What is the base rate for the Building Award?

Base rates for the Building Award (MA000020) start at $26.67/hour for Level 1 and scale up to $34.46/hour for the highest classification. Casual rates include a 25% loading.

Who does the Building Award cover?

The Building Award covers workers in construction — including Labourer, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber. Coverage is determined by the type of work done, not employer preference.

Where is the official Building Award document?

The current consolidated Building Award (MA000020) is published by the Fair Work Commission at fwc.gov.au. Links to the official document are provided on this page.

MA000020Construction

Building Award

Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020

Who does this award cover?

The Building Award covers employees working in construction, including the following common roles:

LabourerCarpenterElectricianPlumberSite supervisorBricklayerPainter

Pay rates by classification

Classification	Base (per hour)	Casual (+25%)	Weekly (38h)
Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) — level a (new entrant)	$26.67	$33.34	$1013.46
Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) — level b (after 3 months in the industry)	$27.20	$34.00	$1033.60
Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) — level c (after 12 months in the industry)	$27.56	$34.45	$1047.28
Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) — level d (competent construction worker 1)	$28.05	$35.06	$1065.90
Level 2 (CW/ECW 2)	$28.62	$35.78	$1087.56
Level 3 (CW/ECW 3) — trade level	$29.45	$36.81	$1119.10
Level 4 (CW/ECW 4)	$30.38	$37.98	$1154.44
Level 5 (CW/ECW 5)	$31.31	$39.14	$1189.78
Level 6 (CW/ECW 6)	$32.14	$40.18	$1221.32
Level 7 (CW/ECW 7)	$33.06	$41.33	$1256.28
Level 8 (CW/ECW 8)	$33.86	$42.33	$1286.68
Level 9 (ECW 9)	$34.46	$43.08	$1309.48

Rates shown are hourly permanent (base) and casual (base + 25% loading). Always verify with the official FWC document — rates change annually on 1 July following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.

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Penalty rates

Saturday (first 2 hours)1.50×

Saturday (after 2 hours, or any work after 12 noon)2.00×

Sunday2.00×

Public Holiday2.50×

Overtime Mon–Fri (first 2 hours)1.50×

Overtime Mon–Fri (after 2 hours)2.00×

Afternoon, night or early morning shift (5 consecutive shifts Mon–Fri)1.50×

Morning or early afternoon shift (5 consecutive shifts Mon–Fri)1.25×

How casual overtime is calculated

One of the most common payroll questions under the Building Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.

Method for the Building Award

Additive — penalty % + 25% loading applied to the base rate

Source: Clause 12.5 · Verified against the award text

Where the relevant penalty rate is 150%, the employee must be paid 175% of the ordinary hourly rate; where 200%, 225%. The 25% casual loading is added to the penalty percentage, not compounded.

Method	Calculation	Hourly rate
Additive (used by this award)	$29.45 × 175%	$51.54
Compounded	$36.81 × 150%	$55.22
Separate	$29.45 × 150%	$44.18

Worked example: casual CW/ECW 3 (base $29.45/hr), first block of overtime at 150%. Different awards produce different hourly rates from the same base because the 25% loading is applied differently.

Calculate casual overtime for any scenario →

Break entitlements

Shift length	Meal break	Rest break	Paid?
Up to 5 hours	—	—	No
5–8 hours	30 min	—	No
8–10 hours	30 min	10 min	Yes
10+ hours	60 min	20 min	Yes

Building Award enforcement cases

Real Fair Work Commission, Federal Court, and FWO outcomes citing this award.

All decisions →

FCA30 July 2026

B.M.D. Constructions Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (No 4)

FCA24 June 2026

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union v GC Crane Hire Pty Ltd as Trustee for GA Caelli Discretionary Trust

Penalty $5,084

FCA12 June 2026

the Applicant v Beiler Constructions Pty Ltd as trustee for Fox Trading Trust

FWC26 May 2026

the Applicant v Karimbla Constructions Services (NSW) Pty Ltd

Want the full MA000020 document?

This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause, with a citation back to the award on every answer.

Official MA000020 at fwc.gov.au

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