Modern Award · MA000076

Education Support Award.

Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020. Verified penalty rates, shift loadings, leave loading and RDO arrangements, with a live calculator under the NES.

Sun: 200%PH: 250%Formal RDO
✓ Free, no sign-up|Live|Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87

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Standard FT week is 38 hours.
$
For loading & payout values.

Here's your entitlement

AU$6,268.17
Total annual leave value (incl. 17.5% loading) for 52 weeks of service.
4.0 wks
Entitlement
152.42 hrs
Accrued
19.1 days
Working days
See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87
ComponentFormulaValue
Accrual rate (FULL-TIME)4 wks × 38h ÷ 522.923 hrs/wk
Hours accrued2.923 × 52 wks152.42 hrs
Hourly base rate-$35.00
Base leave value152.42 × $35.00$5,334.62
17.5% leave loadingbase × 0.175+ $933.56
Total payout-$6,268.17

Where the value comes from

Base leave
$5,334
17.5% loading
$933

ⓘ Calculated under section 87 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the National Employment Standards. Loading rate per the relevant modern award.

Sarah Reid, CAHRI
Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Sydney based
Verified expert

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.

Pay & Rate Data

Education Support Award pay rates and penalties.

Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000076 award text.

Entry rate$26.63Per hour, lowest classification
Top rate$41.77Per hour, highest classification
Sunday200%Of base rate, full-time / part-time
Public holiday250%Of base rate, full-time / part-time
Casual loading25%On top of the applicable rate
Leave loading17.5%Paid while taking annual leave
Workforce~160,000employees covered nationally by this or similar awards
Avg weekly earnings$1,378.20All employees in this industry, full-time adult

Penalty rates by shift type

What each hour is worth as a percentage of the base rate, for permanent and casual employees.

Full-time / part-timeCasual (incl. 25% loading)
50%100%150%200%250%100%125%Ordinary150%175%Saturday200%225%Sunday250%275%Public hol.115%140%Afternoon115%140%Night130%155%Perm night

Hourly rate by classification level

7 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.

Minimum wage $26.44Level 1$26.63Level 2$28.41Level 3$30.47Level 4$33.35Level 5$35.33Level 6$38.39Level 7$41.77
  • Level 1Education support officer (entry)
  • Level 2Education support officer (experienced)
  • Level 3Education support officer (senior)
  • Level 4Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education officer
  • Level 5Laboratory assistant / technician
  • Level 6Senior laboratory officer
  • Level 7Education support coordinator

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.

$21$24$26$21.38FY2023+5.2%$23.23FY2024+8.6%$24.10FY2025+3.75%$24.95FY2026+3.5%$26.44FY2027+6%

Where these numbers come from

Dollar rates
FWO Pay Guides and FWC Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
Penalty rates and allowances
MA000076 on awards.fairwork.gov.au, the official award text.
Industry figures
ABS Labour Force, May 2026; ABS EEH, Aug 2025. Covers the broader industry, not only employees under this award.
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 workedFull-time / part-timeCasual (incl. loading)
Ordinary hours100%125%
Saturday150%175%
Sunday200%225%
Public holiday250%275%
Afternoon shift115%140%
Night shift115%140%
Permanent night shift130%155%

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.

Pay rates by classification

Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual hourly includes the 25% loading.

LevelClassificationWeekly rateHourly rateCasual hourly
Level 1Education support officer (entry)$1,011.90$26.63$33.29
Level 2Education support officer (experienced)$1,079.60$28.41$35.51
Level 3Education support officer (senior)$1,157.80$30.47$38.09
Level 4Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education officer$1,267.40$33.35$41.69
Level 5Laboratory assistant / technician$1,342.70$35.33$44.16
Level 6Senior laboratory officer$1,458.90$38.39$47.99
Level 7Education support coordinator$1,587.30$41.77$52.21

Rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual rates include the 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Source: FWO Pay Guides.

Allowances

Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026.

AllowanceAmountFrequencyNotes
First aid allowance$15.90per weekFor employees with a current first aid qualification appointed to perform first aid.
Special needs allowance$24.60per weekFor employees working directly with students with significant additional needs.
Use of private vehicle$0.97per kmWhen required to use their own vehicle for school-related activities.
Education Support Snapshot

The numbers that drive this award.

Set by Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000076) and the NES.

Sunday rate
200%
Of base hourly rate
Sunday work for full-time/part-time employees under this award.
Public holiday
250%
Of base hourly rate
Public holiday rate for FT/PT employees, paid in cash or substituted for time off.
Leave loading
17.5%
Annual leave loading on top
Or shift penalty earned during leave, whichever is greater (for shift workers).
Annual Leave, Loading & RDO

Award-specific provisions.

Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.

Annual leave4 weeks/year

Standard NES floor of 4 weeks per year of full-time service. Pro-rata for part-time.

Leave loading17.5%

Standard 17.5% on minimum hourly rate. Shift workers receive the GREATER OF 17.5% or the shift penalty they would have earned during the leave. Run the numbers in the annual leave loading calculator.

