What is the minimum pay rate under the Airport Employees Award?

From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $26.45 an hour, for Ground services officer Level 1. The highest adult classification is $55.40 an hour. Trainee rates, further down, can be lower.

How much did Airport Employees Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?

The lowest adult rate rose 5.09%, from $25.17 to $26.45 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.

What allowances are paid under the Airport Employees Award?

23 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a disability allowance, Technical or Ground services officers of $1.13 an hour, a disability allowance, confined space (boiler) of $2.58 an hour and a disability allowance, maximum per hour of $1.69 an hour. The full list, with the clause each comes from, is on this page.

Where do these rates come from?

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database, which publishes every award's minimum rates; we read it when the Commission changes an award. The award itself prevails if the two ever differ, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay.

Airport Employees Award pay rates

Award code MA000049, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.

Minimum pay for 36 adult classifications under the Airport Employees Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $26.45 to $55.40 an hour before tax.

See every rate Weekend and overtime rates

Lowest adult rate

$26.45an hour

For Ground services officer Level 1. Up 5.09% from $25.17.

Its lowest adult rate is $26.45 an hour, the same as the National Minimum Wage. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 55 have a higher minimum. The dashed line is the minimum wage; each tick is another award.

Pay by classification

Dollars an hour, from 1 July 2026

Technical services assistant$28.33
Technical services officer Level 1$29.45
Technical services officer Level 2$30.48
Technical services officer Level 3$32.46
Technical services officer Level 4$34.39
Technical services officer Level 5$35.18
Technical services officer Level 6$36.21
Technical services officer Level 7$38.19
Technical services officer Level 8$39.22
Technical services officer Level 9$42.32
Technical services officer Level 10$45.42

Before 1 JulFrom 1 Jul

Hover or tap a row for last year's rate. Every rate, in every unit, is in the tables below.

Minimum pay by classification from 1 July 2026

Annual rates are full-time salaries; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours.

Technical services officersClause 19.1(a)

Classification	Annual	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Technical services assistant	$56,169	$28.33	$27.05
Technical services officer Level 1	$58,373	$29.45	$28.11
Technical services officer Level 2	$60,422	$30.48	$29.10
Technical services officer Level 3	$64,337	$32.46	$30.98
Technical services officer Level 4	$68,166	$34.39	$32.83
Technical services officer Level 5	$69,736	$35.18	$33.58
Technical services officer Level 6	$71,780	$36.21	$34.57
Technical services officer Level 7	$75,705	$38.19	$36.46
Technical services officer Level 8	$77,744	$39.22	$37.44
Technical services officer Level 9	$83,886	$42.32	$40.40
Technical services officer Level 10	$90,031	$45.42	$43.36

Administrative services officersClause 19.1(b)

Classification	Annual	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Administrative services officer Level 1	$54,993	$27.74	$26.48
Administrative services officer Level 2	$62,080	$31.32	$29.90
Administrative services officer Level 3	$67,746	$34.17	$32.63
Administrative services officer Level 4	$72,891	$36.77	$35.10
Administrative services officer Level 5	$79,472	$40.09	$38.27
Administrative services officer Level 6	$88,127	$44.46	$42.44
Administrative services officer Level 7	$94,990	$47.92	$45.75

Ground services officersClause 19.1(c)

Classification	Annual	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Ground services officer Level 1	$52,425	$26.45	$25.17
Ground services officer Level 2	$53,428	$26.95	$25.73
Ground services officer Level 3	$54,598	$27.54	$26.29
Ground services officer Level 4	$56,169	$28.33	$27.05
Ground services officer Level 5	$58,373	$29.45	$28.11
Ground services officer Level 6	$60,422	$30.48	$29.10
Ground services officer Level 7	$62,297	$31.43	$30.00
Ground services officer Level 8	$63,522	$32.04	$30.59
Ground services officer Level 9	$64,337	$32.46	$30.98
Ground services officer Level 10	$65,160	$32.87	$31.38
Ground services officer Level 11	$66,386	$33.49	$31.97

Professional engineersClause 19.1(d)

Classification	Annual	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 1	$72,403	$36.52	$34.87
Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 2	$75,208	$37.94	$36.22
Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 3	$77,946	$39.32	$37.54
Professional engineer Level 2	$81,840	$41.28	$39.41
Professional engineer Level 3	$90,027	$45.41	$43.36
Professional engineer Level 4	$98,210	$49.54	$47.30
Professional engineer Level 5	$109,830	$55.40	$52.89

Penalty and overtime rates

Percentages as the award sets them, and what they come to an hour at the first adult level. Higher classifications get the same percentages of their own rate. The tick on each bar marks 100%, the ordinary rate.

