Aged Care Award.
Aged Care Award 2010. Verified penalty rates, shift loadings, leave loading and RDO arrangements, with a live calculator under the NES.
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| Component | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate (FULL-TIME) | 4 wks × 38h ÷ 52 | 2.923 hrs/wk |
| Hours accrued | 2.923 × 52 wks | 152.42 hrs |
| Hourly base rate | - | $35.00 |
| Base leave value | 152.42 × $35.00 | $5,334.62 |
| 17.5% leave loading | base × 0.175 | + $933.56 |
| Total payout | - | $6,268.17 |
Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.
Aged Care Award pay rates and penalties.
Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000018 award text.
Penalty rates by shift type
What each hour is worth as a percentage of the base rate, for permanent and casual employees.
Hourly rate by classification level
17 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
- General, level 1Aged care employee, general, level 1
- General, level 2Aged care employee, general, level 2
- General, level 3Aged care employee, general, level 3
- General, level 4Aged care employee, general, level 4
- General, level 5Aged care employee, general, level 5
- General, level 6Aged care employee, general, level 6
- General, level 7Aged care employee, general, level 7
- Most senior food services, level 4Aged care employee, general, level 4, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site
- Most senior food services, level 5Aged care employee, general, level 5, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site
- Most senior food services, level 6Aged care employee, general, level 6, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site
- Most senior food services, level 7Aged care employee, general, level 7, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site
- Direct care, level 1Aged care employee, direct care, level 1, Introductory
- Direct care, level 2Aged care employee, direct care, level 2, Direct Carer
- Direct care, level 3Aged care employee, direct care, level 3, Qualified
- Direct care, level 4Aged care employee, direct care, level 4, Senior
- Direct care, level 5Aged care employee, direct care, level 5, Specialist
- Direct care, level 6Aged care employee, direct care, level 6, Team Leader
National Minimum Wage, 4-year trend
Lifted each year by the Annual Wage Review. Up 23.7% since FY2023. Percentages are the movement in the NMW itself, which exceeded the award increase in the years the Commission realigned it to the C13 rate.
Where these numbers come from
- Dollar rates
- The MA000018 award text as consolidated by the Fair Work Commission, reflecting Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000018 on awards.fairwork.gov.au, the official award text.
- Your own figures
- Check your classification in the FWO Pay Calculator.
Penalty rates in full
Every loading in the award, side by side for full-time, part-time and casual employees.
| Hours worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (incl. loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 175% | 200% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Afternoon shift | 112.5% | 137.5% |
| Night shift | 115% | 140% |
All values are percentages of the base hourly rate. Casual rates shown are inclusive of the 25% casual loading on top of the FT/PT rate. For your own dollar amounts, use the FWO Pay Calculator.
These are the percentages. To turn them into dollars for a specific roster, the penalty rates calculator prices Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and shift hours against this award’s own classification rates.
Pay rates by classification
Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual hourly includes the 25% loading.
| Level | Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General, level 1 | Aged care employee, general, level 1 | $1,055.40 | $27.77 | $34.71 |
| General, level 2 | Aged care employee, general, level 2 | $1,097.20 | $28.87 | $36.09 |
| General, level 3 | Aged care employee, general, level 3 | $1,139.40 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
| General, level 4 | Aged care employee, general, level 4 | $1,152.80 | $30.34 | $37.93 |
| General, level 5 | Aged care employee, general, level 5 | $1,191.80 | $31.36 | $39.20 |
| General, level 6 | Aged care employee, general, level 6 | $1,256.00 | $33.05 | $41.31 |
| General, level 7 | Aged care employee, general, level 7 | $1,278.60 | $33.65 | $42.06 |
| Most senior food services, level 4 | Aged care employee, general, level 4, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site | $1,287.00 | $33.87 | $42.34 |
| Most senior food services, level 5 | Aged care employee, general, level 5, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site | $1,330.70 | $35.02 | $43.78 |
| Most senior food services, level 6 | Aged care employee, general, level 6, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site | $1,402.50 | $36.91 | $46.14 |
| Most senior food services, level 7 | Aged care employee, general, level 7, single most senior food services employee at the facility or site | $1,427.50 | $37.57 | $46.96 |
| Direct care, level 1 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 1, Introductory | $1,239.00 | $32.61 | $40.76 |
| Direct care, level 2 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 2, Direct Carer | $1,307.80 | $34.42 | $43.03 |
| Direct care, level 3 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 3, Qualified | $1,376.70 | $36.23 | $45.29 |
| Direct care, level 4 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 4, Senior | $1,431.80 | $37.68 | $47.10 |
| Direct care, level 5 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 5, Specialist | $1,486.80 | $39.13 | $48.91 |
| Direct care, level 6 | Aged care employee, direct care, level 6, Team Leader | $1,541.90 | $40.58 | $50.73 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the Annual Wage Review increase. Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual rates include the 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Source: the MA000018 award text as consolidated to 1 September 2026.
