Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award pay rates
Award code MA000007, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 68 adult classifications under the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $27.24 to $53.83 an hour before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$27.24an hour
For HEW Level 1.1. $1,035.01 for a full-time week. Up 4.77% from $26.00.
Its lowest adult rate is $27.24 an hour, 3.0% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 30 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- HEW Level 1.1$27.24
- HEW Level 10.1$52.06
- HEW Level 2.1$28.55
- HEW Level 3.1$29.57
- HEW Level 4.1$32.22
- HEW Level 5.1$33.87
- HEW Level 6.1$37.30
- HEW Level 7.1$40.11
- HEW Level 8.1$43.69
- HEW Level 9.1$49.24
- HEW Level 1.2$27.65
- HEW Level 2.2$28.97
- HEW Level 3.2$30.09
- HEW Level 4.2$32.81
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- HEW Level 5.2$34.57
- HEW Level 6.2$38.00
- HEW Level 7.2$40.96
- HEW Level 8.2$45.06
- HEW Level 9.2$50.61
- HEW Level 1.3$28.05
- HEW Level 3.3$30.60
- HEW Level 4.3$33.41
- HEW Level 5.3$35.03
- HEW Level 6.3$38.61
- HEW Level 7.3$41.82
- HEW Level 8.3$46.42
- HEW Level 9.3$51.97
- HEW Level 3.4$31.11
- HEW Level 5.4$35.73
- HEW Level 6.4$39.31
- HEW Level 7.4$42.67
- HEW Level 8.4$47.79
- HEW Level 3.5$31.53
- HEW Level 5.5$36.43
- HEW Level 1.1$28.16
- HEW Level 10.1$53.83
- HEW Level 2.1$29.52
- HEW Level 3.1$30.58
- HEW Level 4.1$33.31
- HEW Level 5.1$35.02
- HEW Level 6.1$38.57
- HEW Level 7.1$41.47
- HEW Level 8.1$45.18
- HEW Level 9.1$50.92
- HEW Level 1.2$28.59
- HEW Level 2.2$29.96
- HEW Level 3.2$31.11
- HEW Level 4.2$33.93
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- HEW Level 5.2$35.75
- HEW Level 6.2$39.29
- HEW Level 7.2$42.36
- HEW Level 8.2$46.59
- HEW Level 9.2$52.33
- HEW Level 1.3$29.01
- HEW Level 3.3$31.64
- HEW Level 4.3$34.55
- HEW Level 5.3$36.22
- HEW Level 6.3$39.92
- HEW Level 7.3$43.24
- HEW Level 8.3$48.00
- HEW Level 9.3$53.74
- HEW Level 3.4$32.17
- HEW Level 5.4$36.95
- HEW Level 6.4$40.65
- HEW Level 7.4$44.12
- HEW Level 8.4$49.42
- HEW Level 3.5$32.61
- HEW Level 5.5$37.67
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
Annual rates are full-time salaries; weekly rates are for a full-time week; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours.
Other than PACCT staffClause 17.1 [1]
| Classification | Annual | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEW Level 1.1 | $53,820 | $1,035.01 | $27.24 |
| HEW Level 10.1 | $102,866 | $1,978.19 | $52.06 |
| HEW Level 2.1 | $56,406 | $1,084.74 | $28.55 |
| HEW Level 3.1 | $58,439 | $1,123.82 | $29.57 |
| HEW Level 4.1 | $63,660 | $1,224.23 | $32.22 |
| HEW Level 5.1 | $66,928 | $1,287.09 | $33.87 |
| HEW Level 6.1 | $73,705 | $1,417.41 | $37.30 |
| HEW Level 7.1 | $79,255 | $1,524.14 | $40.11 |
| HEW Level 8.1 | $86,338 | $1,660.35 | $43.69 |
| HEW Level 9.1 | $97,300 | $1,871.16 | $49.24 |
| HEW Level 1.2 | $54,626 | $1,050.51 | $27.65 |
