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INAustralian Government Award Pay Calculator
Work out what a week under the Australian Government Industry Award actually pays — the right AG level, shift and weekend penalties, casual loading and super, calculated the way the award says.
How the Australian Government Award is applied
- Minimum rates are published as annual salary and hourly figures only (clause 12.3(a)), current from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 — the calculator derives a weekly figure as hourly × 36.75, this award’s ordinary week.
- The ordinary week here is 36.75 hours, not the more common 38 — get this wrong and every weekly and overtime calculation is off.
- Casuals get a 25% loading on ordinary hours, but that loading is not payable while the casual is receiving overtime (clause 9.5) — the calculator’s overtime figures reflect that.
- Saturday work is 150% (casual 175%), Sunday 200% (casual 225%) and public holidays 250% (casual 275%) — and these substitute for, rather than stack on top of, any night or continuous-night shift loading.
- Above a salary barrier set at the AG Level 7 rate, employees lose entitlement to overtime payment and restriction duty allowance unless the employer decides otherwise — a distinctive trap for senior hires.
- Superannuation (12%) applies to ordinary-time earnings, including weekend and public holiday penalties — but not to overtime.
Who the award covers
- Commonwealth entities (under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013) that do not employ under the Public Service Act 1999
- Commonwealth-owned corporate entities established for a public purpose, outside the core public service
- Procedural, clerical, administrative support and operational staff at those entities
- Specialist, technical and policy roles up to senior leadership (AG Levels 1–8)
- Cadets and technical trainees employed by a covered Commonwealth entity
Commonwealth entities and staff employed under the Public Service Act 1999 are NOT covered here — they sit under the Public Service Act and enterprise agreements instead. Employees on a modern enterprise award, enterprise instrument, or a State reference public sector award are also excluded — check coverage before you classify.
Which level is your team member?
The Australian Government Industry Award classifies staff across eight AG levels, from routine procedural work at Level 1 through to senior leadership at Level 8. Classify by the complexity of the work and the degree of direction the person actually operates under — not by job title — and check the salary barrier once you’re near the top of the ladder.
| Level | Per hour | Per week (38h) | Typical roles | The test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AG Level 1 | $28.84 | $1059.87 | Procedural, clerical or operational support — routine tasks | Works under close direction on routine and basic tasks against clearly defined procedures; no supervisory or management responsibilities. The lowest adult rate in the award. |
| AG Level 2 | $31.23 | $1147.71 | Clerical/administrative support with some autonomy | Undertakes straightforward tasks under routine direction, exercising some autonomy; may coach new or less experienced colleagues. The award’s standard rate. |
| AG Level 3 | $33.93 | $1247.05 | Specialist/procedural support, some research | Straightforward tasks with some complexity, under general direction; sets priorities for their own role and may have a public contact role or basic research duties. |
| AG Level 4 | $36.02 | $1323.74 | Specialist support with research and analysis | Tasks of moderate complexity under general direction; some discretion applying legislation and procedures; may supervise and coach a small team. |
| AG Level 5 | $38.96 | $1431.78 | Policy or technical specialist | Moderately complex to complex work under limited direction; provides policy advice within a specialisation; may supervise lower-level employees. |
| AG Level 6 | $41.10 | $1510.43 | Senior technical or policy adviser | Complex work under limited direction, with real autonomy; provides detailed technical, professional or policy advice; may assist with strategic planning. |
| AG Level 7 | $46.58 | $1711.82 | Senior leader — very complex or sensitive work | Very complex or sensitive work under broad direction with considerable independence; leadership role; may manage one or more work teams. At or above this rate sits “above the salary barrier” — see FAQ. |
| AG Level 8 | $50.52 | $1856.61 | Senior executive-facing leader | High complexity or sensitivity work under broad direction; significant independence; provides advice to senior management and Ministers, and leads teams. |
- Levels 1–3 cover routine to moderately complex procedural, clerical and administrative work, moving from close direction to some autonomy.
- Levels 4–6 step up through moderate to complex work under general or limited direction — specialist support, policy advice and technical analysis, often with some supervision of others.
- Levels 7–8 are senior, largely independent roles handling very complex or sensitive work, including advice to senior management and Ministers.
- Cadets (practical training) sit at the AG Level 1 rate; Technical Trainees sit slightly above it ($30.25/hour) — both use clause 12.3(a)’s table directly.
Allowances that can apply on top
Base rates and penalties aren’t the whole pay picture. The Australian Government Award adds allowances for particular duties and situations — being the designated first aid officer, working overtime without notice, using your own car. They’re small lines individually, but they’re legal entitlements and they add up. The common ones (1 July 2026 amounts):
The calculator below doesn’t include allowances — add the ones that apply to your team on top of the result. The full list lives in the award’s allowances clause.
Break entitlements under the Australian Government Award
Breaks are part of the award too — and missed or worked-through breaks usually carry a penalty rate, so they belong in the roster, not just the tea room. Here’s what the Australian Government Award requires:
This award keeps breaks simple: one rule, no paid rest breaks. The full text lives in clause 17.6 of the award.
Calculate a week under the Australian Government Award
Enter the week as it’s actually rostered. Weekend, evening and public-holiday hours are paid at the award’s penalty rates; anything beyond 36.75 hours is priced as overtime; super is applied to ordinary-time earnings only.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026 (adult minimums, MA000153) — first full pay period on or after that date.
This week’s numbers
Nothing is stored or sent — the maths runs on this page.
Are these the exact legal rates?
The classification minimums are the adult AG Level rates from the award (clause 12.3(a)), current at 1 July 2026. Junior rates apply only at AG Level 1 and Cadet (practical training), and apprentice rates follow their own percentage table. Treat the result as a planning number and confirm against the award or your payroll adviser.
Why 36.75 hours instead of 38?
It’s this award’s own ordinary week (clause 17.1) — one of very few modern awards that doesn’t use 38. It matters because it changes both the weekly-equivalent figure and exactly when overtime starts.
What’s the “salary barrier”?
A threshold set at the AG Level 7 hourly rate. Employees classified at or above it aren’t entitled to overtime payment or restriction duty allowance unless the employer chooses to pay it anyway — worth flagging before you promote someone into a Level 7 or 8 role and assume their overtime entitlement carries over unchanged.
Does super apply to weekend penalties?
Yes — Saturday, Sunday and public holiday penalties are paid for ordinary hours, so they’re ordinary-time earnings and the 12% super guarantee applies. True overtime is excluded, and remember casual loading itself drops away once a casual is being paid overtime.
This is a general calculator, not legal advice. It applies the award’s published adult minimums to the hours you enter — it can’t see your enterprise agreement, allowances or individual arrangements, and junior, apprentice and shiftwork rates differ. Always confirm pay against the award, your agreement or your adviser. If you believe something here is materially wrong or out of date, please contact us — we’ll review it promptly.
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Tommy applies the right award rates to every shift as you roster — penalties, loading and super included. Start with your email and your numbers come along.