Hourly and casual hourly rates above exclude the leading hand allowance, which is paid for all purposes (clause 15.3(c)), so a leading hand adds it to the minimum rate before penalties, overtime and the casual loading.
Allowances
Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026, except where a note gives a later date.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leading hand allowance, 2 to 5 employees | 2.67% of standard rate | per week | About $33.54 a week at the 1 July 2026 standard rate of $1,256.00, our calculation. Paid for all purposes (cl 15.3(c)), so it is added to the minimum rate before penalties, overtime and the casual loading. The rates above exclude it. |
| Leading hand allowance, 6 to 10 employees | 3.81% of standard rate | per week | About $47.85 a week, our calculation. Paid for all purposes (cl 15.3). |
| Leading hand allowance, 11 to 15 employees | 4.81% of standard rate | per week | About $60.41 a week, our calculation. Paid for all purposes (cl 15.3). |
| Leading hand allowance, 16 or more employees | 5.88% of standard rate | per week | About $73.85 a week, our calculation. Paid for all purposes (cl 15.3). |
| Sleepover allowance | 5.20% of standard rate | per night | About $65.31 a night, our calculation, plus free board and lodging (cl 22.9(d)). |
| Vehicle allowance | $1.05 | per km | Temporary rate from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 (cl 15.7(aa)). The standing rate of $1.01 per km applies from 1 March 2027 (cl 15.7(a)). |
| Meal allowance | $17.30 | per occasion | Overtime of more than one hour after the usual finishing time, unless a meal is supplied. A further $15.60 once overtime exceeds four hours (cl 15.4). |
| Tool allowance | $13.41 | per week | For chefs and cooks not provided with all necessary tools by the employer (cl 15.6). |
| Nauseous work allowance | 0.05% of standard rate | per hour or part | About $0.63 an hour, with a minimum of about $3.39 in any week (0.27% of the standard rate), our calculation. For handling nauseous linen or unusually dirty or offensive work (cl 15.5(a)). |
| Uniform allowance | $1.26 per shift or $6.41 per week | whichever is less | By agreement, instead of the employer supplying uniforms (cl 15.2(b)). |
| Laundry allowance | $0.33 per shift or $1.53 per week | whichever is less | Where uniforms are not laundered by or at the expense of the employer (cl 15.2(b)). |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
Shift workers as defined in clause 28.2(a) receive 5 weeks annual leave instead of 4.
Day workers get a flat 17.5% on the minimum hourly rate. Shift workers get the greater of 17.5% or the weekend and shift penalties they would have earned. Run the numbers in the annual leave loading calculator.
No formal RDO accrual cycle in this award. Time off in lieu of overtime (TOIL) may still be available.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Aged Care Award sets your pay rates, but your paid leave runs on the National Employment Standards. Work out 4 weeks of holidays with the annual leave calculator, and your 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave with the personal leave calculator. To confirm which award applies to you and how it lifts entitlements above the NES floor, read our guide to modern awards.
Who this award covers.
The Aged Care Award (MA000018) is the common name for the Aged Care Award 2010. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. Sunday is 175% for full-time and part-time employees; the 200% often quoted is the casual rate, which already absorbs the casual loading (clause 23.3). Minimum rates were increased and restructured by Fair Work Commission work value variations operative from 30 June 2023 (PR751293) and 1 January 2025 (PR779150). Home care workers for aged persons are covered by the SCHADS Award, not this award. Shift workers as defined in clause 28.2 receive 5 weeks annual leave. Afternoon shift is 110% when it starts between 10.00am and 1.00pm and 112.5% from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01Aged care employee, direct care, level 1 (Introductory) to level 6 (Team Leader)
- 02Aged care employee, general, levels 1 to 7
- 03food services assistant
- 04cook
- 05chef
- 06cleaner
- 07laundry hand
- 08general clerk
- 09receptionist
- 10driver
- 11gardener
- 12maintenance/handyperson
- 13interpreter
Aged Care Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000018. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Aged Care Award cover?
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Aged Care Award?
What is the Sunday rate under the Aged Care Award?
What is the public holiday rate under the Aged Care Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Aged Care Award?
How is annual leave loading calculated under the Aged Care Award?
What is the casual loading under the Aged Care Award?
Does the Aged Care Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Does the Aged Care Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Aged Care Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018) on the Fair Work Commission's awards.fairwork.gov.au.
For up-to-date pay rates by classification, refer to the FWO Pay Calculator. Modern awards are reviewed and varied periodically by the Fair Work Commission; check the source for the latest text.