| HEW Level 2.2 | $57,250 | $1,100.95 | $28.97 |
| HEW Level 3.2 | $59,450 | $1,143.28 | $30.09 |
| HEW Level 4.2 | $64,840 | $1,246.93 | $32.81 |
| HEW Level 5.2 | $68,311 | $1,313.68 | $34.57 |
| HEW Level 6.2 | $75,088 | $1,444.00 | $38.00 |
| HEW Level 7.2 | $80,942 | $1,556.57 | $40.96 |
| HEW Level 8.2 | $89,037 | $1,712.25 | $45.06 |
| HEW Level 9.2 | $99,999 | $1,923.05 | $50.61 |
| HEW Level 1.3 | $55,433 | $1,066.01 | $28.05 |
| HEW Level 3.3 | $60,462 | $1,162.74 | $30.60 |
| HEW Level 4.3 | $66,021 | $1,269.63 | $33.41 |
| HEW Level 5.3 | $69,219 | $1,331.14 | $35.03 |
| HEW Level 6.3 | $76,296 | $1,467.22 | $38.61 |
| HEW Level 7.3 | $82,628 | $1,589.00 | $41.82 |
| HEW Level 8.3 | $91,735 | $1,764.14 | $46.42 |
| HEW Level 9.3 | $102,697 | $1,974.94 | $51.97 |
| HEW Level 3.4 | $61,474 | $1,182.20 | $31.11 |
| HEW Level 5.4 | $70,602 | $1,357.73 | $35.73 |
| HEW Level 6.4 | $77,678 | $1,493.82 | $39.31 |
| HEW Level 7.4 | $84,315 | $1,621.44 | $42.67 |
| HEW Level 8.4 | $94,433 | $1,816.03 | $47.79 |
| HEW Level 3.5 | $62,311 | $1,198.28 | $31.53 |
| HEW Level 5.5 | $71,985 | $1,384.33 | $36.43 |
PACCT staffClause 17.1 [2]
| Classification | Annual | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEW Level 1.1 | $53,820 | $1,035.01 | $28.16 |
| HEW Level 10.1 | $102,866 | $1,978.19 | $53.83 |
| HEW Level 2.1 | $56,406 | $1,084.74 | $29.52 |
| HEW Level 3.1 | $58,439 | $1,123.82 | $30.58 |
| HEW Level 4.1 | $63,660 | $1,224.23 | $33.31 |
| HEW Level 5.1 | $66,928 | $1,287.09 | $35.02 |
| HEW Level 6.1 | $73,705 | $1,417.41 | $38.57 |
| HEW Level 7.1 | $79,255 | $1,524.14 | $41.47 |
| HEW Level 8.1 | $86,338 | $1,660.35 | $45.18 |
| HEW Level 9.1 | $97,300 | $1,871.16 | $50.92 |
| HEW Level 1.2 | $54,626 | $1,050.51 | $28.59 |
| HEW Level 2.2 | $57,250 | $1,100.95 | $29.96 |
| HEW Level 3.2 | $59,450 | $1,143.28 | $31.11 |
| HEW Level 4.2 | $64,840 | $1,246.93 | $33.93 |
| HEW Level 5.2 | $68,311 | $1,313.68 | $35.75 |
| HEW Level 6.2 | $75,088 | $1,444.00 | $39.29 |
| HEW Level 7.2 | $80,942 | $1,556.57 | $42.36 |
| HEW Level 8.2 | $89,037 | $1,712.25 | $46.59 |
| HEW Level 9.2 | $99,999 | $1,923.05 | $52.33 |
| HEW Level 1.3 | $55,433 | $1,066.01 | $29.01 |
| HEW Level 3.3 | $60,462 | $1,162.74 | $31.64 |
| HEW Level 4.3 | $66,021 | $1,269.63 | $34.55 |
| HEW Level 5.3 | $69,219 | $1,331.14 | $36.22 |
| HEW Level 6.3 | $76,296 | $1,467.22 | $39.92 |
| HEW Level 7.3 | $82,628 | $1,589.00 | $43.24 |
| HEW Level 8.3 | $91,735 | $1,764.14 | $48.00 |
| HEW Level 9.3 | $102,697 | $1,974.94 | $53.74 |
| HEW Level 3.4 | $61,474 | $1,182.20 | $32.17 |
| HEW Level 5.4 | $70,602 | $1,357.73 | $36.95 |
| HEW Level 6.4 | $77,678 | $1,493.82 | $40.65 |
| HEW Level 7.4 | $84,315 | $1,621.44 | $44.12 |
| HEW Level 8.4 | $94,433 | $1,816.03 | $49.42 |
| HEW Level 3.5 | $62,311 | $1,198.28 | $32.61 |
| HEW Level 5.5 | $71,985 | $1,384.33 | $37.67 |
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.
