Key takeaways
- Level 1 Year 1 is $26.97 an hour ($1,024.70 a week), or $33.71 as a casual.
- Full-time Level 1 Year 1 keeps $878.70 a week after $146 of tax is withheld, or $768.70 if it is your second job.
- Ordinary Saturday hours end at 12.30pm. After that it is overtime, not a Saturday rate.
- Sunday is double time ($53.94 at Level 1 Year 1) and a public holiday 250%.
- Clerical experience with a previous employer counts toward your year step.
- Juniors are paid 45% of the adult rate under 16, rising to 90% at 20, at every level.
Rates: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 [MA000002], published 24 June 2026, for the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Tax: ATO Schedule 1 withholding tables (NAT 1004), resident, tax-free threshold claimed, no study loan unless stated. These are award minimums; an enterprise agreement or your contract can pay more.
Clerks Award pay rates 2026-27 by level
Levels 1 and 2 step up with each year of service; Levels 3 to 5 are flat. Two call centre classifications have their own rates. Part-timers are paid the hourly rate for their hours. The last two columns show what a full-time week leaves after the ATO weekly tax table, and the hourly to salary calculator turns any rate into a yearly figure.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly | Tax withheld a week | Take-home a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Year 1 | $1,024.70 | $26.97 | $33.71 | $146 | $878.70 |
| Level 1 Year 2 | $1,073.10 | $28.24 | $35.30 | $161 | $912.10 |
| Level 1 Year 3 | $1,106.20 | $29.11 | $36.39 | $172 | $934.20 |
| Level 2 Year 1 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $176 | $943.10 |
| Level 2 Year 2 | $1,139.90 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $183 | $956.90 |
| Level 3 | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $197 | $985.10 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | $1,190.40 | $31.33 | $39.16 | $199 | $991.40 |
| Level 4 | $1,241.40 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $216 | $1,025.40 |
| Level 5 | $1,291.80 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $232 | $1,059.80 |
| Call centre technical associate | $1,415.10 | $37.24 | $46.55 | $271 | $1,144.10 |
Enter your hourly rate and your real hours. The calculator applies the same ATO tables and shows weekly, fortnightly and yearly take-home, super and your tax bracket.
Open the take-home pay calculatorHow much tax comes out of a Clerks Award pay
Your employer can pay weekly or fortnightly, or monthly by agreement, and withholds tax each pay from the ATO's Schedule 1 tables. For a full-time Level 1 Year 1 employee who has claimed the tax-free threshold:
| Pay cycle | Gross pay | Tax withheld | In your account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $1,024.70 | $146 | $878.70 |
| Fortnightly | $2,049.40 | $292 | $1,757.40 |
| Monthly | $4,440.37 | $633 | $3,807.37 |
As a second job, on the no-threshold scale, $256 is withheld from the same week; the second job tax calculator runs that for any pair of jobs. The fortnightly tax calculator and monthly tax calculator work from any pay figure.
Weekly withholding runs slightly ahead of the real annual bill at every level. A full-time Level 1 Year 1 year of $53,284.40 costs $7,370.27 in tax and Medicare levy, while 52 weeks of withholding comes to $7,592, so $222 comes back when you lodge. On a 2-day part-time week the gap is wider: $7 a week is withheld from $409.94, although a year of those weeks carries $0.00 of actual tax. The tax refund calculator works out your own figure.
| Classification | Year's pay (52 weeks) | Tax and Medicare for the year | Take-home for the year | Withheld over the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Year 1 | $53,284.40 | $7,370.27 | $45,914.13 | $7,592 |
| Level 1 Year 2 | $55,801.20 | $8,213.40 | $47,587.80 | $8,372 |
| Level 1 Year 3 | $57,522.40 | $8,790.00 | $48,732.40 | $8,944 |
| Level 2 Year 1 | $58,193.20 | $9,014.72 | $49,178.48 | $9,152 |
| Level 2 Year 2 | $59,274.80 | $9,377.06 | $49,897.74 | $9,516 |
| Level 3 | $61,469.20 | $10,112.18 | $51,357.02 | $10,244 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | $61,900.80 | $10,256.77 | $51,644.03 | $10,348 |
| Level 4 | $64,552.80 | $11,145.19 | $53,407.61 | $11,232 |
| Level 5 | $67,173.60 | $12,015.55 | $55,158.05 | $12,064 |
| Call centre technical associate | $73,585.20 | $14,067.26 | $59,517.94 | $14,092 |
Every classification except one sits under the $69,528 study loan repayment threshold on 38 hours. The call centre technical associate ($73,585.20 a year) is over it, so with a HECS or HELP debt $283 a week is withheld instead of $271. The HECS repayment calculator shows the annual repayment. Employer super sits on top of every figure here: 12%, or $6,394.13 a year at full-time Level 1 Year 1.
