Clerks Award
Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020
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Plain-English answers grounded on the full MA000002 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $499/mo (50% off first month).
Who does this award cover?
The Clerks Award covers employees working in office / clerical, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clerical Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.12 |
| Clerical Level 2 | $27.26 | $34.08 | $1035.88 |
| Clerical Level 3 | $28.24 | $35.30 | $1073.12 |
| Clerical Level 4 | $29.66 | $37.08 | $1127.08 |
| Clerical Level 5 | $28.47 | $35.59 | $1081.86 |
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 Clerks 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 Clerks Award
Additive — penalty % + 25% loading applied to the base rate
Source: Clause 11.1 / Table 5 note · Verified against the award text
Table 5 states overtime rates for casuals are calculated by adding the 25% loading (clause 11.1) to the overtime rates in clause 21.4(a).
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive (used by this award) | $28.24 × 175% | $49.42 |
| Compounded | $35.30 × 150% | $52.95 |
| Separate | $28.24 × 150% | $42.36 |
Worked example: casual Level 3 (base $28.24/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 |
| 5–7.6 hours | 30 min | — | No |
| 7.6–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
Want the full MA000002 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 AI answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause. The Business API returns structured data for payroll and HR systems.
Question about the Clerks Award?
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