Building and Construction General On-site Award pay rates
Award code MA000020, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 16 adult classifications under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $1,013.50 to $1,309.50 a week before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$1,013.50a week
For Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW1 (level a). Up 4.75% from $967.50. Casuals get $33.34 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $1,013.50 a week, 0.9% above the National Minimum Wage of $1,004.90 a week. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 10 have a higher minimum. The dashed line is the minimum wage; each tick is another award.
Pay by classification
Dollars a week, from 1 July 2026- Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW1 (level a)$1,013.50
- Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level b)$1,033.50
- Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level c)$1,047.30
- Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level d)$1,066.00
- Level 2 (CW/ECW 2)$1,087.50
- Level 3 (CW/ECW 3)$1,119.10
- Level 4 (CW/ECW 4)$1,154.40
- Level 5 (CW/ECW 5)$1,189.60
- Level 6 (CW/ECW 6)$1,221.30
- Level 7 (CW/ECW 7)$1,256.30
- Level 8 (CW/ECW 8)$1,286.70
- Level 9 (ECW 9)$1,309.50
- General foreperson/supervisorSupervision of 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading hands$1,169.50
- Foreperson/supervisorSupervision of 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading hands$1,202.00
- General foreperson/supervisorSupervision of other than 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading hands$1,275.50
- Foreperson/supervisorSupervision of other than 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading hands$1,303.00
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
Weekly rates are for a full-time week; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours. Casual hourly adds the 25% loading.
Building and Construction EmployeesClause 19.1(a)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW1 (level a) | $1,013.50 | $26.67 | $33.34 |
| Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level b) | $1,033.50 | $27.20 | $34.00 |
| Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level c) | $1,047.30 | $27.56 | $34.45 |
| Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW 1 (level d) | $1,066.00 | $28.05 | $35.06 |
| Level 2 (CW/ECW 2) | $1,087.50 | $28.62 | $35.78 |
| Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 4 (CW/ECW 4) | $1,154.40 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Level 5 (CW/ECW 5) | $1,189.60 | $31.31 | $39.14 |
| Level 6 (CW/ECW 6) | $1,221.30 | $32.14 | $40.18 |
| Level 7 (CW/ECW 7) | $1,256.30 | $33.06 | $41.33 |
| Level 8 (CW/ECW 8) | $1,286.70 | $33.86 | $42.33 |
| Level 9 (ECW 9) | $1,309.50 | $34.46 | $43.08 |
Forepersons and SupervisorsClause 43.2
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Supervision of 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading handsGeneral foreperson/supervisor | $1,169.50 |
| Supervision of 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading handsForeperson/supervisor | $1,202.00 |
| Supervision of other than 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading handsGeneral foreperson/supervisor | $1,275.50 |
| Supervision of other than 3 or more tradespersons, excluding leading handsForeperson/supervisor | $1,303.00 |
The Commission's pay database has no penalty or overtime rates for this award, so they aren't shown here; they're in the award itself, linked below. The 25% casual loading is from clause 12.4 of the award.
Juniors, apprentices and other arrangements
Rates that depend on age, training or another arrangement. Open a group to see its rates.
Civil construction traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause D.4.1(a)9 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Stage 1Base rate | $874.90 |
| Stage 1Industry allowance, civil construction industry | $67.15 |
| Stage 1Total weekly rate | $942.05 |
| Stage 2Base rate | $916.70 |
| Stage 2Industry allowance, civil construction industry | $67.15 |
| Stage 2Total weekly rate | $983.85 |
| Stage 3Base rate | $966.80 |
| Stage 3Industry allowance, civil construction industry | $67.15 |
| Stage 3Total weekly rate | $1,033.95 |
Other traineeships - General building and construction industry and the metal and engineering construction industryTrainee ratesClause D.4.1(b)(i)6 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Wage level ABase rate | $806.20 |
| Wage level AIndustry allowance | $67.15 |
| Wage level AWeekly rate | $873.35 |
| Wage level BBase rate | $788.20 |
| Wage level BIndustry allowance | $67.15 |
| Wage level BWeekly rate | $855.35 |
Other traineeships - Residential building and construction industryTrainee ratesClause D.4.1(b)(ii)6 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Wage level ABase rate | $806.20 |
| Wage level AIndustry allowance | $53.72 |
| Wage level AWeekly rate | $859.92 |
| Wage level BBase rate | $788.20 |
| Wage level BIndustry allowance | $53.72 |
| Wage level BWeekly rate | $841.92 |
National Training Wage - School-based traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause D.4.2(c)2 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Year 11 or lower | $14.21 |
| Year 12 | $15.66 |
National Training Wage - School-based traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause D.4.2(c)*3 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| National Training Wage Level B - Year 10 - Plus 5 or more years out of school | $848.90 |
| National Training Wage Level B - Year 10 - School leaver | $432.30 |
| National Training Wage Level B - Year 11 - School leaver | $476.00 |
Allowances paid on top
26 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 17 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile cranes capacity adjustment formula (Level 5 (CW/EW5) and above)Clause 19.5 | $26.86 per week for each additional 40 tonnes over max limit | |