Casual and part-time Clerks Award rates
Casual rates include the 25% loading, and the casual weekend, holiday and overtime rates are stated with the loading built in: 150% for Saturday morning, 225% for Sunday and 275% for a public holiday. A casual must be paid for at least 3 hours each engagement, and a part-timer rostered for at least 3 consecutive hours.
| Classification | Monday to Friday | Saturday to 12.30pm | Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Year 1 | $33.71 | $40.46 | $60.68 | $74.17 |
| Level 1 Year 2 | $35.30 | $42.36 | $63.54 | $77.66 |
| Level 1 Year 3 | $36.39 | $43.67 | $65.50 | $80.05 |
| Level 2 Year 1 | $36.81 | $44.18 | $66.26 | $80.99 |
| Level 2 Year 2 | $37.50 | $45.00 | $67.50 | $82.50 |
| Level 3 | $38.89 | $46.67 | $70.00 | $85.55 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | $39.16 | $47.00 | $70.49 | $86.16 |
| Level 4 | $40.84 | $49.01 | $73.51 | $89.84 |
| Level 5 | $42.49 | $50.99 | $76.48 | $93.47 |
| Call centre technical associate | $46.55 | $55.86 | $83.79 | $102.41 |
Four common admin and reception weeks, with days of 7.6 hours:
| Week | Gross | Withheld, main job | Take-home | Withheld, second job | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time, Level 2 Year 1, 3 days | $671.46 | $60 | $611.46 | $143 | $528.46 |
| Part-time, Level 1 Year 1, 2 days | $409.94 | $7 | $402.94 | $73 | $336.94 |
| Casual, Level 1 Year 1, 3 days | $768.59 | $77 | $691.59 | $174 | $594.59 |
| Casual, Level 2 Year 1, 3 days and Saturday morning | $1,015.99 | $143 | $872.99 | $253 | $762.99 |
The Saturday morning in the last row is inside the 7am to 12.30pm span, so it is ordinary time at the casual Saturday rate. The casual tax calculator shows how loading and penalties combine under other awards.
Saturday, Sunday and public holiday rates
For full-time and part-time day workers, ordinary Saturday hours are paid at 125%, Sunday at 200% and a public holiday at 250% of the minimum hourly rate. Sunday and public holiday work carries at least 4 hours' pay.
| Classification | Monday to Friday | Saturday to 12.30pm | Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Year 1 | $26.97 | $33.71 | $53.94 | $67.43 |
| Level 1 Year 2 | $28.24 | $35.30 | $56.48 | $70.60 |
| Level 1 Year 3 | $29.11 | $36.39 | $58.22 | $72.78 |
| Level 2 Year 1 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58.90 | $73.63 |
| Level 2 Year 2 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $60.00 | $75.00 |
| Level 3 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $62.22 | $77.78 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | $31.33 | $39.16 | $62.66 | $78.33 |
| Level 4 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $65.34 | $81.68 |
| Level 5 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $67.98 | $84.98 |
| Call centre technical associate | $37.24 | $46.55 | $74.48 | $93.10 |
What happens after 12.30pm on a Saturday
Ordinary hours can only be worked between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday and 7am and 12.30pm on Saturday (the span can move an hour either way by agreement). Saturday work after 12.30pm falls outside that span, so it is overtime: 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after. A full-time Level 1 Year 1 employee working 9am to 12.30pm, then 1pm to 3pm after an unpaid lunch, earns $117.99 for the 3.5 morning hours and $80.92 for the 2 afternoon hours at time and a half. Someone who has already worked 38 hours Monday to Friday gets at least 3 hours at overtime rates for Saturday work.
Shiftworkers, employed under the award's shiftwork clauses, are paid differently: 115% for afternoon and night shifts, 130% for permanent night shifts, and 150% for Saturday, Sunday and public holiday shifts.
