Key takeaways
- Level 1 is $27.81 an hour ($1,056.80 a week). Casual Level 1 is $34.76, loading included.
- Full-time Level 1 keeps $900.80 a week after $156 of tax is withheld, or $789.80 if it is your second job.
- Weekday work after 6pm and Saturdays pay 125% ($34.76 at Level 1), Sundays 150% ($41.72). Casuals get 150% and 175%.
- Rates run from $27.81 (Level 1) to $33.99 (Level 8, manager of a shop with departments).
- From 1 December 2026, 18 and 19 year olds with more than 6 months of service move up toward the adult rate, reaching it by 1 July 2029.
- A casual shift must be paid for at least 3 hours.
Rates: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for the General Retail Industry Award 2020 [MA000004], published 24 June 2026, for the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Tax: ATO Schedule 1 weekly tax table (NAT 1004), resident, tax-free threshold claimed, no study loan. These are award minimums; an enterprise agreement or your contract can pay more.
Retail Award pay rates 2026-27 by level
The award sets a weekly rate for 38 ordinary hours and an hourly rate for each of its eight levels. 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.
| Level | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly | Tax withheld a week | Take-home a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,056.80 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $156 | $900.80 |
| Level 2 | $1,081.00 | $28.45 | $35.56 | $164 | $917.00 |
| Level 3 | $1,097.80 | $28.89 | $36.11 | $169 | $928.80 |
| Level 4 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $176 | $943.10 |
| Level 5 | $1,165.10 | $30.66 | $38.33 | $191 | $974.10 |
| Level 6 | $1,182.10 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $197 | $985.10 |
| Level 7 | $1,241.40 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $216 | $1,025.40 |
| Level 8 | $1,291.80 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $232 | $1,059.80 |
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 retail pay
Your employer withholds tax each pay using the ATO's Schedule 1 tables. On a full-time Level 1 week of $1,056.80, that is $156 when you have claimed the tax-free threshold. The threshold can only be claimed with one employer, so a second retail job is withheld on the no-threshold scale: $267 on the same week, leaving $789.80. The second job tax calculator runs that for any pair of jobs.
At these pay levels weekly withholding runs slightly ahead of the real annual bill. A full-time Level 1 year of $54,953.60 costs $7,929.46 in tax and Medicare levy, while 52 weeks of withholding comes to $8,112, so $183 comes back when you lodge. The gap is larger for part-timers and casuals, because the weekly table does not build in the whole low income tax offset: a casual working 20 weekday hours every week at Level 1 has $3,328 withheld over the year against $2,715.57 of actual tax, about $612 back. The tax refund calculator works out your own figure.
| Level | Year's pay (52 weeks) | Tax and Medicare for the year | Take-home for the year | Withheld over the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $54,953.60 | $7,929.46 | $47,024.14 | $8,112 |
| Level 2 | $56,212.00 | $8,351.02 | $47,860.98 | $8,528 |
| Level 3 | $57,085.60 | $8,643.68 | $48,441.92 | $8,788 |
| Level 4 | $58,193.20 | $9,014.72 | $49,178.48 | $9,152 |
| Level 5 | $60,585.20 | $9,816.04 | $50,769.16 | $9,932 |
| Level 6 | $61,469.20 | $10,112.18 | $51,357.02 | $10,244 |
| Level 7 | $64,552.80 | $11,145.19 | $53,407.61 | $11,232 |
| Level 8 | $67,173.60 | $12,015.55 | $55,158.05 | $12,064 |
Employer super sits on top: 12% of ordinary earnings, or $6,594.43 a year at full-time Level 1. For any other salary, the PAYG calculator gives the same annual breakdown.
Casual retail pay rates 2026-27
Retail casual rates already include the 25% loading, and the award states the casual evening, weekend and holiday rates as all-in percentages of the minimum hourly rate: 150% for weekday evenings and Saturday, 175% for Sunday and 250% for a public holiday. Do not add the loading on top of them.
