Business Equipment Award pay rates
Award code MA000021, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 15 adult classifications under the Business Equipment Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $52,257 to $80,443 a year before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$52,257a year
For Level 1. Up 6.01% from $49,294. Casuals get $33.05 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $52,257 a year. Of the 14 awards that set annual rates, 8 have a higher minimum. Each tick is another award.
Pay by classification
Dollars a year, from 1 July 2026- Level 1Technical stream$52,257
- Level 2Technical stream$53,490
- Level 3Technical stream$55,242
- Level 4Technical stream$58,198
- Level 5Technical stream$61,803
- Level 6Technical stream$65,230
- Level 1Clerical and Administration stream$53,523
- Level 2Clerical and Administration stream$55,276
- Level 3Clerical and Administration stream$58,198
- Level 4Clerical and Administration stream$63,489
- Level 5Clerical and Administration stream$68,088
- Salesperson Level 1Commercial Travellers stream$56,696
- Salesperson Level 2Commercial Travellers stream$62,193
- Salesperson Level 3Commercial Travellers stream$71,962
- Exemptions for employees in the technical stream$80,443
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 Level 1.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$26.44 |
| Outside spread of hours | 100%$33.71 |
| Saturday | 100%$43.87 |
| Sunday | 100%$50.87 |
| Public holiday | 250%$66.10 |
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.
Technical streamClause 14.2(a)(i)
| Classification | Annual | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical streamLevel 1 | $52,257 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Technical streamLevel 2 | $53,490 | $1,028.70 | $27.07 | $33.84 |
| Technical streamLevel 3 | $55,242 | $1,062.30 | $27.96 | $34.95 |
| Technical streamLevel 4 | $58,198 | $1,119.20 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Technical streamLevel 5 | $61,803 | $1,188.50 | $31.28 | $39.10 |
| Technical streamLevel 6 | $65,230 | $1,254.40 | $33.01 | $41.26 |
Clerical and Administration streamClause 14.2(a)(ii)
| Classification | Annual | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerical and Administration streamLevel 1 | $53,523 | $1,029.30 | $27.09 | $33.86 |
| Clerical and Administration streamLevel 2 | $55,276 | $1,063.00 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| Clerical and Administration streamLevel 3 | $58,198 | $1,119.20 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Clerical and Administration streamLevel 4 | $63,489 | $1,220.90 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Clerical and Administration streamLevel 5 | $68,088 | $1,309.40 | $34.46 | $43.08 |
Commercial Travellers streamClause 14.2(a)(iii)
| Classification | Annual | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Travellers streamSalesperson Level 1 | $56,696 | $1,090.30 | $28.69 | $35.86 |
| Commercial Travellers streamSalesperson Level 2 | $62,193 | $1,196.00 | $31.47 | $39.34 |
| Commercial Travellers streamSalesperson Level 3 | $71,962 | $1,383.90 | $36.42 | $45.53 |
Exemptions for employees in the technical streamClause 16.1
| Classification | Annual |
|---|---|
| Exemptions for employees in the technical stream | $80,443 |
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
Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$26.44 |
| Outside spread of hours | 100%$33.71 |
| Saturday | 100%$43.87 |
| Sunday | 100%$50.87 |
| Public holiday | 250%$66.10 |
Casual adult employees: other than shiftworkers, ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Casual Sunday | 125%$57.48 |
| Ordinary hours | 125%$33.05 |
| Outside spread | 125%$40.32 |
| Saturday | 125%$50.48 |
| Public holiday | 275%$72.71 |
Shiftwork
Full-time and part-time shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rate
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Afternoon shift | 100%$30.76 |
| Day | 100%$26.44 |
| Night shift | 100%$31.62 |
| Non standard | 100%$35.28 |
| Permanent night | 100%$32.62 |
Casual shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Casual Afternoon | 125%$37.37 |
| Casual night | 125%$38.23 |
| Casual non standard | 125%$41.89 |
| Casual permanent night | 125%$39.23 |
| Day | 125%$33.05 |
Overtime
Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday - first 3 hours | 150%$39.66 |