| Civil construction industry allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.1(a) | $67.15 a week | |
| General building and construction industry allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.1(a) | $67.15 a week | |
| Metal and engineering construction industry allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.1(a) | $67.15 a week | |
| Residential building and construction industryCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.1(b) | $53.72 a week | |
| Underground allowance (other than Operator classification)Counts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 23.2(a) | $20.14 a week | |
| Underground allowance, no more than 4 days/shifts in ordinary weekClause 23.2(b) | $4.48 per day or shift | |
| Multistorey allowance | ||
| Structure without regular storey levels, work above 15 metresClause 23.3(d) | $0.94 an hour | |
| Structure without regular storey levels, work above each additional 15 metresClause 23.3(d) | $0.94 per hour for each additional 15 metres | |
| 16th to 30th floor level, where structural or reinforcing steel, boxing or walls rise above 16th floorClause 23.3(e)(i) | $0.91 an hour | |
| 31st to 45th floor level, where structural or reinforcing steel, boxing or walls rise above 31st floorClause 23.3(e)(i) | $1.41 an hour | |
| 46th to 60th floor level, where structural or reinforcing steel, boxing or walls rise above 46th floorClause 23.3(e)(i) | $1.83 an hour | |
| 61st floor level onward, where structural or reinforcing steel, boxing or walls rise above 61st floorClause 23.3(e)(i) | $2.24 an hour | |
| Commencement of building to 15th floor levelClause 23.3(e)(i) | $0.77 an hour | |
| Service core, work above each additional 15 metresClause 23.3(f)(i) | $0.94 per hour for each additional 15 metres | |
| Service core, work more than 15 metres above main structureClause 23.3(f)(i) | $0.94 an hour | |
| Laser safety officer allowanceClause 23.4(c) | $3.95 per day or part thereof | |
| Carpenter-diver allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 23.5 | $1.33 an hour | |
| First aid allowance | ||
| Minimum qualificationsClause 23.6(b)(i) | $4.03 a day | |
| Higher first aid certificateClause 23.6(b)(ii) | $6.38 a day | |
| Air-conditioning industry and refrigeration industry allowancesClause 23.7 | $88.41 a week | |
| Electrician's licence allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 23.8(a) | $35.81 a week | |
| In charge of plant allowanceClause 23.9(b) | $52.60 a week | |
| Computing quantities allowanceClause 23.10(b)(i) | $6.86 per day or part thereof | |
| Scaffolding or rigging certificate allowanceClause 23.10(c) | $0.94 an hour | |
| Lift industry allowanceCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 42.2(a) | $165.63 a week | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Tool allowance | ||
| Artificial stoneworker, carpenter and/or joiner, carpenter-diver, carver, bridge and wharf carpenter, floor sander, letter cutter, marble and slate worker, stonemason or tilelayerCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 21.1(a) | $41.22 a week | |
| Caster, fixer, floorlayer specialist or plastererCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 21.1(a) | $34.10 a week | |
| Refractory bricklayer or bricklayerCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 21.1(a) | $29.26 a week | |
| Roof tiler, slate-ridger or roof fixer, tradespersons in the metals and engineering construction sectorCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 21.1(a) | $21.59 a week | |
| Signwriter, painter or glazierCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 21.1(a) | $9.89 a week | |
| Meal allowance | ||
| All employees, overtime of at least one and a half hoursClause 21.2(a) | $19.74 a meal | |
| Operator employee, after completion of each 4 hours’ overtimeClause 21.2(c) | $19.74 a meal | |
| Forward journeyClause 25.6(a)(i) | $19.74 a meal | |
| Compensation for clothes and toolsClause 21.3(b) | $2,390.00 maximum | |
| Living away from home allowance, Distant work, EntitlementClause 25.3(a)(i) | $102.92 a day | |
| Camping allowance | ||
| Broken parts of the weekClause 25.4(b) | $38.02 a day | |
| Per complete weekClause 25.4(b) | $266.44 a week | |
| Return journey, additional for daily hire employeesClause 25.6(b)(i) | $26.77 per journey | |
| Weekend return homeClause 25.6(e)(i) | $45.36 each time | |
| Fares and travel pattern allowanceClause 26.1(a) | $22.41 a day | |
| Travelling between construction sites, employee’s own vehicleClause 26.2(b)(ii) | $1.00 a km | |
| Distant work, employee’s own vehicleClause 26.4(b)(ii) | $0.60 a km | |
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 Building and Construction General On-site Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $1,013.50 a week, for Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW1 (level a). The highest adult classification is $1,309.50 a week. Trainee rates, further down, can be lower.
- How does the Building and Construction General On-site Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $1,013.50 a week, 0.9% above the National Minimum Wage of $1,004.90 a week. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 10 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Building and Construction General On-site Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 4.75%, from $967.50 to $1,013.50 a week, 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 Building and Construction General On-site Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements (clause 12.4 of the award). For Level 1 (CW/ECW 1), CW/ECW1 (level a) that makes $33.34 an hour.
- What allowances are paid under the Building and Construction General On-site Award?
- 43 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a mobile cranes capacity adjustment formula (Level 5 (CW/EW5) and above) of $26.86 per week for each additional 40 tonnes over max limit, a civil construction industry allowance of $67.15 a week and a general building and construction industry allowance of $67.15 a week. 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.