Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award pay rates
Award code MA000091, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 70 adult classifications under the Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $978.10 to $1,848.00 a week before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$978.10a week
For Grade 1. Up 6.00% from $922.70.
Its lowest adult rate is $978.10 a week. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 20 have a higher minimum. The dashed line is the minimum wage; each tick is another award.
Pay by group of classifications
Dollars a week, from 1 July 2026- Entertainment employees - general18 classifications$978.10 to $1,619.30
- Employees in cinemas24 classifications$80.39 to $1,355.83
- Journalists8 classifications$1,221.10 to $1,848.00
- Artists - Engaged by the week4 classifications$1,119.10 to $1,283.10
- Artists - Engaged by the week in a serial drama or serial comedy16 classifications$1,119.10 to $1,283.10
Every classification in each group is in the tables below.
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.
Journalist - fixed term contractClause 4.4(b)
| Classification | Annual |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan television station employee | $124,565 |
Journalist - fixed term contractClause 4.4(c)
| Classification | Annual |
|---|---|
| Non-metropolitan television station employee | $101,051 |
Entertainment employees - generalClause 13.3
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 |
| Grade 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 |
| Grade 3 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 |
| Grade 4 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 |
| Grade 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| Grade 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 |
| Grade 7 | $1,189.40 | $31.30 |
| Grade 8 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 |
| Grade 9 | $1,255.40 | $33.04 |
| Grade 10 | $1,283.10 | $33.77 |
| Grade 11 | $1,309.50 | $34.46 |
| Grade 12 | $1,344.50 | $35.38 |
| Grade 13 | $1,379.50 | $36.30 |
| Grade 14 | $1,397.30 | $36.77 |
| Grade 15 | $1,450.20 | $38.16 |
| Grade 16 | $1,513.70 | $39.83 |
| Grade 17 | $1,548.80 | $40.76 |
| Grade 18 | $1,619.30 | $42.61 |
Employees in cinemasClause 13.4
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 1 | $80.39 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 2 | $82.33 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 3 | $85.03 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 4 | $89.53 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 5 | $95.15 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 6 | $97.69 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekCinema Worker Level 7 | $100.43 | - |
| 8% penalty averaging per weekZone Manager | $100.43 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 1 | $1,004.90 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 2 | $1,029.10 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 3 | $1,062.90 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 4 | $1,119.10 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 5 | $1,189.40 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 6 | $1,221.10 | - |
| Base rate per weekCinema Worker Level 7 | $1,255.40 | - |
| Base rate per weekZone Manager | $1,255.40 | - |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 1 | $1,085.29 | $28.56 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 2 | $1,111.43 | $29.25 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 3 | $1,147.93 | $30.21 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 4 | $1,208.63 | $31.81 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 5 | $1,284.55 | $33.80 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 6 | $1,318.79 | $34.71 |
| Minimum weekly rateCinema Worker Level 7 | $1,355.83 | $35.68 |
| Minimum weekly rateZone Manager | $1,355.83 | $35.68 |
JournalistsClause 13.6
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Journalist Grade 1 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 |
