Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award pay rates
Award code MA000006, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 25 adult classifications under the Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $34.80 to $76.48 an hour before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$34.80an hour
For 1. Up 4.72% from $33.23.
Its lowest adult rate is $34.80 an hour, 31.6% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, none has 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- 1Level A$34.80
- 2Level A$36.20
- 3Level A$37.59
- 4Level A$38.90
- 5Level A$39.95
- 6Level A$41.08
- 7Level A$42.21
- 8Level A$43.35
- 1Level B$45.09
- 2Level B$46.40
- 3Level B$47.71
- 4Level B$49.02
- 5Level B$50.32
- 6Level B$51.63
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- 1Level C$52.94
- 2Level C$54.25
- 3Level C$55.55
- 4Level C$56.86
- 5Level C$58.17
- 6Level C$59.48
- 1Level D$61.66
- 2Level D$63.40
- 3Level D$65.15
- 4Level D$66.89
- Level ELevel E$76.48
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 1.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Dentally qualified: Medical school or dental school in the teaching of medical or dental students | 100%$52.75 |
| Medically qualified: Full clinical department in a medical school and responsible for patient care | 100%$60.37 |
| Medically qualified: Para-clinical department in a medical school | 100%$55.29 |
| Medically qualified: Pre-clinical department in a medical school | 100%$52.75 |
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$34.80 |
Minimum pay by classification from 1 July 2026
Annual rates are full-time salaries; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours.
Academic staffClause 16.1
| Classification | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Level A1 | $68,991 | $34.80 |
| Level A2 | $71,757 | $36.20 |
| Level A3 | $74,519 | $37.59 |
| Level A4 | $77,113 | $38.90 |
| Level A5 | $79,185 | $39.95 |
| Level A6 | $81,432 | $41.08 |
| Level A7 | $83,677 | $42.21 |
| Level A8 | $85,925 | $43.35 |
| Level B1 | $89,382 | $45.09 |
| Level B2 | $91,974 | $46.40 |
| Level B3 | $94,567 | $47.71 |
| Level B4 | $97,164 | $49.02 |
| Level B5 | $99,753 | $50.32 |
| Level B6 | $102,349 | $51.63 |
| Level C1 | $104,940 | $52.94 |
| Level C2 | $107,534 | $54.25 |
| Level C3 | $110,124 | $55.55 |
| Level C4 | $112,719 | $56.86 |
| Level C5 | $115,310 | $58.17 |
| Level C6 | $117,903 | $59.48 |
| Level D1 | $122,225 | $61.66 |
| Level D2 | $125,684 | $63.40 |
| Level D3 | $129,142 | $65.15 |
| Level D4 | $132,598 | $66.89 |
| Level ELevel E | $151,614 | $76.48 |
Casual academicsClause 16.4(a)
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Basic lecture (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time) | $173.99 |
| If academic does not hold a relevant doctoral qualification or perform full subject coordination duties | $45.22 |
| Little preparation required (1 hour of delivery and 0.5 hours associated working time) | $67.88 |
| Musical accompanying (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour preparation time) | $90.48 |
| Normal preparation time (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time) | $90.48 |
| Repeat lecture (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time) | $115.97 |
| Repeat tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time) | $90.48 |
| Standard marking | $45.22 |
| Tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time) | $135.76 |
| Developed lecture (1 hour of delivery and 3 hours associated working time) | $232.03 |
| If academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification or performs full subject coordination duties | $51.36 |
| Little preparation required (1 hour of delivery and 0.5 hours associated working time) (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $77.03 |
| Musical accompanying (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour preparation time) (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $102.67 |
| Normal preparation time (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time) (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $102.67 |
| Repeat tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 1 hour associated working time) (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $102.67 |
| Standard marking (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $51.36 |
| Tutorial (1 hour of delivery and 2 hours associated working time) (where academic holds a relevant doctoral qualification) | $154.09 |
| Marking as a supervising examiner, or marking requiring a significant exercise of academic judgment appropriate to an academic at level B status | $57.99 |
| Specialised lecture (1 hour of delivery and 4 hours associated working time) | $290.01 |
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
Fixed-term, full-time and part-time employees: minimum hourly rates; and rates inclusive of professorial and clinical loadings
Dollars an hour at 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Dentally qualified: Medical school or dental school in the teaching of medical or dental students | 100%$52.75 |
| Medically qualified: Full clinical department in a medical school and responsible for patient care | 100%$60.37 |
| Medically qualified: Para-clinical department in a medical school | 100%$55.29 |
| Medically qualified: Pre-clinical department in a medical school | 100%$52.75 |
| Minimum hourly rate | 100%$34.80 |
Allowances paid on top
4 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it. 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Professorial and clinical loadings | ||
| Medically qualified, Full clinical department in a medical school and responsible for patient careClause 16.2(c)(i) | $30,287.00 a year | |
| Medically qualified, Para-clinical department in a medical schoolClause 16.2(c)(i) | $20,214.00 a year | |
| Medically qualified, Pre-clinical department in a medical schoolClause 16.2(c)(i) | $15,178.00 a year | |
| Dentally qualified, Medical school or dental school teaching medical or dental studentsClause 16.2(d) | $15,178.00 a year | |
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 Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $34.80 an hour, for 1. The highest adult classification is $76.48 an hour.
- How does the Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $34.80 an hour, 31.6% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, none has a higher minimum.
- How much did Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 4.72%, from $33.23 to $34.80 an hour, 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 Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award?
- 4 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a professorial and clinical loadings, Medically qualified, Full clinical department in a medical school and responsible for patient care of $30,287.00 a year, a professorial and clinical loadings, Medically qualified, Para-clinical department in a medical school of $20,214.00 a year and a professorial and clinical loadings, Medically qualified, Pre-clinical department in a medical school of $15,178.00 a year. 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.