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INBusiness Equipment Award Pay Calculator
Work out what a week under the Business Equipment Award actually pays — the right stream and level, Saturday and Sunday allowances, casual loading and super, calculated the way the award says.
How the Business Equipment Award is applied
- Minimum rates are set per stream and level — the calculator uses the adult Technical services rates from clause 14.2(a)(i), current from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
- Casuals get a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate.
- Saturday and Sunday ordinary hours attract flat $/hour allowances — $17.43 (Saturday) and $24.43 (Sunday) — added to the ordinary rate rather than a percentage multiplier. Work outside the 6.30am–6.30pm weekday spread adds a further $7.27/hour.
- Overtime applies beyond 38 ordinary weekly hours: 150% for the first 3 hours, then 200% (casuals: 187.5% / 250%, already including the loading).
- Shiftworkers run on a separate table (clause 22): afternoon/night shift loading of $5.18/hour ($6.18 permanent night), with Saturday and Sunday shift premiums replacing — not stacking on — the day-worker allowances above.
- Superannuation (12%) applies to ordinary-time earnings, including the Saturday/Sunday allowances — but not to overtime.
Who the award covers
- Sale or lease of business equipment — computers, photocopiers, fax machines, cash registers, calculators and peripherals
- Installation and servicing of that equipment — Technical services stream
- Clerical and administration staff supporting a business equipment employer
- Commercial travellers and salespeople selling or leasing business equipment
- Labour hire staff placed into a business equipment employer (on-hire covered)
Employees of electrical contractors or business-equipment manufacturers, and staff in genuinely managerial positions, sit outside this award — check the coverage clause before you classify.
Which level is your team member?
The Business Equipment Award runs three separate streams, each with its own rate table — Technical services, Clerical and Administration, and Commercial Travellers. Work out which stream the role sits in first, then find the level within that stream; the same level number pays differently across streams, so stream comes before level.
| Level | Per hour | Per week (38h) | Typical roles | The test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Level 1 | $26.44 | $1004.90 | Entry-level technician — servicing under direct supervision | Applies knowledge and skills to a limited range of tasks under direct supervision; may be directed to other duties consistent with training and skill. |
| Technical Level 2 | $27.07 | $1028.70 | Technician exercising some discretion | Performs to Level 1 standard and exercises discretion within the employee’s own skills and training. |
| Technical Level 3 | $27.96 | $1062.30 | Technician who supports and advises other technicians | Performs to Level 2 standard, exercises good interpersonal and communication skills, and works with and advises other technicians. |
| Technical Level 4 | $29.45 | $1119.20 | Senior technician — the award’s standard rate | Performs to Level 3 standard and applies developed communication skills working with other technicians. This level sets the award’s standard rate for wage-related allowances. |
| Technical Level 5 | $31.28 | $1188.50 | Technician with strong written and verbal skills | Performs to Level 4 standard and is able to apply developed verbal and written communication skills. |
| Technical Level 6 | $33.01 | $1254.40 | Most senior technician in the stream | Performs to Level 5 standard, consistent with the most senior technical skill level in the stream. |
- The calculator shows the Technical services stream — installation and servicing of business equipment — the stream most small operators hire into first.
- Clerical and Administration (Levels 1–5) covers office and support staff: Level 1 ($27.09/hr) through to Level 5 ($34.46/hr), the most senior clerical level, which may include supervision.
- Commercial Travellers (Salesperson Levels 1–3) covers on-the-road sales: Salesperson Level 1 ($28.69/hr) through Level 3 ($36.42/hr), the senior sales classification.
- Progression within Technical services is cumulative — each level builds on the one below, so a Level 4 Technician (the standard rate) must also meet every Level 1–3 requirement.
Allowances that can apply on top
Base rates and penalties aren’t the whole pay picture. The Business Equipment 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 Business Equipment 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 Business Equipment Award requires:
From the award’s breaks clauses (clauses 13 and 20). Verify the current award text before relying on it.
Calculate a week under the Business Equipment 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 38 hours is priced as overtime; super is applied to ordinary-time earnings only.
Rates current as of 1 July 2026 (adult minimums, MA000021) — 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 Technical services rates from the award (clause 14.2), current at 1 July 2026. Junior rates (under 21) are a percentage of these, and the Clerical/Administration and Commercial Travellers streams have their own tables. Treat the result as a planning number and confirm against the award or your payroll adviser.
Why is Saturday work a dollar amount, not a percentage?
This award is unusual — it pays Saturday and Sunday ordinary hours as flat allowances added to the hourly rate ($17.43 and $24.43), not as a 150%/200% multiplier. It’s an easy award to under- or over-cost if you assume every award works the same way.
How do I know which stream a role sits in?
Ask what the person actually does: hands-on installation or repair is Technical services, office and administrative support is Clerical and Administration, and on-the-road selling or leasing is Commercial Travellers. The same level number pays differently in each stream, so get the stream right first.
Does super apply to the Saturday and Sunday allowances?
Yes — they’re paid for ordinary hours, so they count as ordinary-time earnings and the 12% super guarantee applies. True overtime is excluded. The calculator applies exactly that split.
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.
