General Retail Industry Award pay rates
Award code MA000004, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 8 adult classifications under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $27.81 to $33.99 an hour before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$27.81an hour
For Retail Employee Level 1. $1,056.80 for a full-time week. Up 4.75% from $26.55. Casuals get $34.76 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $27.81 an hour, 5.2% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 22 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- Retail Employee Level 1$27.81
- Retail Employee Level 2$28.45
- Retail Employee Level 3$28.89
- Retail Employee Level 4$29.45
- Retail Employee Level 5$30.66
- Retail Employee Level 6$31.11
- Retail Employee Level 7$32.67
- Retail Employee Level 8$33.99
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 Retail Employee Level 1.
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$27.81 | 125%$34.76 |
| Monday to Friday after 6.00 pm | 125%$34.76 | 150%$41.72 |
| Saturday | 125%$34.76 | 150%$41.72 |
| Sunday | 150%$41.72 | 175%$48.67 |
| Public holiday | 225%$62.57 | 250%$69.53 |
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.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1 | $1,056.80 | $27.81 | $34.76 |
| Retail Employee Level 2 | $1,081.00 | $28.45 | $35.56 |
| Retail Employee Level 3 | $1,097.80 | $28.89 | $36.11 |
| Retail Employee Level 4 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $1,165.10 | $30.66 | $38.33 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $1,241.40 | $32.67 | $40.84 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $1,291.80 | $33.99 | $42.49 |
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
Adult employees other than shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Retail Employee Level 1
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$27.81 | 125%$34.76 |
| Monday to Friday after 6.00 pm | 125%$34.76 | 150%$41.72 |
| Saturday | 125%$34.76 | 150%$41.72 |
| Sunday | 150%$41.72 | 175%$48.67 |
| Public holiday | 225%$62.57 | 250%$69.53 |
Shiftwork
Adult shiftworkers: shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Retail Employee Level 1
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Baking production employees (BPE) Early morning shifts: Monday to Friday - Starting at or after 2.00 am and before 6.00 am | 112.5%$31.29 | 137.5%$38.24 |
| Baking production employees (BPE) Early morning shifts: Monday to Friday - Starting before 2.00 am | 130%$36.15 | 155%$43.11 |
| Other than baking production employees (OBPE): Monday to Friday - Starting at or after 6.00 pm and before 5.00 am | 130%$36.15 | 155%$43.11 |
| All shiftworkers: Saturday - OBPE and BPE | 150%$41.72 | 175%$48.67 |
| All shiftworkers: Sunday - OBPE and BPE | 175%$48.67 | 200%$55.62 |
| All shiftworkers: Public holiday - All hours within shift | 225%$62.57 | 250%$69.53 |
Overtime
All full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Retail Employee Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday – first 3 hours | 150%$41.72 |
| Monday to Saturday – after 3 hours | 200%$55.62 |
| Sunday – all day | 200%$55.62 |
| Public holiday | 250%$69.53 |
Juniors, apprentices and other arrangements
Rates that depend on age, training or another arrangement. Open a group to see its rates.
