Finding location
Finding location
Retail wages
Calculate your wage under the Retail Award.
Looking for a specific Award or Agreement?
You must be paid for ALL time worked.
This includes if you’ve been asked to start 5 or 10 minutes early or stay on late.
When you complete training for work – you must be paid for it.
Even if it’s online training – it should be on work time.
If your employer requires you to wear a specific uniform – it shouldn’t cost you.
Your employer should pay for or provide any compulsory uniform.
Every day across Australia we’re helping our members to understand what their workplace rights are.
We know it can be confusing sometimes to know what to do when an issue comes up at work.
And if you’re just starting out in retail, it’s good to know what you should be paid and what to expect.
Under the General Retail Industry Award, a permanent adult retail employee (21+) earns a base rate from $27.81/hour (Level 1) to $33.99/hour (Level 8). Casuals get a 25% loading on top, from $34.76/hour at Level 1. Higher rates apply for evenings, weekends and public holidays.
Adult base rates by classification level (per hour):
Many retail workers are covered by an SDA-negotiated Enterprise Agreement (EBA) that pays above the award. You can check whether an Agreement applies at your workplace here.
Junior retail employees (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate based on their age, rising each year until they reach full adult pay at 21. Level 1 base rates range from $12.51/hour (under 16) up to $25.03/hour (age 20, under 6 months’ service).
Following the SDA’s Adult Age = Adult Wage win, junior rates are being phased out for 18 – 20 year olds with at least 6 months’ service over the next four years – so eligible young adults will move onto full adult pay. Read more about the SDA’s win here.
Use the pay calculator to find your exact junior rate by age.
Retail penalty rates under the General Retail Industry Award are a percentage of your base hourly rate:
For an adult Level 1 permanent employee, that’s $34.76 after 6pm/Saturday, $41.72 on Sundays and $62.57 on public holidays. Casuals receive these penalty rates on top of their 25% casual loading.
Join over 200,000 SDA union members
Have a problem at work and you are not sure what to do? If you are an SDA member you have access to our industrial experts.
Not a member?
Join the SDAHave a problem at work and you are not sure what to do? If you are an SDA member you have access to our industrial experts.
Not a member?
Join the SDA
