Building Award
Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020
Get plain-English answers on the Building Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000020 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $99/mo (50% off first 3 months — first 100 signups).
Who does this award cover?
The Building Award covers employees working in construction, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW/ECW Level 1 | $26.67 | $33.34 | $1013.46 |
| CW/ECW Level 2 | $26.29 | $32.86 | $999.02 |
| CW/ECW Level 3 | $28.10 | $35.13 | $1067.80 |
| CW/ECW Level 4 | $29.71 | $37.14 | $1128.98 |
| CW/ECW Level 5 | $31.05 | $38.81 | $1179.90 |
| CW/ECW Level 6 | $32.55 | $40.69 | $1236.90 |
| CW/ECW Level 7 | $34.38 | $42.98 | $1306.44 |
| CW/ECW Level 8 | $35.90 | $44.88 | $1364.20 |
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.
Penalty rates
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) | $29.71 × 175% | $51.99 |
| Compounded | $37.14 × 150% | $55.71 |
| Separate | $29.71 × 150% | $44.57 |
Worked example: casual CW4 (base $29.71/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.
B.M.D. Constructions Pty Ltd v Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (No 4)
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union v GC Crane Hire Pty Ltd as Trustee for GA Caelli Discretionary Trust
Penalty $5,084
the Applicant v Beiler Constructions Pty Ltd as trustee for Fox Trading Trust
Application by Lph Painting Co 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.
Question about the Building Award?
Got a specific situation around pay, penalties, breaks, or coverage? Ask our workplace advisor.
FairWork Mate AI
Not sure the Building Award is the award that covers you?
Coverage is the question that decides every figure on this page — and it turns on what your business actually does, not your job title. The advisor checks your situation against the MA000020 coverage clause and the Fair Work Commission decisions that have tested it, then tells you what you should be paid. 150 questions a month, cancel anytime.
Just need today sorted? A Day Pass is 25 questions over 24 hours. No account, nothing to cancel.
Get notified when award rates change
Free alerts when the Building Award pay rates are updated (annually on 1 July) or when the Fair Work Commission varies the award.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.