MA000012Pharmacy
Pharmacy Award
Pharmacy Industry Award 2020
Who does this award cover?
The Pharmacy Award covers employees working in pharmacy, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Assistant Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1056.78 |
| Pharmacy Assistant Level 2 | $28.45 | $35.56 | $1081.10 |
| Pharmacy Assistant Level 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1119.10 |
| Pharmacy Assistant Level 4 | $30.66 | $38.33 | $1165.08 |
| Pharmacist | $41.74 | $52.18 | $1586.12 |
| Experienced Pharmacist | $45.72 | $57.15 | $1737.36 |
Get plain-English answers on the Pharmacy Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000012 document — every clause, variation, and classification. Pro is $29.99/mo, cancel anytime.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Pharmacy 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 Pharmacy 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 | $29.45 × 175% | $51.54 |
| Compounded | $36.81 × 150% | $55.22 |
| Separate | $29.45 × 150% | $44.18 |
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 |
More on the Pharmacy Award
Pharmacy 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 pharmacy
- National Pharmacies Retail Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Lipa Pharmaceuticals Limited – Employee Collective Agreement 2025 - 2028
- HPS (Pharmacy Managers, Pharmacists in Charge and Pharmacists) and Professional Pharmacists Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024
- Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Pty Ltd NSW Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Pty Ltd NSW Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Linfox and UWU (Pharmaceutical and Healthcare) National Distribution Centres Agreement 2025
Employer pay guides under the Pharmacy Award
Pharmacy Award enforcement cases
Want the full MA000012 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 Pharmacy Award is the award that covers you?
“I think I'm covered by the Pharmacy Award (MA000012). 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 MA000012 coverage clause and the decisions that have tested it.
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Free alerts when the Pharmacy Award pay rates are updated (annually on 1 July) or when the Fair Work Commission varies the award.