| Monday to Sunday - after 3 hours | 200%$52.88 |
| Sunday | 200%$52.88 |
| Public holiday | 250%$66.10 |
Full-time and part-time shiftworkers: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday - first 3 hours | 150%$39.66 |
| Monday to Sunday - after 3 hours | 200%$52.88 |
| Sunday | 200%$52.88 |
| Public holiday | 250%$66.10 |
Allowances paid on top
14 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 12 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Leading hand in charge of | ||
| 2 to 5 employeesCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 17.2(b) | $35.93 a week | |
| 6 to 10 employeesCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 17.2(b) | $53.16 a week | |
| More than 10 employeesCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 17.2(b) | $69.39 a week | |
| First aid allowanceClause 17.2(c) | $26.30 a week | |
| Representation allowanceClause 17.2(d) | $24.40 a week | |
| Service centre allowanceClause 17.2(e)(i) | $68.05 a week | |
| Overtime stand-by allowanceClause 20.5(a) | $17.50 an hour | |
| Day work outside the spread of hoursClause 21.1 | $7.27 an hour | |
| Working ordinary hours on SaturdayClause 21.2 | $17.43 an hour | |
| Working ordinary hours on SundayClause 21.3 | $24.43 an hour | |
| Afternoon shift allowanceClause 22.2(c)(i) | $4.32 an hour | |
| Night shift allowanceClause 22.2(c)(ii) | $5.18 an hour | |
| Permanent night shift allowanceClause 22.2(c)(iii) | $6.18 an hour | |
| Non-standard shift work allowanceClause 22.3(b) | $8.84 an hour | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle allowance | ||
| Using own vehicleClause 17.3(b)(i) | $804.87 a month | |
| Using own vehicle, country territoryClause 17.3(b)(i) | $931.95 a month | |
| Using own vehicle, additional amountClause 17.3(b)(ii) | $0.44 a km | |
| Using own vehicle, casual basisClause 17.3(b)(vi) | $1.00 a km | |
| Meal allowance for overtime rest breaksClause 17.3(c)(i) | $19.11 per rest break | |
| Area allowance | ||
| Broken Hill, New South WalesClause 17.3(d)(i) | $51.98 a week | |
| Mt Isa, QueenslandClause 17.3(d)(i) | $103.67 a week | |
| That area of Western Australia situated between latitude 24 degrees and a line running East from Carnot Bay to the Northern Territory borderClause 17.3(d)(i) | $31.40 a week | |
| That area of Western Australia, North of a line running East from Carnot Bay to the Northern Territory borderClause 17.3(d)(i) | $36.57 a week | |
| That area within a line commencing on the coast at latitude 24 degrees, then East to the Northern Territory border, then South to the coast, then along the coast to a longitude 123 degrees, North to the intersection of latitude 26 degrees, then West along latitude 26 degreesClause 17.3(d)(i) | $14.16 a week | |
| Living away from home allowanceClause 17.3(e)(i) | $100.65 a day | |
| Travel time, living away from home, further meal allowanceClause 17.3(e)(ii) | $16.69 per evening meal | |
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.
The awards most people look up
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum pay rate under the Business Equipment Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $52,257 a year, for Level 1. The highest adult classification is $80,443 a year.
- How does the Business Equipment Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $52,257 a year. Of the 14 awards that set annual rates, 8 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Business Equipment Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.01%, from $49,294 to $52,257 a year, 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 Business Equipment Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements. For Level 1 that makes $33.05 an hour.
- What are Sunday rates under the Business Equipment Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 100% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $50.87 an hour at Level 1. Public holidays are 250%. Casual rates are in the penalty tables above.
- What allowances are paid under the Business Equipment Award?
- 26 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a leading hand in charge of, 2 to 5 employees of $35.93 a week, a leading hand in charge of, 6 to 10 employees of $53.16 a week and a leading hand in charge of, more than 10 employees of $69.39 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.