Shiftwork

Administrative services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates

Dollars an hour at Administrative services officer Level 1

Administrative services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates
When	Full-time and part-time	Casual
Day	100%$27.74	125%$34.68
Night shift	115%$31.90	140%$38.84
Non-rotating night	130%$36.06	155%$43.00
Saturday	150%$41.61	175%$48.55
Sunday	200%$55.48	225%$62.42
Public holiday	250%$69.35	275%$76.29

Ground services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates

Dollars an hour at Ground services officer Level 1

Ground services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates
When	Full-time and part-time	Casual
Day	100%$26.45	125%$33.06
Night shift	115%$30.42	140%$37.03
Non-rotating night	130%$34.39	155%$41.00
Saturday	150%$39.68	175%$46.29
Sunday	200%$52.90	225%$59.51
Public holiday	250%$66.13	275%$72.74

Professional engineer adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates

Dollars an hour at Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 1

Professional engineer adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates
When	Full-time and part-time	Casual
Day	100%$36.52	125%$45.65
Night shift	115%$42.00	140%$51.13
Non-rotating night	130%$47.48	155%$56.61
Saturday	150%$54.78	175%$63.91
Sunday	200%$73.04	225%$82.17
Public holiday	250%$91.30	275%$100.43

Technical services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates

Dollars an hour at Technical services assistant

Technical services adult employees: ordinary and shiftwork penalty rates
When	Full-time and part-time	Casual
Day	100%$28.33	125%$35.41
Night shift	115%$32.58	140%$39.66
Non-rotating night	130%$36.83	155%$43.91
Saturday	150%$42.50	175%$49.58
Sunday	200%$56.66	225%$63.74
Public holiday	250%$70.83	275%$77.91

Overtime

Administrative services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Administrative services officer Level 1

Administrative services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours	150%$41.61
Monday to Saturday - After first 3 hours	200%$55.48
Sunday - All hours worked	200%$55.48

Administrative services adult shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Administrative services officer Level 1

Administrative services adult shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Friday - First 3 hours	150%$41.61
Monday to Friday - After first 3 hours	200%$55.48
Saturday and Sunday - All hours worked	200%$55.48

Ground services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Ground services officer Level 1

Ground services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours	150%$39.68
Monday to Saturday - After first 3 hours	200%$52.90
Sunday - All hours worked	200%$52.90

Ground services adult shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Ground services officer Level 1

Ground services adult shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Friday - First 3 hours	150%$39.68
Monday to Friday - After first 3 hours	200%$52.90
Saturday and Sunday - All hours worked	200%$52.90

Professional engineer adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 1

Professional engineer adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours	150%$54.78
Monday to Saturday - After first 3 hours	200%$73.04
Sunday - All hours worked	200%$73.04

Professional engineer adult shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Professional engineer Level 1, Pay point 1

Professional engineer adult shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Friday - First 3 hours	150%$54.78
Monday to Friday - After first 3 hours	200%$73.04
Saturday and Sunday - All hours worked	200%$73.04

Technical services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Technical services assistant

Technical services adult employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours	150%$42.50
Monday to Saturday - After first 3 hours	200%$56.66
Sunday - All hours worked	200%$56.66

Technical services adult shiftworker: overtime rates

Dollars an hour at Technical services assistant

Technical services adult shiftworker: overtime rates
When	Rate
Monday to Friday - First 3 hours	150%$42.50
Monday to Friday - After first 3 hours	200%$56.66
Saturday and Sunday - All hours worked	200%$56.66

Juniors, apprentices and other arrangements

Rates that depend on age, training or another arrangement. Open a group to see its rates.

