Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award pay rates
Award code MA000118, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 14 adult classifications under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $25.74 to $48.38 an hour before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$25.74an hour
For Introductory level. $978.10 for a full-time week. Up 6.01% from $24.28. Casuals get $32.18 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 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- Inspector Level 1$34.20
- Inspector Level 2$36.08
- Senior Inspector Level 3$38.98
- Introductory level$25.74
- Level 1$26.44
- Level 2$28.24
- Level 3$29.45
- Level 4$32.13
- Level 5, Practice manager$33.77
- Level 1A$34.20
- Level 1B$36.08
- Level 2$38.98
- Level 3$42.83
- Level 4$48.38
Hover or tap a row for last year's rate. Every rate, in every unit, is in the tables below.
Penalty rates at a glance
Percent of the ordinary rate, and dollars an hour at Inspector Level 1.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$34.20 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - First 3 hours | 150%$51.30 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - After 3 hours | 200%$68.40 |
| Sunday | 200%$68.40 |
| Public holiday | 250%$85.50 |
Minimum pay by classification from 1 July 2026
Annual rates are full-time salaries; weekly rates are for a full-time week; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours. Casual hourly adds the 25% loading.
Animal care industry inspectorsClause 15.1
| Classification | Annual | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector Level 1 | $67,582 | $34.20 | $42.75 |
| Inspector Level 2 | $71,300 | $36.08 | $45.10 |
| Senior Inspector Level 3 | $77,032 | $38.98 | $48.72 |
Practice managers, Veterinary nurses, Receptionists, Animal attendants and AssistantsClause 15.2
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory level | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Level 1 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Level 2 | $1,073.10 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Level 3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 4 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Level 5, Practice manager | $1,283.10 | $33.77 | $42.21 |
Veterinary surgeonsClause 15.3
| Classification | Annual | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1A | $67,582 | $34.20 | $42.75 |
| Level 1B | $71,300 | $36.08 | $45.10 |
| Level 2 | $77,032 | $38.98 | $48.72 |
| Level 3 | $84,628 | $42.83 | $53.54 |
| Level 4 | $95,593 | $48.38 | $60.48 |
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.
Evenings, weekends and public holidays
Animal care industry inspectors: employees other than shiftworkers, ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Inspector Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$34.20 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - First 3 hours | 150%$51.30 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - After 3 hours | 200%$68.40 |
| Sunday | 200%$68.40 |
| Public holiday | 250%$85.50 |
Practice managers, veterinary nurses, animal attendants and assistants: employees other than shiftworkers, ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$25.74 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - First 3 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - After 3 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Sunday | 200%$51.48 |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 |
Veterinary surgeons: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1A
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$34.20 |
| Public holidays | 200%$68.40 |
Animal care industry inspectors: employees other than shiftworkers, casual and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Inspector Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Casual hourly rate | 125%$42.75 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - First 3 hours | 175%$59.85 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - After 3 hours | 225%$76.95 |
| Sunday | 225%$76.95 |
| Public holiday | 275%$94.05 |
Practice managers, veterinary nurses, animal attendants and assistants: employees other than shiftworkers, casual and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Casual hourly rate | 125%$32.18 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - First 3 hours | 175%$45.05 |
| Saturday after 1.00 pm - After 3 hours | 225%$57.92 |
| Sunday | 225%$57.92 |
| Public holiday | 275%$70.79 |
Veterinary surgeons: casual and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1A
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Casual hourly rate | 125%$42.75 |
| Public holiday | 225%$76.95 |
Shiftwork
Animal care industry inspectors: shiftworkers, penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Inspector Level 1
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday - Morning shift and afternoon shift | 115%$39.33 | 140%$47.88 |
| Monday to Friday - Night shift | 130%$44.46 | 155%$53.01 |
| Saturday | 150%$51.30 | 175%$59.85 |
| Sunday | 200%$68.40 | 225%$76.95 |
| Public holiday | 250%$85.50 | 275%$94.05 |
Practice managers, veterinary nurses, animal attendants and assistants: shiftworkers, ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory level
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday - Morning shift and afternoon shift | 115%$29.60 | 140%$36.04 |
| Monday to Friday - Night shift | 130%$33.46 | 155%$39.90 |
| Saturday | 150%$38.61 | 175%$45.05 |
| Sunday | 200%$51.48 | 225%$57.92 |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 | 275%$70.79 |
Overtime
Animal care industry inspectors: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Inspector Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours | 150%$51.30 |
| Monday to Saturday - After 3 hours | 200%$68.40 |
| Sunday - all day | 200%$68.40 |
Practice managers, veterinary nurses, animal attendants and assistants: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - First 3 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Monday to Saturday - After 3 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Sunday - all day | 200%$51.48 |
Allowances paid on top
6 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
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Broken shift allowanceClause 16.2(a) | $17.91 a shift | |
| First aid allowanceClause 16.2(b) | $21.93 a week | |
| On-call allowance | ||
| Monday to FridayClause 16.2(c)(i) | $23.17 per each 24 hour period or part thereof | |
| SaturdayClause 16.2(c)(ii) | $34.80 per each 24 hour period or part thereof | |
| Sunday, public holiday or off duty dayClause 16.2(c)(iii) | $40.51 per each 24 hour period or part thereof | |
| On-call duty allowanceClause 16.3(a) | $56.63 per each period of duty | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing and laundry allowanceClause 16.4(a)(i) | $6.68 a week | |
| Vehicle/travel allowance | ||
| Motor vehicleClause 16.4(b)(ii) | $1.00 a km | |
| MotorcycleClause 16.4(b)(ii) | $0.34 a km | |
| Meal allowance | ||
| Overtime for more than one and a half hours without prescribed notice, first mealClause 16.5(a)(i) | $15.61 each time | |
| Overtime for more than one and a half hours without prescribed notice, second and subsequent meal/sClause 16.5(a)(i) | $13.41 each time | |
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.
Personal services, sport and fitness
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum pay rate under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week full time), for Introductory level. The highest adult classification is $48.38 an hour.
- How does the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.01%, from $24.28 to $25.74 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.
- What is the casual loading under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements. For Introductory level that makes $32.18 an hour.
- What are Sunday rates under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 200% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $68.40 an hour at Inspector Level 1. Public holidays are 200–250%. Casual rates are in the penalty tables above.
- What allowances are paid under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award?
- 11 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a broken shift allowance of $17.91 a shift, a first aid allowance of $21.93 a week and an on-call allowance, Monday to Friday of $23.17 per each 24 hour period or part thereof. 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.