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INCommercial Sales Award Pay Calculator
Work out what a week under the Commercial Sales Award actually pays — the right classification, evening and weekend rates, casual loading and super, calculated the way the award says.
How the Commercial Sales Award is applied
- Minimum rates are set per classification — the calculator uses the adult rates current from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
- Casuals get a 25% loading with a 2-hour minimum engagement, and the percentages below already include it.
- Ordinary hours can fall on any day of the week — up to 10 a day and 152 per 28 days — but the clock still costs: after 6pm weekdays is 150%, Saturday 150% (minimum 2 hours) and Sunday 200% (minimum 3 hours); casuals 175% / 175% / 225%.
- Overtime is a single flat rate — 150% (175% casual) for hours beyond ordinary hours, with no step up to 200% — and time off in lieu can be agreed in writing, taken within 6 months.
- Superannuation (12%) applies to ordinary-time earnings, including penalty rates — but not to overtime.
- The trap: public holidays split in two — working attracts 250% (275% casual), but merely travelling for work that day is 150% (175% casual). Log which one actually happened.
Who the award covers
- Commercial travellers — reps on the road selling goods for wholesale or resale
- Merchandisers — visiting stores to promote products, re-order stock and build displays
- Advertising sales representatives — selling advertising space or time of any kind
- Employees working substantially away from the employer’s place of business
- On-hire employees and group-training trainees in these occupations
This is an occupational award, and it steps back wherever another award’s classifications apply. Office-based sales and admin staff usually sit under the Clerks—Private Sector Award, outsourced phone sales under the Contract Call Centres Award, media production sales under the Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award — and in-store salespeople belong to the Retail Award.
Which level is your team member?
The Commercial Sales Award keeps classification simple: three levels, defined by where the work happens and what it’s for. If the person sells or promotes substantially away from your place of business, they’re in — the only questions are whether selling is the main job or a sideline, and how long they’ve been with you.
| Level | Per hour | Per week (38h) | Typical roles | The test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Probationary Traveller | $26.59 | $1010.52 | New sales rep or commercial traveller (first 3 months) | An Advertising Sales Representative or Commercial Traveller with less than 3 months’ service — paid 90% of the full rate while they learn the territory. |
| Merchandiser | $27.47 | $1044.00 | Field merchandiser · In-store display and stock rep | Works away from the employer’s premises promoting products, re-ordering stock and preparing displays and gondola ends — soliciting orders only as a minor part of the job. |
| Commercial Traveller / Advertising Sales Rep | $29.55 | $1122.80 | Sales rep (wholesale goods) · Advertising space or airtime seller · Account rep on the road | Employed substantially away from the employer’s place of business to solicit orders — selling goods for wholesale or resale, or selling advertising space or time. The award’s “standard rate”. |
- Probationary is a clock, not a skill level: any new Commercial Traveller or Advertising Sales Rep spends their first 3 months at 90% of the full rate — then steps up automatically. Diarise it.
- Merchandiser versus traveller turns on what’s principal: a merchandiser promotes, re-stocks and builds displays and may take the odd order; once soliciting orders is the main job, they’re a Commercial Traveller.
- Commercial Travellers and Advertising Sales Representatives share one rate — goods or ad space, the pay is the same.
- Junior rates are percentages of the full traveller rate: 67.5% under 19, 80% at 19 and 90% at 20.
Allowances that can apply on top
Base rates and penalties aren’t the whole pay picture. The Commercial Sales 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 Commercial Sales 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 Commercial Sales Award requires:
From the award’s breaks clause (clause 14) — the award’s only break rule. Verify the current award text before relying on it.
Calculate a week under the Commercial Sales 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, MA000083) — 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 rates from the award, current at 1 July 2026. Junior rates (under 21) are percentages of the traveller rate, and commission arrangements sit on top — treat the result as a planning number and confirm against the award or your payroll adviser.
My rep is mostly paid commission — do these minimums still apply?
Yes. Commission can’t replace the award safety net: over each pay period the person must still receive at least the minimum rate for their classification, plus any penalties and allowances. Commission is extra, not instead.
When does a Probationary Traveller step up?
Automatically at 3 months’ service — the rate moves from $26.59 to $29.55 an hour without anyone asking. Missing that step-up is the easiest underpayment to make under this award, so set a reminder when they start.
Does super apply to penalty rates?
Yes — evening, weekend and public-holiday rates on ordinary hours are ordinary-time earnings, so 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.