National Training Wage - full-time traineeships - Wage Level ATrainee ratesClause F.4.1(a)15 rates

Classification	Weekly	Weekly before 1 Jul
Year 10School leaver	$432.30	$412.70
Year 10Plus 1 year out of school	$476.00	$454.40
Year 10Plus 2 years out of school	$566.20	$540.50
Year 10Plus 3 years out of school	$658.90	$629.00
Year 10Plus 4 years out of school	$766.80	$732.00
Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school	$877.80	$838.00
Year 11School leaver	$476.00	$454.40
Year 11Plus 1 year out of school	$566.20	$540.50
Year 11Plus 2 years out of school	$658.90	$629.00
Year 11Plus 3 years out of school	$766.80	$732.00
Year 11Plus 4 years out of school	$877.80	$838.00
Year 12School leaver	$566.20	$540.50
Year 12Plus 1 year out of school	$658.90	$629.00
Year 12Plus 2 years out of school	$766.80	$732.00
Year 12Plus 3 years out of school	$877.80	$838.00

National Training Wage - full-time traineeships - Wage Level BTrainee ratesClause F.4.1(b)15 rates

Classification	Weekly	Weekly before 1 Jul
Year 10School leaver	$432.30	$412.70
Year 10Plus 1 year out of school	$476.00	$454.40
Year 10Plus 2 years out of school	$551.70	$526.70
Year 10Plus 3 years out of school	$634.70	$605.90
Year 10Plus 4 years out of school	$744.40	$710.60
Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school	$848.90	$810.40
Year 11School leaver	$476.00	$454.40
Year 11Plus 1 year out of school	$551.70	$526.70
Year 11Plus 2 years out of school	$634.70	$605.90
Year 11Plus 3 years out of school	$744.40	$710.60
Year 11Plus 4 years out of school	$848.90	$810.40
Year 12School leaver	$551.70	$526.70
Year 12Plus 1 year out of school	$634.70	$605.90
Year 12Plus 2 years out of school	$744.40	$710.60
Year 12Plus 3 years out of school	$848.90	$810.40

National Training Wage - full-time traineeships - AQF Certificate Level IV traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause F.4.1(c)(ii)4 rates

Classification	Weekly	Weekly before 1 Jul
First year of traineeshipWage Level A	$911.10	$869.80
First year of traineeshipWage Level B	$881.20	$841.20
Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage Level B	$914.70	$873.20
Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage Level A	$945.70	$902.80

National Training Wage - part-time traineeships - Wage Level ATrainee ratesClause F.4.2(a)15 rates

Classification	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Year 10School leaver	$14.21	$13.57
Year 10Plus 1 year out of school	$15.66	$14.95
Year 10Plus 2 years out of school	$18.61	$17.77
Year 10Plus 3 years out of school	$21.67	$20.69
Year 10Plus 4 years out of school	$25.21	$24.07
Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school	$28.88	$27.57
Year 11School leaver	$15.66	$14.95
Year 11Plus 1 year out of school	$18.61	$17.77
Year 11Plus 2 years out of school	$21.67	$20.69
Year 11Plus 3 years out of school	$25.21	$24.07
Year 11Plus 4 years out of school	$28.88	$27.57
Year 12School leaver	$18.61	$17.77
Year 12Plus 1 year out of school	$21.67	$20.69
Year 12Plus 2 years out of school	$25.21	$24.07
Year 12Plus 3 years out of school	$28.88	$27.57

National Training Wage - part-time traineeships - Wage Level BTrainee ratesClause F.4.2(b)15 rates

Classification	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Year 10School leaver	$14.21	$13.57
Year 10Plus 1 year out of school	$15.66	$14.95
Year 10Plus 2 years out of school	$18.16	$17.34
Year 10Plus 3 years out of school	$20.88	$19.93
Year 10Plus 4 years out of school	$24.49	$23.38
Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school	$27.93	$26.66
Year 11School leaver	$15.66	$14.95
Year 11Plus 1 year out of school	$18.16	$17.34
Year 11Plus 2 years out of school	$20.88	$19.93
Year 11Plus 3 years out of school	$24.49	$23.38
Year 11Plus 4 years out of school	$27.93	$26.66
Year 12School leaver	$18.16	$17.34
Year 12Plus 1 year out of school	$20.88	$19.93
Year 12Plus 2 years out of school	$24.49	$23.38
Year 12Plus 3 years out of school	$27.93	$26.66

