Retail Award
General Retail Industry Award 2020
Get plain-English answers on the Retail Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000004 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $99/mo (50% off first 3 months — first 100 signups).
Who does this award cover?
The Retail Award covers employees working in retail, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1056.78 |
| Retail Employee Level 2 | $28.45 | $35.56 | $1081.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 3 | $28.89 | $36.11 | $1097.82 |
| Retail Employee Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1119.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.66 | $38.33 | $1165.08 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $1182.18 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $1241.46 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $1291.62 |
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 Retail 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 Retail Award
Additive — penalty % + 25% loading applied to the base rate
Source: Clause 11 / Schedule A · Verified against the award text
Schedule A states overtime rates for casual employees are calculated by adding the 25% casual loading to the full/part-time overtime rates in clause 21.2(c).
| 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 Level 4 (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 4 hours | — | — | No |
| 4–5 hours | — | 10 min | Yes |
| 5–7 hours | 30 min | 10 min | No |
| 7–10 hours | 60 min | 10 min | No |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | No |
Retail Award enforcement cases
Real Fair Work Commission, Federal Court, and FWO outcomes citing this award.
Want the full MA000004 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 Retail Award?
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