MA000035Agriculture
Pastoral Award
Pastoral Award 2020
Who does this award cover?
The Pastoral Award covers employees working in agriculture, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastoral Employee Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $978.12 |
| Pastoral Employee Level 2 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1004.72 |
| Pastoral Employee Level 3 | $26.49 | $33.11 | $1006.62 |
| Pastoral Employee Level 4 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1029.04 |
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Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Pastoral 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 Pastoral Award
Unresolved — award drafting is ambiguous or we have not verified
We have not independently verified how this award treats the 25% casual loading when overtime or penalty rates apply. The three possible methods (additive / compounded / separate) can produce materially different pay outcomes. Check the award text at fwc.gov.au or use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) for a definitive answer.
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | $26.44 × 175% | $46.27 |
| Compounded | $33.05 × 150% | $49.58 |
| Separate | $26.44 × 150% | $39.66 |
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 |
More on the Pastoral Award
Pastoral Award pay rates 2026-27
Every classification, junior and casual rate, penalty table and rate calculator.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in agriculture
- Skretting (Cambridge Operations) Enterprise Agreement 2026
- TOOSEY ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2025 – 2029
- Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd Hanwood Feedmill Enterprise Agreement 2026-2030
- ETS Vegetation Management – NSW Enterprise Agreement – 2026-2029
- Australian Sustainable Hardwoods Pty Ltd Collective Agreement 2026
- Application by Mimal Aboriginal Land Management Corporation
Pastoral Award enforcement cases
Want the full MA000035 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.
FairWork Mate AI
Not sure the Pastoral Award is the award that covers you?
“I think I'm covered by the Pastoral Award (MA000035). Is that the right award for my job, and what should I be paid?”
Coverage turns on what your business actually does, not your job title. The advisor checks your situation against the MA000035 coverage clause and the decisions that have tested it.
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Free alerts when the Pastoral Award pay rates are updated (annually on 1 July) or when the Fair Work Commission varies the award.