| Level | Monday to Friday | After 6pm | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $34.76 | $41.72 | $41.72 | $48.67 | $69.53 |
| Level 2 | $35.56 | $42.68 | $42.68 | $49.79 | $71.13 |
| Level 3 | $36.11 | $43.34 | $43.34 | $50.56 | $72.23 |
| Level 4 | $36.81 | $44.18 | $44.18 | $51.54 | $73.63 |
| Level 5 | $38.33 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $53.66 | $76.65 |
| Level 6 | $38.89 | $46.67 | $46.67 | $54.44 | $77.78 |
| Level 7 | $40.84 | $49.01 | $49.01 | $57.17 | $81.68 |
| Level 8 | $42.49 | $50.99 | $50.99 | $59.48 | $84.98 |
Casual weeks rarely look alike, so here is what three common Level 1 weeks leave after tax. The second-job column applies when you have claimed the tax-free threshold with another employer.
| Level 1 casual week | Gross | Withheld, main job | Take-home | Withheld, second job | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours, Monday to Friday daytime | $695.20 | $64 | $631.20 | $150 | $545.20 |
| 8 hours Saturday and 8 hours Sunday | $723.12 | $69 | $654.12 | $159 | $564.12 |
| One 8-hour Sunday shift | $389.36 | $4 | $385.36 | $70 | $319.36 |
The casual tax calculator shows how the loading and penalty rates combine under awards that state them differently.
Evening, weekend and public holiday rates
For full-time and part-time staff, ordinary hours Monday to Friday after 6pm and all ordinary hours on Saturday are paid at 125% of the minimum hourly rate, Sunday at 150% and a public holiday at 225%.
| Level | Monday to Friday | After 6pm | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $34.76 | $41.72 | $62.57 |
| Level 2 | $28.45 | $35.56 | $35.56 | $42.68 | $64.01 |
| Level 3 | $28.89 | $36.11 | $36.11 | $43.34 | $65.00 |
| Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $36.81 | $44.18 | $66.26 |
| Level 5 | $30.66 | $38.33 | $38.33 | $45.99 | $68.99 |
| Level 6 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $38.89 | $46.67 | $70.00 |
| Level 7 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $40.84 | $49.01 | $73.51 |
| Level 8 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $42.49 | $50.99 | $76.48 |
Sunday rates
Sunday ordinary hours are 150% (175% for casuals), not double time. Swapping one 7.6-hour weekday for a Sunday lifts a full-time Level 1 week by $105.72 before tax, of which $34 is withheld. Double time applies to overtime on a Sunday.
Working after 6pm
The evening rate starts at 6pm and runs to the end of the ordinary span: 9pm Monday to Friday, or 11pm where the shop trades later. Work outside the span is overtime. Ordinary hours on Saturday run 7am to 6pm and on Sunday 9am to 6pm.
Public holidays
Ordinary hours on a public holiday are 225% ($62.57 at Level 1), or 250% for casuals ($69.53). A full-time or part-time employee can agree to ordinary pay plus a day off or an extra day of annual leave instead of the additional 125%.
A Level 1 casual's week, line by line
If this is a second job, $164 is withheld instead and $573.02 lands. To check each line on a real payslip, the payslip generator lays out the rates the way an employer must.
Retail Award overtime rates
Overtime is worked out day by day. For full-time staff it is time beyond their ordinary hours or outside the ordinary span; for part-timers, any time beyond their guaranteed hours; for casuals, time beyond 38 hours a week, beyond 9 hours in a day (11 on one day a week) or outside the span. Monday to Saturday it is 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% after that. Casual overtime adds the 25% loading to each rate.
| Level | First 3 hours | After 3 hours | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual, first 3 hours | Casual, after 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $41.72 | $55.62 | $55.62 | $69.53 | $48.67 | $62.57 |
| Level 2 | $42.68 | $56.90 | $56.90 | $71.13 | $49.79 | $64.01 |
| Level 3 | $43.34 | $57.78 | $57.78 | $72.23 | $50.56 | $65.00 |
| Level 4 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $58.90 | $73.63 | $51.54 | $66.26 |
| Level 5 | $45.99 | $61.32 | $61.32 | $76.65 | $53.66 | $68.99 |
| Level 6 | $46.67 | $62.22 | $62.22 | $77.78 | $54.44 | $70.00 |
| Level 7 | $49.01 | $65.34 | $65.34 | $81.68 | $57.17 | $73.51 |
| Level 8 | $50.99 | $67.98 | $67.98 | $84.98 | $59.48 | $76.48 |
Casual overtime on a Sunday is 225% and on a public holiday 275%. The overtime pay calculator handles time and a half, double time and time off in lieu. Staff employed specifically to do shiftwork (shifts starting at or after 6pm and before 5am) are paid under separate shiftwork rates: 130% Monday to Friday, 150% Saturday and 175% Sunday, or 155%, 175% and 200% for casuals.
