Graphic Arts & Printing Award.
Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing 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.
Graphic Arts & Printing Award pay rates and penalties.
Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000026 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
8 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
Grey bars fall below the adult national minimum wage. The award itself sets these rates, and the key below says who each one applies to.
- Level 1Induction, up to 38 hours of training (reclassified to Level 2 within 3 months)
- Level 2Indicative tasks: repetition work on automatic machines, manual folding, stacking, inserting
- Level 3Indicative tasks: routine setting of basic equipment, envelope or die cutter operation
- Level 4Certificate II. Indicative tasks: machine setting and operation on a variety of equipment
- Level 5Trade Certificate or Certificate III (standard rate)
- Level 6Indicative tasks: set up and operation of complex machines in pre-press, press or post-press
- Level 7Indicative tasks: trade guidance, allocating tasks to team members, complex art and design
- Level 8Certificate IV (except cl 17.3 qualifications). Indicative tasks: high precision trade skills, original artwork
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 MA000026 award text as consolidated by the Fair Work Commission, reflecting Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000026 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 | 200% | 250% |
| Sunday | 200% | 250% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 312.5% |
| Afternoon shift | 120% | 150% |
| Night shift | 120% | 150% |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | 162.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Induction, up to 38 hours of training (reclassified to Level 2 within 3 months) | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Level 2 | Indicative tasks: repetition work on automatic machines, manual folding, stacking, inserting | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Level 3 | Indicative tasks: routine setting of basic equipment, envelope or die cutter operation | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| Level 4 | Certificate II. Indicative tasks: machine setting and operation on a variety of equipment | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| Level 5 | Trade Certificate or Certificate III (standard rate) | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 6 | Indicative tasks: set up and operation of complex machines in pre-press, press or post-press | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| Level 7 | Indicative tasks: trade guidance, allocating tasks to team members, complex art and design | $1,189.40 | $31.30 | $39.13 |
| Level 8 | Certificate IV (except cl 17.3 qualifications). Indicative tasks: high precision trade skills, original artwork | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
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 MA000026 award text as consolidated to 1 July 2026.
Hourly and casual hourly rates above exclude the visual display terminal allowance ($55.96 a week) and the inserting allowance ($33.57 a week), which apply only in newspaper offices and are paid for all purposes (clause 26.2(a)), so they are added before penalties, overtime and the casual loading.
Allowances
Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual display terminal allowance | $55.96 | per week | For an employee in a daily or non-daily newspaper office who operates a visual display terminal in production on a fully integrated online front end system (cl 26.2(b)). Paid for all purposes, so it is added to the minimum rate before penalties, overtime and the casual loading are applied. The hourly rates above exclude it. |
| Inserting allowance | $33.57 | per week | For a Level 2 employee in a newspaper office engaged in manual inserting work (cl 26.2(c)). Paid for all purposes, putting that Level 2 employee on $1,038.47 a week, our calculation. |
| First aid allowance | $22.72 | per week | For a current holder of workplace first aid qualifications appointed by the employer to perform first aid duty (cl 26.2(d)). |
| Overtime meal allowance | $19.79 | per occasion | Mainly for overtime of more than 1.5 hours without notice the previous day, or overtime notified and then cancelled. No more than one per day or shift (cl 26.3(a)). |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2020 (MA000026) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
Continuous shiftworkers accrue 190 hours (5 weeks) of annual leave under NES s.87(1)(b).
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.
The 38-hour week may be worked with rostered days off under clause 13.4. Work performed on an RDO is overtime paid at 150%.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Graphic Arts & Printing 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 Graphic Arts & Printing Award (MA000026) is the common name for the Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. Day workers work ordinary hours Monday to Friday. Working a Saturday or Sunday is paid 200% (whether as overtime, or as ordinary hours worked by agreement under clause 13.3); public holidays are 250%. Weekday overtime is 150% for the first 3 hours then 200%. Shift loadings are 120% for morning, afternoon and rotating night, and 130% for non-rotating (permanent) night. The award has distinctive newspaper-office provisions, including two all-purpose allowances: $55.96 a week for visual display terminal operators and $33.57 a week for Level 2 manual inserters. Shiftworker leave loading is the higher of 17.5% or the relevant weekend penalty.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01Level 1 (induction)
- 02Level 2
- 03Level 3
- 04Level 4 (Certificate II)
- 05Level 5 (Trade Certificate or Certificate III)
- 06Level 6
- 07Level 7
- 08Level 8 (Certificate IV)
- 09apprentice
Graphic Arts & Printing Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000026. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Graphic Arts & Printing Award cover?
What is the Saturday penalty rate under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
What is the Sunday rate under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
What is the public holiday rate under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
How is annual leave loading calculated under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
What is the casual loading under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
Does the Graphic Arts & Printing Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Does the Graphic Arts & Printing Award have evening or night-shift loadings?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Graphic Arts & Printing Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Graphic Arts, Printing and Publishing Award 2020 (MA000026) 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.