Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award pay rates
Award code MA000130, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 28 adult classifications under the Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award 2015, from 1 July 2026: $1,004.90 to $1,253.20 a week before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$1,004.90a week
For Not otherwise specified. Up 6.00% from $948.00.
Its lowest adult rate is $1,004.90 a week, the same as the National Minimum Wage. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 14 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- Pre press operator 1100$1,119.10
- Printing machinist 1100$1,119.10
- Pre press operator 2105$1,154.30
- Printing machinist 2105$1,154.30
- Printing machinist 3110$1,189.00
- Printing machinist 4120$1,253.20
- Production assistant 185$1,013.50
- Production assistant 292.5$1,063.40
- Publishing operator98.5$1,105.20
- Adelaide and Hobart100$1,119.10
- Compositor / Ad builder [#t]100$1,119.10
- Hobart Only100$1,119.10
- Maintenance tradesperson [#t]100$1,119.10
- Motor mechanic [#t]100$1,119.10
- Printing electrician [#t]100$1,119.10
- Printing engineer [#t]100$1,119.10
- Printing machinist [#t]100$1,119.10
- Tradesmen100$1,119.10
- Technician111.6$1,197.50
- Senior technician117.4$1,237.80
- Not otherwise specified80$1,004.90
- Other publishing duties not otherwise specified84$1,006.90
- Proof readers assistant84$1,006.90
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Fork-lift or Crane driver (Adelaide and Hobart)85$1,013.50
- Marker and/or Label hand85$1,013.50
- Under wrapper / Wire tyer operator85$1,013.50
- Counter stacker operator86.2$1,021.50
- Motor driver86.2$1,021.50
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.
Advertiser Newspapers Mile End SiteClause 20.1
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| 100Pre press operator 1 | $1,119.10 |
| 100Printing machinist 1 | $1,119.10 |
| 105Pre press operator 2 | $1,154.30 |
| 105Printing machinist 2 | $1,154.30 |
| 110Printing machinist 3 | $1,189.00 |
| 120Printing machinist 4 | $1,253.20 |
| 85Production assistant 1 | $1,013.50 |
| 92.5Production assistant 2 | $1,063.40 |
| 98.5Publishing operator | $1,105.20 |
Davies Brothers and Adelaide City SiteClause 20.2(a)
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| 100Adelaide and Hobart | $1,119.10 |
| 100Compositor / Ad builder [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Hobart Only | $1,119.10 |
| 100Maintenance tradesperson [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Motor mechanic [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Printing electrician [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Printing engineer [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Printing machinist [#t] | $1,119.10 |
| 100Tradesmen | $1,119.10 |
| 111.6Technician | $1,197.50 |
| 117.4Senior technician | $1,237.80 |
| 80Not otherwise specified | $1,004.90 |
| 84Other publishing duties not otherwise specified | $1,006.90 |
| 84Proof readers assistant | $1,006.90 |
| 85Fork-lift or Crane driver (Adelaide and Hobart) | $1,013.50 |
| 85Marker and/or Label hand | $1,013.50 |
| 85Under wrapper / Wire tyer operator | $1,013.50 |
| 86.2Counter stacker operator | $1,021.50 |
| 86.2Motor driver | $1,021.50 |
The Commission's pay database has no penalty, overtime or casual rates for this award, so they aren't shown here. They're in the award itself, linked below.
Juniors, apprentices and other arrangements
Rates that depend on age, training or another arrangement. Open a group to see its rates.