Shiftwork
Adult employees other than PACCT staff: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at HEW Level 1.1
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$27.24 | 125%$34.05 |
| Afternoon & night | 115%$31.33 | 140%$38.14 |
| Non-rotating night | 130%$35.41 | 155%$42.22 |
| Saturday | 150%$40.86 | 175%$47.67 |
| Sunday | 200%$54.48 | 225%$61.29 |
Adult PACCT staff: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at HEW Level 1.1
| When | Full-time and part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$28.16 | 125%$35.20 |
| Afternoon & night | 115%$32.38 | 140%$39.42 |
| Non-rotating night | 130%$36.61 | 155%$43.65 |
| Saturday | 150%$42.24 | 175%$49.28 |
| Sunday | 200%$56.32 | 225%$63.36 |
Overtime
Adult full-time and part-time employees other than PACCT staff: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at HEW Level 1.1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$40.86 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$54.48 |
| Sunday | 200%$54.48 |
| Public holiday | 250%$68.10 |
Adult full-time and part-time PACCT staff: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at HEW Level 1.1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday first 3 hours | 150%$42.24 |
| Monday to Saturday after 3 hours | 200%$56.32 |
| Sunday | 200%$56.32 |
| Public holiday | 250%$70.40 |
Allowances paid on top
31 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 3 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepover allowance, - (permanently residing on campus) is required to sleep-over at the employer's premises for a period outside the employee's ordinary hours of duty - Sleep-over period will not commence prior to 10.00 pm In addition to this allowance, an employee will be paid as follows: - for work less than one hour, nil - for work more than one hour, in accordance with overtime provisionsClause C.1.2 | $59.67 per occurrance | |
| Boiler repairs, if inside, - Where working on repairs to smoke-boxes, fire-boxes, furnaces or flues of boilers - Where engaged on repairs to oil fired boilers (including castings, uptakes and funnels or flues and smoke stacks)Clause C.1.3 | $1.69 an hour | |
| Building services staff; maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters); and trades staff (excluding plumbers): Hot work, 46°C to 54°C, - Where employees are required to work for one or more hours in places where the temperature is raised by artificial means to between 46°C and 54°CClause C.1.3 | $0.56 an hour | |
| Building services staff; maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters); and trades staff: Cold work, - Where employees are required to work one or more hours in places where the temperature is reduced by artificial means below 0°C - Where the work continues for 2 or more hours employees will be entitled to a rest period of 20 minutes every 2 hours (without loss of pay)Clause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Building services staff; security staff; storage services; and trades staff: First aid, Where an employee is the current holder of appropriate first aid qualifications (St John Ambulance) and the employer has formally appointed the employee to act as the first aid attendantClause C.1.3 | $16.30 a week | |
| Catering and retail staff; and security staff: Broken shift | ||
| Maximum per week, When an employee is required to work a shift in 2 periods of dutyClause C.1.3 | $15.51 a week | |
| Per day, When an employee is required to work a shift in 2 periods of dutyClause C.1.3 | $3.15 a day | |
| Hot work, 54°C and over, - In places where the temperature exceeds 54°C - Where the work continues for 2 or more hours in temperatures exceeding 54°C employees will be entitled to a rest period of 20 minutes every 2 hours (without loss of pay)Clause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of builders labourers): Lifting | ||
| 5.5–9kg blocks, - Where required to lift blocks (other than cindrete blocks for plugging purposes) - Employees will not be required to lift blocks in excess of 20kg unless they are provided with a mechanical aid or with an assisting employeeClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| 9–18kg blocks, - Where required to lift blocks (other than cindrete blocks for plugging purposes) - Employees will not be required to lift blocks in excess of 20kg unless they are provided with a mechanical aid or with an assisting employeeClause C.1.3 | $1.24 an hour | |
| More than 18kg blocks, - Where required to lift blocks (other than cindrete blocks for plugging purposes) - Employees will not be required to lift blocks in excess of 20kg unless they are provided with a mechanical aid or with an assisting employeeClause C.1.3 | $1.80 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners); and trades staff (excluding plumbers): Wet work, Where employees are working in any place where their clothing becomes saturated by water, oil or another substance they must be paid the allowance for every hour so engaged unless supplied with protective clothing and/or footwearClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners); and trades staff: Explosive power tools, Where required to operate explosive power toolsClause C.1.3 | $1.69 a day | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners); and trades staff: Insulation materials, Where employees are handling charcoal, pumice, granulated cork, silicate of cotton, insulwool, slag wool, or other recognized insulating material of a like nature, associated with similar disabilities in its useClause C.1.3 | $0.90 per hour or part thereof | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Asbestos, Where required to wear protective equipment as required