| Journalist Grade 5 | $1,584.20 | $41.69 |
| Journalist Grade 8 | $1,848.00 | $48.63 |
| Journalist Grade 2 | $1,309.50 | $34.46 |
| Journalist Grade 6 | $1,689.40 | $44.46 |
| Journalist Grade 3 | $1,450.20 | $38.16 |
| Journalist Grade 7 | $1,795.00 | $47.24 |
| Journalist Grade 4 | $1,513.70 | $39.83 |
Artists - Engaged casually by the hourClause 13.8(a)
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Bit Player (content other than feature films and advertising productions) | $39.07 |
| Extra (advertising productions) | $44.94 |
| Extra (feature film) | $40.31 |
| Extra/Stand-In Double (other content) | $36.69 |
| Performer (advertising productions) | $54.50 |
| Performer not required to speak more than 2 lines of dialogue (feature film) | $53.87 |
Artists - Engaged by the dayClause 13.8(b)
| Classification | Daily |
|---|---|
| Extra/Stand-In/Double | $268.61 |
| Performer Class 1 (content other than feature film and advertising productions) | $293.13 |
| Performer Class 1 (feature film) | $341.98 |
| Performer Class 2 (content other than feature film and advertising productions) | $307.99 |
| Performer Class 2 (feature film) | $359.30 |
Artists - Engaged by the weekClause 13.8(c)
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Bit Player | $1,189.40 |
| Performer Class 1 | $1,221.10 |
| Performer Class 2 | $1,283.10 |
| Stand-In/Double | $1,119.10 |
Artists - Engaged by the week in a serial drama or serial comedyClause 13.8(d)
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| 1 or 2 episodesBit Player | $1,189.40 |
| 1 or 2 episodesDouble | $1,119.10 |
| 1 or 2 episodesPerformer Class 1 | $1,221.10 |
| 1 or 2 episodesPerformer Class 2 | $1,283.10 |
| 3 episodesBit Player | $1,189.40 |
| 3 episodesDouble | $1,119.10 |
| 3 episodesPerformer Class 1 | $1,221.10 |
| 3 episodesPerformer Class 2 | $1,283.10 |
| 4 episodesBit Player | $1,189.40 |
| 4 episodesDouble | $1,119.10 |
| 4 episodesPerformer Class 1 | $1,221.10 |
| 4 episodesPerformer Class 2 | $1,283.10 |
| 5 episodesBit Player | $1,189.40 |
| 5 episodesDouble | $1,119.10 |
| 5 episodesPerformer Class 1 | $1,221.10 |
| 5 episodesPerformer Class 2 | $1,283.10 |
The Commission's pay database has no penalty, overtime or casual rates for this award, so they aren't shown here. They're in the award itself, linked below.
Allowances paid on top
16 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 37 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Interview, audition and screen test rates | ||
| Screen test for televisionClause 13.9(c) | $92.33 per screen test | |
| Visual test onlyClause 13.9(c) | $76.66 per screen test | |
| Any other audition and/or screen testClause 13.9(d) | $42.08 per hour or part thereof | |
| General: First aid allowance, per weekClause 15.2(a)(i) | $22.38 a week | |
| First aid allowance, per hourClause 15.2(a)(ii) | $0.59 an hour | |
| Language allowance | ||
| Indigenous performer’s English proficiency, level 1, minimalClause 15.2(b)(i) | $1,786.76 a year | |
| Indigenous performer’s English proficiency, level 2, generalClause 15.2(b)(i) | $3,577.09 a year | |
| Broadcast Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 34.2(b) | $20.14 a week | |
| Television Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 34.2(c) | $39.06 a week | |
| Height allowance | ||
| 15 metres to 50 metresClause 34.2(i) | $10.41 a shift | |
| 51 metres to 90 metresClause 34.2(i) | $21.93 a shift | |
| Over 90 metresClause 34.2(i) | $36.37 a shift | |
| Zone manager’s additional cinema supervision allowance | ||
| Zone 1, maximum per weekClause 62.2(a)(i) | $361.36 a week | |
| Zone 1, per cinemaClause 62.2(a)(i) | $60.21 per cinema per week | |
| Zone 2, maximum per weekClause 62.2(a)(i) | $254.37 a week | |
| Zone 2, per cinemaClause 62.2(a)(i) | $42.19 per cinema per week | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle allowance | ||
| VehicleClause 15.3(a)(i) | $1.00 a km | |
| MotorcycleClause 15.3(a)(ii) | $0.52 a km | |
| Uniform allowance | ||
| Maximum per weekClause 15.3(c) | $7.61 a week | |