Junior employees - commencing on or after 1 July 2015Junior ratesClause 17.221 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 116 years of age | $528.40 |
| Retail Employee Level 117 years of age | $634.08 |
| Retail Employee Level 118 years of age | $739.76 |
| Retail Employee Level 119 years of age | $845.44 |
| Retail Employee Level 120 years of age and employed by the employer for 6 months or less | $951.12 |
| Retail Employee Level 120 years of age and employed by the employer for more than 6 months | $1,056.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 1Under 16 years of age | $475.56 |
| Retail Employee Level 216 years of age | $540.50 |
| Retail Employee Level 217 years of age | $648.60 |
| Retail Employee Level 218 years of age | $756.70 |
| Retail Employee Level 219 years of age | $864.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 220 years of age and employed by the employer for 6 months or less | $972.90 |
| Retail Employee Level 220 years of age and employed by the employer for more than 6 months | $1,081.00 |
| Retail Employee Level 2Under 16 years of age | $486.45 |
| Retail Employee Level 316 years of age | $548.90 |
| Retail Employee Level 317 years of age | $658.68 |
| Retail Employee Level 318 years of age | $768.46 |
| Retail Employee Level 319 years of age | $878.24 |
| Retail Employee Level 320 years of age and employed by the employer for 6 months or less | $988.02 |
| Retail Employee Level 320 years of age and employed by the employer for more than 6 months | $1,097.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 3Under 16 years of age | $494.01 |
Junior apprentice who began apprenticeship before 1 January 2014Apprentice ratesClause 17.3(a)4 rates
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $559.55 | $14.73 |
| 2nd year | $671.46 | $17.67 |
| 3rd year | $895.28 | $23.56 |
| 4th year (4 year apprenticeship only) | $1,007.19 | $26.51 |
Four year apprentices who commenced on or after 1 January 2014Apprentice ratesClause 17.3(b)8 rates
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Completed year 121st year | $615.51 | $16.20 |
| Completed year 122nd year | $727.42 | $19.14 |
| Completed year 123rd year | $895.28 | $23.56 |
| Completed year 124th year (4 year apprenticeship only) | $1,007.19 | $26.51 |
| Has not completed year 121st year | $559.55 | $14.73 |
| Has not completed year 122nd year | $671.46 | $17.67 |
| Has not completed year 123rd year | $895.28 | $23.56 |
| Has not completed year 124th year (4 year apprenticeship only) | $1,007.19 | $26.51 |
Adult apprentices who commenced on or after 1 January 2014Adult apprentice ratesClause 17.4(b)4 rates
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $895.28 | $23.56 |
| 2nd year | $1,056.80 | $27.81 |
| 3rd year | $1,056.80 | $27.81 |
| 4th year (4 year apprenticeship only) | $1,056.80 | $27.81 |
Allowances paid on top
5 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cold work disability allowance | ||
| Cold chambers; stocking and refilling refrigerated storagesClause 19.9(b) | $0.38 an hour | |
| Cold chambers; below 0°C, additional to clause 19.9(b)Clause 19.9(c) | $0.59 an hour | |
| First aid allowanceClause 19.10(b) | $14.55 a week | |
| Liquor licence allowanceClause 19.12 | $34.69 a week | |
| Broken HillClause 19.13 | $1.26 an hour | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance | ||
| More than one hour’s overtime without 24 hours’ noticeClause 19.2(b)(i) | $24.56 each time | |
| Further 4 hours’ overtimeClause 19.2(c) | $22.27 each time | |
| Special clothing allowance | ||
| Laundering, full-time employeeClause 19.3(c)(i) | $6.42 a week | |
| Laundering, part-time or casual employeeClause 19.3(c)(ii) | $1.28 a shift | |
| Motor vehicle allowanceClause 19.7 | $1.00 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 General Retail Industry Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $27.81 an hour ($1,056.80 a week full time), for Retail Employee Level 1. The highest adult classification is $33.99 an hour. Junior, apprentice and adult apprentice rates, further down, can be lower.
- How does the General Retail Industry Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $27.81 an hour, 5.2% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 22 have a higher minimum.
- How much did General Retail Industry Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 4.75%, from $26.55 to $27.81 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 General Retail Industry Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements. For Retail Employee Level 1 that makes $34.76 an hour.
- What are Sunday rates under the General Retail Industry Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 150% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $41.72 an hour at Retail Employee Level 1. Public holidays are 225%. Casual rates are in the penalty tables above.
- What allowances are paid under the General Retail Industry Award?
- 10 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a cold work disability allowance, cold chambers; stocking and refilling refrigerated storages of $0.38 an hour, a cold work disability allowance, cold chambers; below 0°C, additional to clause 19.9(b) of $0.59 an hour and a first aid allowance of $14.55 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.