Which retail level am I?
Your level depends on the skill your job requires, as set by your employer, and your employer must tell you your classification in writing. The job titles below are the award's own indicative titles for each level.
| Level | Job titles in the award | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Shop assistant; Check-out operator; Clerical assistant; Store worker; Trolley collector; Loss prevention officer; Driver; Store greeter; Demonstrator or merchandiser | $27.81 |
| Level 2 | Forklift operator; Ride on equipment operator | $28.45 |
| Level 3 | Senior salesperson or designated second-in-charge of a section; Second-in-charge to a department manager; Machine operator; Cook (not qualified) in a cafeteria; Senior loss prevention officer; Person employed alone, responsible for the security and general running of a shop | $28.89 |
| Level 4 | Assistant or second-in-charge manager of a shop without departments; Butcher, baker, pastry cook or florist using a trade qualification; Department or section manager with up to 2 employees; Qualified auto parts salesperson; Nightfill supervisor or leader; Service supervisor of up to 15 employees; Shiftwork supervisor | $29.45 |
| Level 5 | Tradesperson in charge of other tradespersons; Service supervisor of more than 15 employees | $30.66 |
| Level 6 | Department or section manager with 5 or more employees; Manager or duty manager of a shop without departments; Second-in-charge to the manager of a shop with departments; Clerical Officer Level 3 | $31.11 |
| Level 7 | Visual merchandiser (Diploma); Clerical Officer Level 4 | $32.67 |
| Level 8 | Manager of a shop with departments or sections; Clerical Officer Level 5 | $33.99 |
Level 1 may include a new recruit with limited experience. Level 4 may include someone who has completed an appropriate trade course or holds a Certificate III. The award names no level for a department manager with 3 or 4 employees: its Level 4 title covers up to 2 and Level 6 covers 5 or more, so check with Fair Work if that is you.
Retail Award junior rates
Employees under 21 at Levels 1 to 3 are paid a percentage of the adult rate: 45% under 16, 50% at 16, 60% at 17, 70% at 18 and 80% at 19. A 20-year-old gets 90% for their first 6 months with the employer and the full adult rate after that. Juniors at Level 4 and above get the adult rate.
| Age, full-time and part-time | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $12.51 | $12.80 | $13.00 |
| 16 | $13.91 | $14.22 | $14.44 |
| 17 | $16.69 | $17.07 | $17.33 |
| 18 | $19.47 | $19.91 | $20.22 |
| 19 | $22.25 | $22.76 | $23.11 |
| 20, employed 6 months or less | $25.03 | $25.60 | $26.00 |
| 20, employed more than 6 months | $27.81 | $28.45 | $28.89 |
| Age, casual | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | $15.64 | $16.00 | $16.25 |
| 16 | $17.39 | $17.78 | $18.05 |
| 17 | $20.86 | $21.34 | $21.66 |
| 18 | $24.34 | $24.89 | $25.28 |
| 19 | $27.81 | $28.45 | $28.89 |
| 20, employed 6 months or less | $31.29 | $32.00 | $32.50 |
| 20, employed more than 6 months | $34.76 | $35.56 | $36.11 |
The junior rate change from 1 December 2026
The Fair Work Commission's junior rates decision (determination PR813655, 26 August 2026) moves 18 and 19 year olds who have worked for their employer for more than 6 months to the adult rate in steps. Each step applies from the first full pay period on or after the date shown. Under-18s, and 18 to 20 year olds with 6 months or less, are unchanged.
| Age | 1 Dec 2026 | 1 Jul 2027 | 1 Dec 2027 | 1 Jul 2028 | 1 Dec 2028 | 1 Jul 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, employed more than 6 months | 75% | 80% | 85% | 90% | 95% | 100% |
| 19, employed more than 6 months | 85% | 90% | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
The first step in dollars, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026:
| Age | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 1 casual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18, employed more than 6 months | $20.86 | $21.34 | $21.67 | $26.08 |
| 19, employed more than 6 months | $23.64 | $24.18 | $24.56 | $29.55 |
On the tax side, a short school-age week often has nothing withheld: with the tax-free threshold claimed, withholding is nil up to $364 a week. A 16-year-old casual at Level 1 working 15 hours earns $260.85 and has $0 withheld. A junior who has tax withheld over the year and earns under the threshold gets it back by lodging a return.