| Per rostered dayClause 15.3(c) | $1.55 a day | |
| Meal allowance | ||
| Meal allowanceClause 34.3(a) | $24.39 a meal | |
| After not less than 10 hours of work in a dayClause 66.3(a)(i) | $24.06 each time | |
| Breakfast, work starting before 7.00 amClause 67.1(a) | $21.63 per meal break | |
| Breakfast, work starting before artist can obtain breakfast at accommodationClause 67.1(b) | $21.63 each time | |
| Dinner allowanceClause 67.1(d) | $37.21 per meal break | |
| Lunch allowanceClause 67.1(d) | $24.39 per meal break | |
| Work beyond time of a second meal breakClause 67.1(f) | $24.06 each time | |
| Supper, overtime beyond midnightClause 67.1(g) | $24.06 each time | |
| Meal allowance, more than one meal a day away from home | ||
| Announcers and broadcaster/journalistsClause 46.3(a)(i) | $31.31 per second and subsequent meals | |
| Meal allowance, more than one meal a day away from homeClause 52.2(a) | $28.71 a meal | |
| Meal allowance, more than 2 hours overtime without notice, technical staffClause 46.3(a)(ii) | $20.92 each time | |
| Spectacles allowance | ||
| Spectacles allowanceClause 52.2(d) | $114.28 per first frames | |
| Where the employee is in receipt of a health fund benefitClause 52.2(d)(i) | $114.28 per first frames | |
| Working away from usual place of work | ||
| Employee required to provide own board and lodging, maximum per week, an amount of up toClause 62.3(b) | $530.51 a week | |
| Employee required to provide own board and lodging, per dayClause 62.3(b) | $106.10 a day | |
| Actors, Wardrobe allowance, other wardrobe allowanceClause 62.9(e)(ii) | $25.50 per outfit per week or part of week | |
| Artists, Wardrobe allowance, other wardrobe allowanceClause 62.9(e)(ii) | $25.50 per outfit per week or part of week | |
| Travelling meal allowance | ||
| BreakfastClause 66.3(a)(ii) | $21.63 per meal break | |
| DinnerClause 66.3(a)(ii) | $37.21 per meal break | |
| LunchClause 66.3(a)(ii) | $24.39 per meal break | |
| Accommodation allowance | ||
| Standard of air-conditioned caravan or air-conditioned and sewered mining campsClause 66.3(d)(ii) | $21.23 a day | |
| Standard of shearer’s quarters, mining camps or rough campingClause 66.3(d)(ii) | $42.20 a day | |
| Standard of a private home, homestead or hotelClause 83.2(d)(i) | $10.56 a day | |
| Standard of air-conditioned caravans or air-conditioned and sewered mining campsClause 83.2(d)(ii) | $21.23 a day | |
| Wardrobe allowance | ||
| Other wardrobe allowanceClause 66.3(e)(iv) | $26.18 per outfit per week or part of week | |
| Own formal wearClause 66.3(e)(iv) | $43.94 per outfit per week or part of week | |
| Travelling allowance | ||
| Meals, breakfastClause 74.2(a)(iv) | $18.51 a meal | |
| Meals, dinnerClause 74.2(a)(iv) | $36.52 a meal | |
| Meals, lunchClause 74.2(a)(iv) | $27.53 a meal | |
| Meal allowance on location | ||
| LunchClause 83.2(a)(i) | $17.01 a meal | |
| DinnerClause 83.2(a)(ii) | $26.13 a meal | |
| SupperClause 83.2(a)(iii) | $17.01 a meal | |
| Laundry allowanceClause 83.2(b) | $8.52 a day | |
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.
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum pay rate under the Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $978.10 a week, for Grade 1. The highest adult classification is $1,848.00 a week.
- How does the Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $978.10 a week. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 20 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.00%, from $922.70 to $978.10 a week, 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 Broadcasting, Recorded Entertainment and Cinemas Award?
- 53 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including an interview, audition and screen test rates, screen test for television of $92.33 per screen test, an interview, audition and screen test rates, visual test only of $76.66 per screen test and an interview, audition and screen test rates, any other audition and/or screen test of $42.08 per hour 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.