Rostered Day Off (RDO)Yes

By agreement, the 38-hour week may be worked as 152 hours over 19 days in a 4-week period, giving one paid RDO each period (up to 12 a year), clause 14.8.

Calculate your leave under this award

The Education Support 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.

Coverage

Who this award covers.

The Education Support Award (MA000076) is the common name for the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.

Industries

  • school education

Work types

  • teacher aide and education support
  • laboratory assistance
  • administrative and clerical work
  • grounds and gardening
  • cleaning and maintenance
  • canteen and catering
  • boarding supervision

Notes & exclusions. This is the SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF award, distinct from the Educational Services (Teachers) Award (MA000077) which covers teachers. It excludes teachers, principals, deputy principals, bursars and business managers. Standard penalties (clause 22.3(a)): Saturday 150%, Sunday 200%, public holiday 250%. A lower rate (Saturday 125%, Sunday 175%) applies only to cooking and catering operational staff and boarding-supervision staff not on averaged hours. Shiftwork loadings (clause 22.2): afternoon and night 115%, permanent night 130%. Shift workers receive the higher of 17.5% or the shift loading as leave loading. There is no 5th week of annual leave.

Classifications

Roles paid under this award.

Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.

  1. 01teacher aide
  2. 02education support officer
  3. 03laboratory assistant
  4. 04administrative officer
  5. 05clerical assistant
  6. 06groundsperson
  7. 07gardener
  8. 08cleaner
  9. 09maintenance worker
  10. 10canteen and catering staff
  11. 11boarding supervisor
Education Support Q & A

Education Support Award questions, answered.

Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000076. Verified against the modern award text.

Who does the Education Support Award cover?
Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000076) covers the school education industry. Common roles include teacher aide and education support, laboratory assistance, administrative and clerical work, grounds and gardening. This is the SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF award, distinct from the Educational Services (Teachers) Award (MA000077) which covers teachers. It excludes teachers, principals, deputy principals, bursars and business managers. Standard penalties (clause 22.3(a)): Saturday 150%, Sunday 200%, public holiday 250%. A lower rate (Saturday 125%, Sunday 175%) applies only to cooking and catering operational staff and boarding-supervision staff not on averaged hours. Shiftwork loadings (clause 22.2): afternoon and night 115%, permanent night 130%. Shift workers receive the higher of 17.5% or the shift loading as leave loading. There is no 5th week of annual leave.
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Education Support Award?
Full-time and part-time employees are paid 150% of the base hourly rate (1.50x) for working on Saturday. Casuals receive 175% (the FT rate plus the 25% casual loading).
What is the Sunday rate under the Education Support Award?
FT/PT employees are paid 200% of the base hourly rate (2.00x) for Sunday work. Casuals receive 225% (the FT rate plus the 25% casual loading). This is one of the higher Sunday rates in the modern-award system.
What is the public holiday rate under the Education Support Award?
FT/PT employees who work on a gazetted public holiday are paid 250% of the base hourly rate (2.50x). Casuals receive 275% (the FT rate plus the 25% casual loading). Employees who don't work the holiday receive their ordinary day's pay if it would otherwise have been a working day.
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Education Support Award?
4 weeks per year of full-time service under the NES, paid pro-rata for part-time. The Education Support Award does not classify any of its workers as continuous-shift workers under NES s.87(1)(b), so the 5-week shift-worker entitlement does not apply. Calculate annual leave accrual →
How is annual leave loading calculated for shift workers under the Education Support Award?
Shift workers receive the GREATER OF 17.5% leave loading on the minimum hourly rate, OR the shift penalty they would have earned during the period of leave. The award protects shift workers from earning less on leave than they would have working the shifts. Leave loading calculator →
What is the casual loading under the Education Support Award?
25% on top of the base hourly rate, in lieu of paid annual leave, paid personal leave and notice entitlements. Casual loading is added to the FT/PT rate when a casual works any of the penalty-rate hours above (Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, evening, night).
Does the Education Support Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Yes. By agreement, the 38-hour week may be worked as 152 hours over 19 days in a 4-week period, giving one paid RDO each period (up to 12 a year), clause 14.8. RDOs are paid days off, distinct from annual leave; they exist to balance ordinary hours over a fixed period. If you are paid out on termination, accrued RDO time is typically included.
Does the Education Support Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Yes. Under this award, afternoon-shift work attracts 115% of the base hourly rate (1.15x); night-shift work attracts 115% of the base hourly rate (1.15x); permanent night shift attracts 130% of the base hourly rate (1.30x). Casuals receive an additional 25% casual loading on top of these penalty rates.
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Education Support Award?
Pay rates by classification under MA000076 change quarterly with Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decisions. The official source is the FWO Pay Calculator, which always reflects the current rates. Open the FWO Pay Calculator →
Education Support Methodology

Verified against the modern award text.

Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000076) 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.

Last verified2 July 2026
ReviewerSarah Reid, CAHRI
Primary sourceMA000076 (Fair Work Commission)
Federal floorFW Act 2009 (Cth)
RefreshQuarterly