Timber Industry Award pay rates
Award code MA000071, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 24 adult classifications under the Timber Industry Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $25.74 to $33.06 an hour before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$25.74an hour
For Level 1. $978.10 for a full-time week. Up 6.01% from $24.28. Casuals get $32.18 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 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 1General Timber Stream$25.74
- Level 2General Timber Stream$26.44
- Level 3General Timber Stream$27.08
- Level 4General Timber Stream$27.97
- Level 5General Timber Stream$29.45
- Level 6General Timber Stream$30.38
- Level 7General Timber Stream$32.13
- Level 1Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$25.74
- Level 2Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$26.44
- Level 3Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$27.08
- Level 4Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$27.97
- Level 4AWood and Timber Furniture Stream$28.43
- Level 5Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$29.45
- Level 6Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$30.38
- Level 7Wood and Timber Furniture Stream$32.13
- Level 1Pulp and Paper Stream$26.67
- Level 2Pulp and Paper Stream$27.55
- Level 3Pulp and Paper Stream$28.09
- Level 4Pulp and Paper Stream$28.62
- Level 5Pulp and Paper Stream$29.45
- Level 6Pulp and Paper Stream$30.38
- Level 7Pulp and Paper Stream$31.30
- Level 8Pulp and Paper Stream$32.13
- Level 9Pulp and Paper Stream$33.06
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.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 100%$25.74 |
| Saturday | 150%$38.61 |
| Sunday | 200%$51.48 |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 |
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.
General Timber StreamClause 20.1(a)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Timber StreamLevel 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 3 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 4 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| General Timber StreamLevel 7 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
Wood and Timber Furniture StreamClause 20.1(b)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 1 | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 2 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 3 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 4 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 4A | $1,080.20 | $28.43 | $35.54 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Wood and Timber Furniture StreamLevel 7 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
Pulp and Paper StreamClause 20.1(c)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 1 | $1,013.50 | $26.67 | $33.34 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 2 | $1,046.90 | $27.55 | $34.44 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 3 | $1,067.30 | $28.09 | $35.11 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 4 | $1,087.40 | $28.62 | $35.78 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 5 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 6 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 7 | $1,189.40 | $31.30 | $39.13 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 8 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Pulp and Paper StreamLevel 9 | $1,256.20 | $33.06 | $41.33 |
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 day workers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 100%$25.74 |
| Saturday | 150%$38.61 |
| Sunday | 200%$51.48 |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 |
Casual dayworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 125%$32.18 |
| Public Holiday | 275%$70.79 |
Shiftwork
Full-time and part-time shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 100%$25.74 |
| Afternoon & night-rotating | 115%$29.60 |
| Night-non-rotating | 130%$33.46 |
| Saturday | 150%$38.61 |
| Sunday & public holiday | 200%$51.48 |
Casual shiftworkers: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | 125%$32.18 |
| Afternoon & night rotating | 140%$36.04 |
| Night-non-rotating | 155%$39.90 |
| Saturday | 175%$45.05 |
| Sunday & public holiday | 225%$57.92 |
Overtime
Full-time and part-time day workers: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - First 2 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Monday to Saturday - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Sunday | 200%$51.48 |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 |
Full-time and part-time pulp and paper stream shiftworkers: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All overtime hours | 200%$53.34 |
Full-time and part-time shiftworkers other than pulp and paper stream employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Non-continuous shiftworkers - First 2 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Continuous shiftworkers | 200%$51.48 |
| Non-continuous shiftworkers - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
Casual dayworkers: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday - First 2 hours | 150%$48.27 |
| Monday to Saturday - After 2 hours | 200%$64.36 |
| Sunday | 200%$64.36 |
Allowances paid on top
19 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 8 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-byClause 14.3(p)(iii) | $11.32 an hour | |
| Forest workCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.3(a) | $35.81 a week | |
| Low loaderCounts towards overtime and penalty ratesClause 22.4(a) | $1.90 per each additional complete tonne | |
| Leading hand supervising | ||
| 2 to 6 employeesClause 22.5(a) | $36.93 a week | |
| More than 6 employeesClause 22.5(b) | $57.07 a week | |
| Cleaning of boilers and associated equipmentClause 22.6 | $2.24 an hour | |
| Repairs inside boilers and associated equipmentClause 22.7 | $1.68 an hour | |
| Additional allowances for engine drivers/firemen | ||
| Cleaner, greaser or oiler, under supervision of engine driver, who stops or starts engineClause 22.8(a) | $47.00 a week | |
| Driver, where 2 or more fork-lifts or cranes engaged on one liftClause 22.8(a) | $4.48 a day | |
| In charge of plantClause 22.8(a) | $47.00 a week | |
| First aidClause 22.9 | $22.38 a week | |
| Charred timberClause 22.10 | $7.83 a day | |
| Dirty workClause 22.11 | $3.69 a day | |
| Wet placesClause 22.12(a) | $0.67 per part of day/shift whilst so engaged | |
| Hot work | ||
| Between 46°C and 54°CClause 22.13(a)(i) | $0.67 an hour | |
| In excess of 54°CClause 22.13(a)(ii) | $1.12 an hour | |
| Cold places, below 0°CClause 22.14(a) | $0.67 an hour | |
| Confined spacesClause 22.15 | $0.90 per hour or part thereof | |
| Height moneyClause 22.16 | $2.24 per day or shift or part thereof | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| VehicleClause 23.2(a) | $1.00 a km | |
| Meal, overtimeClause 23.3(a) | $19.14 a meal | |
| Tools | ||
| MillwrightClause 23.4(a) | $5.76 a week | |
| Utility personClause 23.4(a) | $4.44 a week | |
| Furnishing employee, tradespersonClause 23.4(b)(i) | $17.53 a week | |
| Furnishing employee, insurance, a maximum amount ofClause 23.4(b)(ii) | $868.30 maximum | |
| Camping (including firefighters) | ||
| Maximum per week, a maximum amount ofClause 23.5 | $225.36 a week | |
| Per working dayClause 23.5 | $32.19 a day | |
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 Timber Industry Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week full time), for Level 1. The highest adult classification is $33.06 an hour.
- How does the Timber Industry Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Timber Industry Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.01%, from $24.28 to $25.74 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 Timber Industry Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements. For Level 1 that makes $32.18 an hour.
- What are Sunday rates under the Timber Industry Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 200% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $51.48 an hour at Level 1. Public holidays are 250%. Casual rates are in the penalty tables above.
- What allowances are paid under the Timber Industry Award?
- 27 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a stand-by of $11.32 an hour, a forest work of $35.81 a week and a low loader of $1.90 per each additional complete tonne. 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.