Clerks Award overtime and time off in lieu
Overtime is time beyond 38 ordinary hours a week, beyond 10 ordinary hours in a day, outside the ordinary span, or for a part-timer beyond their agreed hours. Monday to Saturday it is 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after, calculated daily; Sunday overtime is 200% and public holiday overtime 250%. Casual overtime adds the 25% loading. Working through a meal break is paid at 200% until the break is given.
| Classification | First 2 hours | After 2 hours | Casual, first 2 hours | Casual, after 2 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Year 1 | $40.46 | $53.94 | $47.20 | $60.68 |
| Level 1 Year 2 | $42.36 | $56.48 | $49.42 | $63.54 |
| Level 1 Year 3 | $43.67 | $58.22 | $50.94 | $65.50 |
| Level 2 Year 1 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $51.54 | $66.26 |
| Level 2 Year 2 | $45.00 | $60.00 | $52.50 | $67.50 |
| Level 3 | $46.67 | $62.22 | $54.44 | $70.00 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | $47.00 | $62.66 | $54.83 | $70.49 |
| Level 4 | $49.01 | $65.34 | $57.17 | $73.51 |
| Level 5 | $50.99 | $67.98 | $59.48 | $76.48 |
| Call centre technical associate | $55.86 | $74.48 | $65.17 | $83.79 |
Time off instead of overtime pay must be agreed in writing, and under this award it is hour for hour: 2 hours of overtime earns 2 hours off, not 3. Time off not taken within 6 months is paid out at the overtime rate that applied when it was worked, and you can ask to be paid out at any time. The overtime pay calculator compares the two.
Which level am I? Clerical and admin roles
The award classifies you by the skill and competence the job requires, not by your job title, and your employer must tell you your classification in writing. Titles such as receptionist, bookkeeper or office manager do not appear in the award; the duties below are the award's own.
| Level | How the award describes it | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Initial recruits learning basic clerical skills under close direction: reception or switchboard, basic records, filing and copying, mail, matching and batching invoices and orders | $26.97 |
| Level 2 | Under general direction: reception plus responding to enquiries, word processing, reconciling accounts, payroll data, routine travel bookings and appointments | $29.45 |
| Level 3 | Specialised or non-routine tasks with only general guidance: banking reports and statements, wage and salary records, posting journals to the ledger, specialist processes in professional offices | $31.11 |
| Level 4 | Limited guidance, often supervising lower levels: executive and secretarial support, financial or tax schedules, personnel and payroll data, advice on employment conditions and super | $32.67 |
| Level 5 | Broad guidance, contributing to objectives: management reports, executive salary packages, the organisation's salary and payroll administration | $33.99 |
| Call centre principal customer contact specialist | Coach, mentor or senior staff member with a high degree of autonomy, resolving complex customer situations | $31.33 |
| Call centre technical associate | Designs, installs and manages telecommunications and data communications equipment | $37.24 |
Year steps. Level 1 has three yearly steps and Level 2 has two. Any service at the level, including administrative and clerical experience with a previous employer, counts toward a year, so a new job does not reset you to Year 1. Your employer can ask for reasonable evidence.
Receptionists. Reception and switchboard duties are Level 1 work; add responding to enquiries and the job is Level 2. Admin and accounts staff usually sit at Level 2 or 3 depending on whether the work is routine (reconciliations, payroll data) or specialised (ledgers, banking reports). Other call centre roles are placed in Levels 1 to 5 by their qualification, from trainee at Level 1 to team leader at Level 4.
Clerks Award junior rates
Employees under 21 are paid a percentage of the adult rate for their classification: 45% under 16, 50% at 16, 60% at 17, 70% at 18, 80% at 19 and 90% at 20. Unlike the Retail Award pay rates, the junior percentages apply at every level, and the 2026 junior rates decision does not change them. The first five classifications:
| Age, full-time and part-time | Level 1 Year 1 | Level 1 Year 2 | Level 1 Year 3 | Level 2 Year 1 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $12.13 | $12.71 | $13.10 | $13.25 | $14.00 |
| 16 | $13.48 | $14.12 | $14.56 | $14.73 | $15.55 |
| 17 | $16.18 | $16.94 | $17.47 | $17.67 | $18.66 |
| 18 | $18.88 | $19.77 | $20.38 | $20.62 | $21.78 |
| 19 | $21.57 | $22.59 | $23.29 | $23.56 | $24.89 |
| 20 | $24.27 | $25.42 | $26.20 | $26.51 | $28.00 |
| Age, casual | Level 1 Year 1 | Level 1 Year 2 | Level 1 Year 3 | Level 2 Year 1 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $15.16 | $15.89 | $16.38 | $16.56 | $17.50 |
| 16 | $16.85 | $17.65 | $18.20 | $18.41 | $19.44 |
| 17 | $20.23 | $21.18 | $21.84 | $22.09 | $23.33 |
| 18 | $23.60 | $24.71 | $25.48 | $25.78 | $27.23 |
| 19 | $26.96 | $28.24 | $29.11 | $29.45 | $31.11 |