Retail apprentice rates
Apprentice rates are a percentage of the Level 4 weekly rate ($1,119.10). Apprentices who completed Year 12 get a higher rate in the first two years. These apply to apprenticeships that started on or after 1 January 2014.
| Stage | Hourly | Hourly, completed Year 12 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | $14.73 | $16.20 |
| 2nd year | $17.67 | $19.14 |
| 3rd year | $23.56 | $23.56 |
| 4th year | $26.51 | $26.51 |
Adult apprentices (21 or over at the start) get at least $23.56 an hour in the 1st year and $27.81 an hour in the 2nd year onward.
Retail Award allowances
The allowances most retail staff will see, 2026-27 amounts from the pay guide:
| Allowance | Amount | Who gets it | Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, overtime of more than 1 hour without 24 hours notice | $24.56, plus $22.27 after 4 hours | All employees working the overtime | 19.2 |
| Laundry of required special clothing | $6.42 a week, or $1.28 a shift | Full-time, or part-time and casual | 19.3 |
| Own vehicle used for work | $1.00 a km | At the employer’s request | 19.7 |
| Cold work | $0.38 an hour, $0.97 below 0°C | Cold chambers and refrigerated stock | 19.9 |
| First aid | $14.55 a week | Appointed first aider | 19.10 |
| Liquor licence | $34.69 a week | Employee who holds the licence | 19.12 |
Full-time and part-time staff get 4 weeks of annual leave with a 17.5% loading; the annual leave loading guide covers how the Retail Award clause works, and the annual leave payout calculator works out the tax when unused leave is paid out.
Which award covers you: retail, fast food or hospitality?
The General Retail Industry Award covers the retail sale or hire of goods and services, including clothing, food, furniture and household goods, and personal and recreational goods. It does not cover community pharmacies, hair and beauty, stand-alone butchers and nurseries, warehousing and distribution, motor vehicle and fuel retailing, or restaurants, cafes, hotels, motels and fast food operations. Pubs and hotels are on the Hospitality Award pay rates page, and takeaway outlets on the Fast Food Award pay rates page. Office and clerical staff employed by a retailer are on the Retail Award too (its Levels 6 to 8 include clerical officers), not the Clerks Award pay rates. If your employer has a registered enterprise agreement, its rates apply instead of the award's.
Are retail award rates different in QLD, NSW, Victoria or WA?
No. The General Retail Industry Award is a national award, so the rates above apply in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory alike. The one exception is Western Australia, where sole traders, partnerships, other unincorporated businesses and non-trading corporations sit in the WA state system instead. Work for a WA shop run by a partnership and your rate comes from a WA state instrument, not this award.
What changed on 1 July 2026
The 2026 Annual Wage Review lifted every modern award rate by 4.75% from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, so every Retail Award rate on this page rose by that amount. The junior changes above come on top, from 1 December 2026. The next general 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 retail pay rates for 2026?
What is the hourly rate for a retail worker?
Do retail workers get paid more after 6pm?
How much will retail pay rise in 2026?
What is the retail casual pay rate for 2026?
Are Sunday rates double pay?
What is the hourly rate for a 17 year old in retail?
What is a level 1 retail employee?
What will be the award rates in Victoria in 2026?
What is the minimum wage in Australia for retail?
What is the minimum shift for a casual in retail?
Sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay guide, General Retail Industry Award 2020 [MA000004] (published 24 June 2026; every rate, junior, apprentice and allowance figure on this page)
- Fair Work Commission: General Retail Industry Award 2020 (coverage clause 4.2, minimum engagement 10.9 and 11.2, casual loading 11.1, ordinary hours 15, junior rates 17.2, apprentices 17.3 and 17.4, overtime 21.2, penalty rates 22.1, shiftwork 25, classifications Schedule A)
- Fair Work Commission: Determination PR813655 (26 August 2026, the junior rate steps from 1 December 2026 to 1 July 2029)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2026 (the 4.75% increase and the $26.44 national minimum wage)
- 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, the withholding figures)
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 →Casual Tax Calculator
Casual loading, weekend penalties and the tax on them
Open →Second Job Tax Calculator
What a second retail job really pays
Open →Overtime Pay Calculator
Time and a half, double time and TOIL
Open →Hospitality Award Pay Rates
Every pub and hotel level for 2026-27
Open →