entry, accounts and call centre work (clause 4.1).

An occupational award: it applies to clerical work in any private sector business, unless the employer is covered by an industry award that has its own clerical classifications, such as Retail, Hospitality or Banking (clauses 4.3 and 4.4).

From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, after the Annual Wage Review (clause 16.1).

In the consolidated award published by the Fair Work Commission (MA000002); the Fair Work Ombudsman also publishes pay guides.

No. Award rates are minimums. An enterprise agreement or an employment contract can pay more, never less.

Any service at that classification level, including administrative and clerical experience with other employers, counts; the employer may ask for reasonable evidence (clauses 16.2 and 16.3).

Level 1, Year 1: $1024.70 per week or $26.97 per hour.

A call centre principal customer contact specialist earns $1190.40 per week and a call centre technical associate $1415.10 per week (clause 16.1).

If you perform duties of a higher classification for more than one day, you must be paid at least the rate of that higher level (clause 19.3).

Yes. Unless it is unreasonable, an employee may refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from the employer outside working hours (clause 13A and section 333M of the Fair Work Act).

$1024.70 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $26.97 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1073.10 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $28.24 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1106.20 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $29.11 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1119.10 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $29.45 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1139.90 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $30.00 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1182.10 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $31.11 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1190.40 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $31.33 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1241.40 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $32.67 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1291.80 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $33.99 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

$1415.10 per week for a full-time employee (38 hours) or $37.24 per hour, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 (clause 16.1).

25 % on top of the minimum hourly rate for each hour worked (clause 11.1).

3 hours’ pay for each engagement, even if rostered for fewer hours (clause 11.4).

Weekly, fortnightly or at the end of each engagement, as the employer determines (clause 11.3).

Yes. The National Employment Standards provide a pathway to change to full-time or part-time employment (sections 66A to 66MA of the Fair Work Act, referred to in clause 11.5).

$33.71 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $40.46 on Saturday and $74.17 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$35.30 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $42.36 on Saturday and $77.66 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$36.39 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $43.67 on Saturday and $80.05 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$36.81 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $44.18 on Saturday and $80.99 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$37.50 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $45.00 on Saturday and $82.50 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$38.89 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $46.67 on Saturday and $85.55 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$39.16 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $47.00 on Saturday and $86.16 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$40.84 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $49.01 on Saturday and $89.84 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$42.49 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $50.99 on Saturday and $93.47 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$46.55 per hour Monday to Friday (including the 25 % casual loading), $55.86 on Saturday and $102.41 on public holidays (Schedule B).

Between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm Monday to Friday and 7.00 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday; the spread can be moved up to one hour earlier or later by agreement (clauses 13.3 and 13.4).

Up to 10, excluding unpaid meal breaks (clause 13.7).

Over a period of up to 4 weeks or over an agreed roster period (clause 13.2).

125 % of the minimum hourly rate for ordinary hours on Saturday (clause 24.2).

200 % of the minimum hourly rate where ordinary hours are worked on a Sunday, with at least 4 hours’ pay (clause 24.3).

250 % of the minimum hourly rate, with at least 4 hours’ pay (clause 24.4).

One 10-minute paid rest break for more than 3 and up to 8 ordinary hours, and two for more than 8 hours (clause 15.2).

If you work more than 5 hours, a 30 to 60 minute unpaid meal break within the first 5 hours (clause 15.3).

The employer must pay 200 % of the minimum hourly rate from when the break would have started until it is allowed (clause 15.4).

Full-time and part-time: 150 % for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, 200 % after that, 200 % on Sunday and 250 % on public holidays. Casuals: 175 %, 225 %, 225 % and 275 % (clause 21.4).

For work directed by the employer beyond the ordinary weekly hours, beyond 10 ordinary hours a day, outside the spread of hours, or for part-timers beyond their agreed hours (clause 21.1).

Yes. If you are required to return to duty after finishing for the day, you are paid at overtime rates for at least 3 hours (clause 21.5).

Wherever practical, at least 10 consecutive hours off between working days; if you must start without that break, you are paid 200 % until released (clause 22).

Yes, by written agreement, hour for hour, taken within 6 months or paid out at overtime rates (clause 23).

In writing: the hours each day, the days of the week and the start and finish times (clause 10.2).

3 consecutive hours (clause 10.5).

$40.46 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $53.94 after 2 hours, $53.94 on Sunday and $67.43 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$42.36 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $56.48 after 2 hours, $56.48 on Sunday and $70.60 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$43.67 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $58.22 after 2 hours, $58.22 on Sunday and $72.78 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$44.18 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $58.90 after 2 hours, $58.90 on Sunday and $73.63 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$45.00 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $60.00 after 2 hours, $60.00 on Sunday and $75.00 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$46.67 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $62.22 after 2 hours, $62.22 on Sunday and $77.78 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$47.00 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $62.66 after 2 hours, $62.66 on Sunday and $78.33 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$49.01 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $65.34 after 2 hours, $65.34 on Sunday and $81.68 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$50.99 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $67.98 after 2 hours, $67.98 on Sunday and $84.98 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$55.86 per hour for the first 2 hours Monday to Saturday, $74.48 after 2 hours, $74.48 on Sunday and $93.10 on public holidays (Schedule B).

$20.75 (or a meal) when you work more than 1.5 hours of overtime after your usual finishing time without 24 hours’ notice, plus $16.62 if the overtime exceeds 4 hours (clause 19.5).

$1.00 per kilometre for a car and $0.34 for a motorcycle when required to use your own vehicle, up to 400 km per week (clause 19.6).

$16.79 per week for an employee with first aid qualifications appointed to perform first aid duty (clause 19.2).

The employer must reimburse required uniforms and pay a laundry allowance of $3.64 a week (full-time) or $0.73 per shift (part-time and casual) if you launder it (clause 19.4).

A percentage of the adult rate: 45 % under 16, 50 % at 16, 60 % at 17, 70 % at 18, 80 % at 19 and 90 % at 20 (clause 16.4).

$12.13 per hour Monday to Friday (45 % of the adult rate), $15.16 on Saturday and $30.33 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

$13.48 per hour Monday to Friday (50 % of the adult rate), $16.85 on Saturday and $33.70 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

$16.18 per hour Monday to Friday (60 % of the adult rate), $20.23 on Saturday and $40.45 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

$18.88 per hour Monday to Friday (70 % of the adult rate), $23.60 on Saturday and $47.20 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

$21.57 per hour Monday to Friday (80 % of the adult rate), $26.96 on Saturday and $53.93 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

$24.27 per hour Monday to Friday (90 % of the adult rate), $30.34 on Saturday and $60.68 on public holidays (clause 16.4 and Schedule B).

4 weeks of paid annual leave a year for full-time employees and a pro rata amount for part-time employees (section 87 of the Fair Work Act and clause 32).

Full-time employees get 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave a year and part-time employees a pro rata amount (section 96 of the Fair Work Act). Casuals are entitled to 2 days of unpaid carer’s leave per occasion.

From 1 week (up to 1 year of service) to 4 weeks (more than 5 years), plus 1 week if the employee is over 45 with at least 2 years of service (section 117 of the Fair Work Act).