| 20 | $30.34 | $31.78 | $32.75 | $33.14 | $35.00 |
Clerks Award allowances
| Allowance | Amount | Who gets it | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| First aid | $16.79 a week | Qualified employee appointed to do first aid duty | 19.2 |
| Laundry of a required uniform | $3.64 a week, or $0.73 a shift | Full-time, or part-time and casual | 19.4(d) |
| Meal, overtime of more than 1.5 hours without 24 hours’ notice | $20.75, plus $16.62 if it runs past 4 hours | Employee working the overtime | 19.5 |
| Own vehicle used for work | $1.00 a km by car, $0.34 a km by motorcycle, up to 400 km a week | At the employer’s requirement | 19.6 |
| Uniform, protective clothing and footwear | Cost reimbursed | Required uniform, or damaging or wet conditions | 19.4(a) to (c) |
| Living away from home | All fares, reasonable meals and accommodation, travel time at ordinary rates up to 8 hours in 24 | Temporary work that needs an overnight stay | 19.7 |
| Transport for shiftwork | Cost of a commercial passenger vehicle | Shiftworker starting or finishing outside normal times with no reasonable transport | 19.8 |
| Higher duties | The higher level’s minimum rate | Doing higher-level duties for more than one day | 19.3 |
Annual leave loading is 17.5%, or the weekend penalty rates you would have earned if higher; the annual leave loading guide covers the tax on it.
Who the Clerks Award covers, and who it doesn't
The Clerks Private Sector Award covers private sector employees wholly or principally doing clerical work: recording, typing, calculating, invoicing, billing, checking, answering calls, cash handling, reception and clerical administration. It does not cover employers whose own industry award has clerical classifications. The award names 22 of them, including the General Retail, Hospitality (General), Restaurant, Legal Services, Banking Finance and Insurance, Contract Call Centres, and Health Professionals and Support Services awards. So the receptionist at a pub is on the Hospitality Award pay rates, and the one at a medical practice is on the health professionals award. Public servants are on public sector instruments, not this award.
Are Clerks Award rates different in NSW, QLD, Victoria or WA?
No. It is a national award, so the rates above apply to private sector clerks in every state and territory. State public servants are paid under state instruments instead, which is why NSW and Queensland government clerical awards show up with different figures. In Western Australia, sole traders, partnerships, other unincorporated businesses and non-trading corporations sit in the WA state system rather than this award.
What changed in 2026
The 2026 Annual Wage Review lifted every Clerks Award rate by 4.75% from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Separately, on 27 August 2026 the Fair Work Commission decided to add a working from home term to the award and published a draft for comment. The draft lets an employee request, and an employer agree to, working from home, with flexibility on hours and breaks; it changes no rate, penalty or allowance. The next pay increase is due with the 2027 review, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What are the clerks' award pay rates for 2026?
How much will the Clerks private sector Award increase in 2026?
What are the key differences between the Level 1 and Level 2 Clerks Award classifications?
What award does a receptionist fall under?
What is the hourly rate for a receptionist in Australia?
Do clerks get paid more on a Saturday?
Are Sunday rates double pay under the Clerks Award?
Does experience with a previous employer count toward my Clerks Award year?
Sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay guide, Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 [MA000002] (published 24 June 2026; every rate, junior and allowance figure on this page)
- Fair Work Commission: Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (coverage 4, part-time and casual 10 and 11, ordinary hours 13, meal breaks 15, minimum rates, year steps and juniors 16, pay periods 17, allowances 19, overtime 21, time off instead 23, penalty rates 24, classifications Schedule A)
- Fair Work Commission: Working from home, Clerks Award decision issued (27 August 2026, [2026] FWCFB 225)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2026 (the 4.75% increase)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: The Fair Work system (who is in the national system, and the Western Australian exception)
- ATO: Schedule 1, statement of formulas for calculating amounts to be withheld (NAT 1004) and Schedule 8 (NAT 3539, the study loan component)
Related resources
Take-Home Pay Calculator
Your hourly rate and hours, after tax and super
Open →PAYG Calculator
Tax on any salary, any pay cycle, 2026-27
Open →Fortnightly Tax Calculator
Tax on a fortnightly pay
Open →Overtime Pay Calculator
Time and a half, double time and TOIL
Open →HECS Repayment Calculator
What a study loan adds to your withholding
Open →Retail Award Pay Rates
Every shop level for 2026-27, with take-home
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