by the appropriate occupational health authority for the handling of materials containing asbestos or working in close proximity to employees handling such materialsClause C.1.3 | $0.90 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Bitumen work, Where handling hot bitumen or asphalt or dipping materials in creosoteClause C.1.3 | $0.90 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Coloured mortar, Where engaged in the use of coloured additives in mortarClause C.1.3 | $0.79 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Grindstone, Where grindstone or wheel is not made available by the employerClause C.1.3 | $7.19 a week | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Roofing repairs, Where engaged in repairs to roofsClause C.1.3 | $0.90 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters or joiners): Second-hand timber, - Where working with second-hand timber and the employee's tools are damaged by nail, dumps or other foreign matter on the timber - Damage must be immediately reported to their supervisorClause C.1.3 | $2.70 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters); and trades staff (excluding linespersons, riggers and splicers): Height, - Where an employee is working in any structure at a height exceeding 9 m where an adequate fixed support (not less than 0.75 m wide) is not provided - Allowance does not apply if the employee is working in a bosun's swing stageClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters); and trades staff (excluding plumbers): Dirty work, Where an employee and supervisor agree that work is of an unusually dirty or offensive natureClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters): Computing quantities, Where regularly required to compute or estimate quantities of materials in respect of the work performed by other employeesClause C.1.3 | $5.06 per day or part thereof | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters): Toxic substances, - Employees engaged in preparation and/or application of epoxy based materials, materials of a like nature or toxic materials - Employees in close proximity to other employees so engagedClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Maintenance staff (inclusive only of painters): Certificate, Where the employee holds a scaffolding certificate or rigging certificate and is required to act on that certificate whilst engaged in work requiring a certified personClause C.1.3 | $0.67 an hour | |
| Security staff: Relieving officer, Where appointed as a relieving officer (relieves at short notice another security officer, a display roster is not required and 24 hours' notice of shift will be given where possible)Clause C.1.3 | $33.04 a week | |
| Trades staff (excluding plumbers and electricians): Boiler repairs, base, - Where working on repairs to smoke-boxes, fire-boxes, furnaces or flues of boilers - Where engaged on repairs to oil fired boilers (including castings, uptakes and funnels or flues and smoke stacks)Clause C.1.3 | $0.45 an hour | |
| Trades staff (excluding plumbers): Confined spaces, - Where working in a confined space (dimensions necessitate working in stooped/cramped position, without proper ventilation) - Confined spaces include boilers steam drums, mud drums, fire boxes of vertical or road vehicle boilers, furnaces, flues combustion chambers, receivers, buoys, tanks, superheaters or economizersClause C.1.3 | $0.79 an hour | |
| Trades staff: Leading hand | ||
| 11–20 employees, Where the leading hand is in charge of 11–20 employeesClause C.1.3 | $53.94 a week | |
| 3–10 employees, Where the leading hand is in charge of 3–10 employeesClause C.1.3 | $34.16 a week | |
| More than 20 employees, Where the leading hand is in charge of more than 20 employeesClause C.1.3 | $68.55 a week | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount |
|---|---|
| Overtime meal allowanceClause C.2.1 | $21.63 per occurence |
| Compensation for damage to clothing and personal effectsClause C.2.2 | $359.36 maximum |
| Compensation for toolsClause C.2.2 | $1,239.00 maximum |
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—General Staff—Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $27.24 an hour ($1,035.01 a week full time), for HEW Level 1.1. The highest adult classification is $53.83 an hour.
- How does the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $27.24 an hour, 3.0% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 30 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 4.77%, from $26.00 to $27.24 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—General Staff—Award?
- 34 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a sleepover allowance, - (permanently residing on campus) is required to sleep-over at the employer's premises for a period outside the employee's ordinary hours of duty - Sleep-over period will not commence prior to 10.00 pm In addition to this allowance, an employee will be paid as follows: - for work less than one hour, nil - for work more than one hour, in accordance with overtime provisions of $59.67 per occurrance, a boiler repairs, if inside, - Where working on repairs to smoke-boxes, fire-boxes, furnaces or flues of boilers - Where engaged on repairs to oil fired boilers (including castings, uptakes and funnels or flues and smoke stacks) of $1.69 an hour and a building services staff; maintenance staff (inclusive only of carpenters, joiners and painters); and trades staff (excluding plumbers): Hot work, 46°C to 54°C, - Where employees are required to work for one or more hours in places where the temperature is raised by artificial means to between 46°C and 54°C of $0.56 an hour. 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.