National Training Wage - Full-time traineeships - Wage Level ATrainee ratesClause E.5.1(a)15 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $432.30 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $476.00 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $566.20 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $658.90 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $766.80 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $877.80 |
| Year 11School leaver | $476.00 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $566.20 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $658.90 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $766.80 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $877.80 |
| Year 12School leaver | $566.20 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $658.90 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $766.80 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $877.80 |
National Training Wage - Full-time traineeships - Wage Level BTrainee ratesClause E.5.1(b)15 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $432.30 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $476.00 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $551.70 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $634.70 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $744.40 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $848.90 |
| Year 11School leaver | $476.00 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $551.70 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $634.70 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $744.40 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $848.90 |
| Year 12School leaver | $551.70 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $634.70 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $744.40 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $848.90 |
National Training Wage - Full-time traineeships - Wage Level CTrainee ratesClause E.5.1(c)15 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $432.30 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $476.00 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $551.70 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $623.90 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $697.00 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $776.40 |
| Year 11School leaver | $476.00 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $551.70 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $623.90 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $697.00 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $776.40 |
| Year 12School leaver | $551.70 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $623.90 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $697.00 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $776.40 |
National Training Wage - AQF Certificate Level IV traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause E.5.1(d)(ii)6 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| First year of traineeshipWage level C | $805.90 |
| First year of traineeshipWage level B | $881.20 |
| First year of traineeshipWage level A | $911.10 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level C | $836.40 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level B | $914.70 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level A | $945.70 |
National Training Wage - Part-time traineeships - Wage Level ATrainee ratesClause E.5.2(a)15 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $14.21 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $15.66 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $18.61 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $21.67 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $25.21 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $28.88 |
| Year 11School leaver | $15.66 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $18.61 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $21.67 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $25.21 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $28.88 |
| Year 12School leaver | $18.61 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $21.67 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $25.21 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $28.88 |
National Training Wage - Part-time traineeships - Wage Level BTrainee ratesClause E.5.2(b)15 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $14.21 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $15.66 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $18.16 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $20.88 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $24.49 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $27.93 |
| Year 11School leaver | $15.66 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $18.16 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $20.88 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $24.49 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $27.93 |
| Year 12School leaver | $18.16 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $20.88 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $24.49 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $27.93 |
National Training Wage - Part-time traineeships - Wage Level CTrainee ratesClause E.5.2(c)15 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Year 10School leaver | $14.21 |
| Year 10Plus 1 year out of school | $15.66 |
| Year 10Plus 2 years out of school | $18.16 |
| Year 10Plus 3 years out of school | $20.51 |
| Year 10Plus 4 years out of school | $22.93 |
| Year 10Plus 5 or more years out of school | $25.53 |
| Year 11School leaver | $15.66 |
| Year 11Plus 1 year out of school | $18.16 |
| Year 11Plus 2 years out of school | $20.51 |
| Year 11Plus 3 years out of school | $22.93 |
| Year 11Plus 4 years out of school | $25.53 |
| Year 12School leaver | $18.16 |
| Year 12Plus 1 year out of school | $20.51 |
| Year 12Plus 2 years out of school | $22.93 |
| Year 12Plus 3 years out of school | $25.53 |
National Training Wage - School-based traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause E.5.2(d)2 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Year 11 or lower | $14.21 |
| Year 12 | $15.66 |
National Training Wage - AQF Certificate Level IV traineeshipsTrainee ratesClause E.5.2(e)(ii)6 rates
| Classification | Hourly |
|---|---|
| First year of traineeshipWage level C | $26.51 |
| First year of traineeshipWage level B | $28.99 |
| First year of traineeshipWage level A | $29.98 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level C | $27.52 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level B | $30.08 |
| Second and subsequent year of traineeshipWage level A | $31.10 |
Allowances paid on top
1 allowance is for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 2 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 |
|---|---|
| MotorClause 21.7(c) | $1.50 each rest stop |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Meal | ||
| MealClause 21.3 | $18.50 each time | |
| OvertimeClause 28.4(d) | $22.49 each time | |
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 Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $1,004.90 a week, for Not otherwise specified. The highest adult classification is $1,253.20 a week. Trainee rates, further down, can be lower.
- How does the Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $1,004.90 a week, the same as the National Minimum Wage. Of the 25 awards that set weekly rates, 14 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.00%, from $948.00 to $1,004.90 a week, 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 Metropolitan Newspapers (South Australia and Tasmania) Printing Award?
- 3 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a motor of $1.50 each rest stop. 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.