National Training Wage - part-time traineeships - School-based traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause F.4.2(c)2 rates

Classification	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
Year 11 or lower	$14.21	$13.57
Year 12	$15.66	$14.95

National Training Wage - part-time traineeships - AQF Certificate Level IV traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause F.4.2(d)(ii)4 rates

Classification	Hourly	Hourly before 1 Jul
First year of traineeshipWage Level A	$29.98	$28.62
First year of traineeshipWage Level B	$28.99	$27.68
Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage Level A	$31.10	$29.69
Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage Level B	$30.08	$28.72

Allowances paid on top

18 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 5 cover costs you'd otherwise pay yourself, like meals, laundry or travel. The amounts are the Commission's, in force today; the award sets out exactly who gets each one and when.

For the work

Airport Employees Award allowances for the work
Allowance	Amount	Clause
Disability allowance
Technical or Ground services officersClause 21.2(a)(i)	$1.13 an hour	21.2(a)(i)
Confined space (boiler)Clause 21.2(a)(iii)	$2.58 an hour	21.2(a)(iii)
Maximum per hourClause 21.2(a)(iv)	$1.69 an hour	21.2(a)(iv)
Maximum per hour for confined space (boiler)Clause 21.2(a)(iv)	$2.58 an hour	21.2(a)(iv)
Plumbers registration allowanceClause 21.2(b)(i)	$43.78 a week	21.2(b)(i)
First aid allowanceClause 21.2(c)	$22.45 a week	21.2(c)
District allowance
Employees with dependents, Alice SpringsClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$4,030.01 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees with dependents, DarwinClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$4,030.01 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees with dependents, Mt IsaClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$4,030.01 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees with dependents, Tennant CreekClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$8,026.34 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees with dependents, TownsvilleClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$1,672.62 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees with dependents, YularaClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$4,030.01 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, Alice SpringsClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$2,200.23 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, DarwinClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$2,200.23 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, Mt IsaClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$2,200.23 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, Tennant CreekClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$4,961.73 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, TownsvilleClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$841.93 a year	21.2(d)(ii)
Employees without dependents, YularaClause 21.2(d)(ii)	$2,200.23 a year	21.2(d)(ii)

To cover costs

Airport Employees Award allowances to cover costs
Allowance	Amount	Clause
Tool allowance
Tradesperson, Carpenter/PlumberClause 21.3(a)	$24.54 a week	21.3(a)
Tradesperson, Electrician/MechanicClause 21.3(a)	$17.76 a week	21.3(a)
Tradesperson, PainterClause 21.3(a)	$6.06 a week	21.3(a)
Travel allowanceClause 21.3(c)	$7.17 each time	21.3(c)
Meal allowanceClause 23.10(b)	$19.90 each time	23.10(b)

The award is the final word

These are the minimum rates the Fair Work Commission publishes for the award. Shift rules, rostering and who each classification covers are in the award itself, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay. Employees no award or agreement covers get the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026.

Read the Airport Employees Award at Fair Work Fair Work pay calculator Check a payslip

Aviation

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Questions people ask

What is the minimum pay rate under the Airport Employees Award?: From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $26.45 an hour, for Ground services officer Level 1. The highest adult classification is $55.40 an hour. Trainee rates, further down, can be lower.
How does the Airport Employees Award minimum compare?: Its lowest adult rate is $26.45 an hour, the same as the National Minimum Wage. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 55 have a higher minimum.
How much did Airport Employees Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?: The lowest adult rate rose 5.09%, from $25.17 to $26.45 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.
What allowances are paid under the Airport Employees Award?: 23 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a disability allowance, Technical or Ground services officers of $1.13 an hour, a disability allowance, confined space (boiler) of $2.58 an hour and a disability allowance, maximum per hour of $1.69 an hour. The full list, with the clause each comes from, is on this page.
Where do these rates come from?: The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database, which publishes every award's minimum rates; we read it when the Commission changes an award. The award itself prevails if the two ever differ, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay.

Source: Fair Work Commission, Modern Awards Pay Database, licensed CC BY 4.0, read 27 Oct 2026 and arranged by The Finance Algorithm. Not endorsed by the Fair Work Commission. Read with the award: if they differ, the award prevails. General information, not legal or payroll advice.