Electrical Contracting Award.
Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020. 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.
Electrical Contracting 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 MA000025 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
7 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
Grey bars fall below the adult national minimum wage. Junior and apprentice classifications are lawfully paid a set percentage of the adult rate under this award.
- Level 1Electrical apprentice (first year)
- Level 2Electrical apprentice (second year)
- Level 3Electrical apprentice (third year) / adult entry
- Level 4Electrical tradesperson (qualified, A-grade)
- Level 5Specialist electrician (instrumentation / HV)
- Level 6Leading hand / site supervisor
- Level 7Electrical project manager
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
- FWO Pay Guides and FWC Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000025 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 worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (incl. loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday (first 2h / after) | 150% / 200% | 175% / 225% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Afternoon shift | 115% | 140% |
| Night shift | 115% | 140% |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | 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.
| Level | Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Electrical apprentice (first year) | $778.90 | $20.50 | $25.63 |
| Level 2 | Electrical apprentice (second year) | $905.40 | $23.83 | $29.79 |
| Level 3 | Electrical apprentice (third year) / adult entry | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Level 4 | Electrical tradesperson (qualified, A-grade) | $1,157.80 | $30.47 | $38.09 |
| Level 5 | Specialist electrician (instrumentation / HV) | $1,294.50 | $34.07 | $42.59 |
| Level 6 | Leading hand / site supervisor | $1,438.70 | $37.86 | $47.33 |
| Level 7 | Electrical project manager | $1,597.30 | $42.03 | $52.54 |
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.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool allowance | $34.60 | per week | For electrical tradespeople required to supply and maintain their own tools. |
| Industry allowance | $27.80 | per week | For employees working in the electrical contracting industry. |
| Licence reimbursement | Up to $120 | per year | Reimbursement for A-grade electrical licence renewal fees. |
| Confined space allowance | $0.95 | per hour | For working in confined spaces such as ceiling cavities or underfloor areas. |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
Shift workers as defined receive a 5th week of annual leave under NES s.87(1)(b).
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.
38-hour week worked as 8-hour days with a paid rostered day off, commonly one RDO per 4-week cycle taken in the fourth week. Work performed on an RDO is overtime.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Electrical Contracting 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 Electrical Contracting Award (MA000025) is the common name for the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. Ordinary hours are Monday to Friday. For day workers, Saturday is overtime at 150% for the first 2 hours then 200%; Sunday is 200%; public holidays are 250% (minimum 4-hour engagement on weekends and public holidays). Shift loadings are afternoon 115%, rotating night 115% and permanent (non-rotating) night 130%. Rates are quoted all-purpose: the industry allowance (all grades) and tool allowance (grades 5 and up) are built into the base and flow into penalties. Electricians in general manufacturing fall under the Manufacturing Award; plumbers and gasfitters under the Plumbing Award.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01Electrical worker grade 1
- 02Electrical worker grade 2
- 03Electrical worker grade 3
- 04Electrical worker grade 4
- 05Electrical worker grade 5 (qualified electrician)
- 06post-trade and special-class electrician
- 07technician and supervisor
- 08apprentice
Electrical Contracting Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000025. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Electrical Contracting Award cover?
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Electrical Contracting Award?
What is the Sunday rate under the Electrical Contracting Award?
What is the public holiday rate under the Electrical Contracting Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Electrical Contracting Award?
How is annual leave loading calculated for shift workers under the Electrical Contracting Award?
What is the casual loading under the Electrical Contracting Award?
Does the Electrical Contracting Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Does the Electrical Contracting Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Electrical Contracting Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) 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.