Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award pay rates
Award code MA000072, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 22 adult classifications under the Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $27.95 to $39.81 an hour before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$27.95an hour
For Trainee (level 1). $978.10 for a full-time week. Up 6.03% from $26.36.
Its lowest adult rate is $27.95 an hour, 5.7% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 19 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- Level 1, Year 1Clerical$29.28
- Level 1, Year 2Clerical$30.66
- Level 1, Year 3Clerical$31.61
- Level 2, Year 1Clerical$31.97
- Level 2, Year 2Clerical$32.57
- Level 3Clerical$33.77
- Level 4Clerical$35.47
- Level 5Clerical$36.91
- Trainee (level 1)Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminals$27.95
- Operator (competent) (level 2)Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminals$29.19
- Operator (advanced) (level 3)Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminals$30.48
- Specialist blender (level 4)Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminals$31.79
- Head operator (level 5)Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminals$33.12
- Tradesperson (level 1)Maintenance$31.97
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- Advanced tradesperson (level 2)Maintenance$34.11
- Dual trade tradesperson (level 3)Maintenance$36.59
- Maintenance co-ordinator (level 4)Maintenance$38.12
- Trainee operator (level 1)Refinery operations$28.21
- Outside operator (level 2)Refinery operations$30.55
- Advanced outside operator (level 3)Refinery operations$33.15
- Console operator (level 4)Refinery operations$36.88
- Head operator (level 5)Refinery operations$39.81
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, Year 1.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$29.28 |
| Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.92 |
| Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.56 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Public holiday | 300%$87.84 |
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.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| ClericalLevel 1, Year 1 | $1,024.70 | $29.28 |
| ClericalLevel 1, Year 2 | $1,073.10 | $30.66 |
| ClericalLevel 1, Year 3 | $1,106.20 | $31.61 |
| ClericalLevel 2, Year 1 | $1,119.10 | $31.97 |
| ClericalLevel 2, Year 2 | $1,139.90 | $32.57 |
| ClericalLevel 3 | $1,182.10 | $33.77 |
| ClericalLevel 4 | $1,241.40 | $35.47 |
| ClericalLevel 5 | $1,291.80 | $36.91 |
| Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminalsTrainee (level 1) | $978.10 | $27.95 |
| Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminalsOperator (competent) (level 2) | $1,021.70 | $29.19 |
| Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminalsOperator (advanced) (level 3) | $1,066.80 | $30.48 |
| Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminalsSpecialist blender (level 4) | $1,112.70 | $31.79 |
| Lubricants/bitumen plants and terminalsHead operator (level 5) | $1,159.20 | $33.12 |
| MaintenanceTradesperson (level 1) | $1,119.10 | $31.97 |
| MaintenanceAdvanced tradesperson (level 2) | $1,193.90 | $34.11 |
| MaintenanceDual trade tradesperson (level 3) | $1,280.50 | $36.59 |
| MaintenanceMaintenance co-ordinator (level 4) | $1,334.20 | $38.12 |
| Refinery operationsTrainee operator (level 1) | $987.40 | $28.21 |
| Refinery operationsOutside operator (level 2) | $1,069.10 | $30.55 |
| Refinery operationsAdvanced outside operator (level 3) | $1,160.20 | $33.15 |
| Refinery operationsConsole operator (level 4) | $1,290.90 | $36.88 |
| Refinery operationsHead operator (level 5) | $1,393.50 | $39.81 |
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, Clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Level 1, Year 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$29.28 |
| Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.92 |
| Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.56 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Public holiday | 300%$87.84 |
Full-time and part-time employees: other than shiftworkers, ordinary and penalty rates, Non-clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Trainee (level 1)
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$29.23 |
| Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.85 |
| Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.46 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.46 |
| Public holiday | 300%$87.69 |
Shiftwork
Shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates, Clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Level 1, Year 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Afternoon & night | 115%$33.67 |
| Permanent afternoon | 120%$35.14 |
| Permanent night | 130%$38.06 |
| Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.92 |
| Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.56 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Public holiday | 300%$87.84 |
Shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates, Non-clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Trainee (level 1)
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Afternoon & night | 115%$33.61 |
| Permanent afternoon | 120%$35.08 |
| Permanent night | 130%$38.00 |
| Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.85 |
| Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.46 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.46 |
| Public holiday | 300%$87.69 |
Overtime
Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates, Clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Level 1, Year 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.92 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.56 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Public holiday | 250%$73.20 |
Full-time and part-time employees other than shiftworkers: overtime rates, Non-clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Trainee (level 1)
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.85 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.46 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.46 |
| Public holiday | 250%$73.08 |
Shiftworkers: overtime rates, Clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Level 1, Year 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.92 |
| Continuous shift worker, Monday to Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.56 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.56 |
| Public holiday | 250%$73.20 |
Shiftworkers: overtime rates, Non-clerical employees
Dollars an hour at Trainee (level 1)
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours | 150%$43.85 |
| Continuous shift worker, Monday to Sunday | 200%$58.46 |
| Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours | 200%$58.46 |
| Sunday | 200%$58.46 |
| Public holiday | 250%$73.08 |
Allowances paid on top
5 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Industry allowance, other than clerical employeesCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 19.2(b) | $44.76 a week | |
| First aid allowanceClause 19.2(c) | $22.38 a week | |
| Leading hand in charge of | ||
| 11 to 20 employeesClause 19.2(d) | $62.67 a week | |
| 3 to 10 employeesClause 19.2(d) | $49.24 a week | |
| More than 20 employeesClause 19.2(d) | $84.27 a week | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount |
|---|---|
| Meal allowance, overtimeClause 19.3(a)(i) | $19.14 each time |
| Vehicle allowanceClause 19.3(c) | $1.00 a km |
| Tool allowanceClause 19.3(d) | $17.90 a week |
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 Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $27.95 an hour ($978.10 a week full time), for Trainee (level 1). The highest adult classification is $39.81 an hour.
- How does the Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $27.95 an hour, 5.7% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 19 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.03%, from $26.36 to $27.95 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.
- What are Sunday rates under the Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 200% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $58.56 an hour at Level 1, Year 1. Public holidays are 300%.
- What allowances are paid under the Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award?
- 8 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including an industry allowance, other than clerical employees of $44.76 a week, a first aid allowance of $22.38 a week and a leading hand in charge of, 11 to 20 employees of $62.67 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.