Apprentice Pay Rates Australia 2026 — Full Rates by Year, Trade & Apprentice Level

Apprentice pay rates in Australia are set by the modern award that covers the trade or occupation. Unlike standard employees who're paid a flat minimum wage, apprentices are paid on a progressive scale that increases each year of their apprenticeship as they gain skills and competency. Most trade apprenticeships run for 3-4 years, with pay rates increasing substantially at each stage.

Apprentice rates are expressed either as a fixed dollar amount in the award or as a percentage of the qualified tradesperson rate (the full rate for a fully qualified worker in that trade). Apprentices are paid under their award's apprentice table, not the national minimum wage ($26.44/hr in 2026-27), so early-year apprentice rates sit below it and later years can sit above it.

There's an important distinction between junior apprentices (under 21 when they started) and adult apprentices (21 or over when they started). Adult apprentices receive higher minimum rates, particularly in their first year. Your pay rate is determined by four factors: the award covering your trade, your year of apprenticeship, whether you're a junior or adult apprentice, and, for junior apprentices in most trade awards, whether you completed Year 12.

Apprentice wages increase with each year of the apprenticeship. These are the junior apprentice minimum hourly rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, taken from each award (apprentices who started on or after 1 January 2014). Where two figures are shown, the first is for an apprentice who has not completed Year 12 and the second for one who has.

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 [MA000025], all-purpose rate including industry, tool and licence allowances (cl 16.4(a)(ii), Schedule B.4.5): Year 1 — $16.39 / $17.97; Year 2 — $19.55 / $21.13; Year 3 — $22.71; Year 4 — $26.50. The base rate before allowances is $14.73 / $16.20 in Year 1.

Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020 [MA000036], plumbing apprentices (cl 18.2(c), Schedule E.2.1(b)): Year 1 — $16.56 / $18.11; Year 2 — $19.65 / $21.20; Year 3 — $22.75; Year 4 — $28.93.

Carpentry, Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 [MA000020]: 50% / 55% of the standard rate in Year 1, 60% / 65% in Year 2, 75% in Year 3 and 90% in Year 4 (cl 19.7(b)), which is a base of $14.73 / $16.20, $17.67 / $19.14, $22.09 and $26.51. On top of that, apprentices get the full tool allowance ($41.22/wk for carpenters, cl 21.1(a)) and industry allowance ($53.72/wk residential or $67.15/wk general building and civil, cl 22.1) for all purposes (cl 19.7(c)). For a first-year residential carpentry apprentice without Year 12, that works out to about $17.22/hr.

Automotive, Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 [MA000089] (cl 16.9(b), Schedule B.5.1): Year 1 — $14.73 / $16.20; Year 2 — $17.67 / $19.14; Year 3 — $22.09; Year 4 — $25.92.

These rates are minimums. Many employers pay above award to attract and retain apprentices, particularly in skills-shortage trades. Our apprentice wages calculator applies these tables by trade.

Adult apprentices — those who start their apprenticeship at 21 years of age or older — receive higher minimum pay rates than junior apprentices. This recognises that adult apprentices have greater financial responsibilities and are often making a career change or entering a trade later in life. Under most awards, a first-year adult apprentice gets at least 80% of the trade rate, which is $23.56/hr from 1 July 2026. From the second year they get at least the award's lowest adult rate, or the junior apprentice rate for that year if it's higher.

For example, under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award, a first-year adult apprentice's base rate is $23.56/hr and a second-year adult apprentice's is $26.44/hr (cl 16.4(b)(v)). With the industry, tool and licence allowances that are paid for all purposes, those become $25.87 and $28.90/hr (Schedule B.4.1). A first-year junior electrical apprentice without Year 12 gets $16.39/hr all-purpose, so starting as an adult is worth around $9.48 an hour more. A first-year adult plumbing apprentice gets $27.53/hr (Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award cl 18.3(b), Schedule E.3.1), and a second-year adult automotive apprentice gets $25.74/hr (Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award cl 16.10(b)).

The awards above define an adult apprentice as someone who was 21 or over when they started the apprenticeship (or signed the training contract). Turning 21 part-way through does not move you onto adult rates. If you worked for the same employer before becoming an adult apprentice (usually 6 months full-time or 12 months part-time or regular casual), most awards say your pay can't drop below your previous classification rate.

Apprentices are entitled to various allowances on top of their base pay rate. Tool allowances compensate apprentices for providing and maintaining their own tools. Under the Electrical Award, apprentices get the full tool allowance of $22.31 per week, paid for all purposes (cl 16.4(a)(iii), 18.3(g)).

Under the Building and Construction Award it can be higher: $41.22 per week for carpenters and joiners, $29.26 for bricklayers and $9.89 for painters (cl 21.1(a), from 1 July 2026). Some awards specify that the employer must provide all necessary tools, in which case no tool allowance is payable.

Travel allowances are common in construction and trades awards. If an apprentice is required to travel to different worksites (common in electrical, plumbing, and construction), they may be entitled to a fares and travel allowance.

This typically covers travel beyond a set radius from the employer's base or the apprentice's home.

Meal allowances apply when an apprentice is required to work overtime beyond a certain period without being given notice.

First aid allowances may be payable if the apprentice holds a current first aid certificate and is appointed as a first aider. Apprentices are also entitled to paid time off for attending TAFE or registered training organisation (RTO) classes as part of their training contract — this is ordinary paid time, not leave.

Traditional time-based apprenticeships advance the apprentice's pay rate at each anniversary of their commencement date. However, competency-based wage progression (CBWP) allows apprentices to advance to the next pay level earlier by demonstrating that they have achieved the required competencies ahead of schedule. Under CBWP, an apprentice who completes the Year 2 competency units during their first year could move to the Year 2 pay rate without waiting the full 12 months.

This system rewards faster learners and motivated apprentices. Not all awards support CBWP — it must be provided for in the relevant award or enterprise agreement, and the training contract must specify competency-based progression.

The apprentice's RTO assesses competencies against the training package requirements. Some states and territories have different rules around CBWP, so the state or territory training authority may also need to approve the progression. Conversely, if an apprentice fails to achieve competencies within the expected timeframe, they still advance to the next pay level at the standard time-based anniversary — they can't be held back on a lower pay rate. CBWP is most common in electrical, plumbing, and engineering trades, and can result in completing a four-year apprenticeship in three or three-and-a-half years.

Each trade has its own award with distinct apprentice pay structures. Electrical apprentices are covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020, with four-year apprenticeships and strong wage progression. Electrical is one of the highest-paying trades for apprentices, particularly from Year 3 onward.

Plumbing apprentices fall under the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020, also a four-year term with competitive rates that reflect the technical skill and licensing requirements. Carpentry apprentices are generally covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, with rates that vary between residential and commercial construction classifications.

Automotive apprentices (mechanics, panel beaters, spray painters) are covered by the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020, with four-year terms and additional allowances for working with hazardous materials. Cooking and chef apprentices are covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, typically with three-year terms and additional penalty rates for weekend and evening work that can significantly boost take-home pay. Regardless of trade, all apprentices are entitled to superannuation at 12%, paid leave entitlements, and workplace health and safety protections (more on this below).