Apprentice & Trainee Pay Rates 2026: What You Should Be Paid by Year and Trade

Apprentice pay rates are set by the relevant modern award and vary by year of apprenticeship, age, and trade. Under the most common awards, approximate minimum hourly rates from 1 July 2025 are: Year 1: $15.74/hr, Year 2: $18.89/hr, Year 3: $22.05/hr, Year 4: $22.61/hr. These rates are for junior apprentices (under 21 when they started).

Adult apprentices (21 or older at commencement) receive higher minimum rates — typically the Year 2 rate or the national minimum wage ($26.44/hr), whichever is higher, from the start of their apprenticeship. Some trades have different rate structures — for example, electrical apprentices under the Electrical Award have slightly different rates than building apprentices under the Building Award.

The short answer? Always check your specific award for the exact rate.

For the most common awards covering apprentices include: Building and Construction General On-site Award (carpenters, plumbers, electricians on building sites), Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award (electricians, data cablers), Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award (plumbers, gasfitters), Manufacturing and Associated Industries Award (boilermakers, fitters, machinists), Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award (mechanics, auto electricians, panel beaters), Hairdressing and Beauty Services Award (hairdressers, barbers), Hospitality Award (commercial cookery apprentices), and the Hair and Beauty Industry Award. Each award has its own pay structure, allowances, and conditions. Use our Award Finder to identify your specific award and check your Pay Calculator for the exact rate you should be receiving.

Many apprentices are underpaid because they don't receive all their entitlements. Common allowances include: tool allowance (varies by trade, e.g., $22-40/week for construction trades), travel and fares allowance (if working away from the usual workplace), meal allowance (if required to work overtime beyond a certain period), clothing and laundry allowance, and first aid allowance (if appointed as a first aider). Apprentices are also entitled to: paid time off to attend TAFE or training (this is ordinary paid time, not leave), the same leave entitlements as other employees (annual leave, personal leave, compassionate leave), superannuation at 12% on all earnings, and penalty rates for overtime, weekend, and public holiday work.

If your employer deducts TAFE fees from your pay, check whether this is permitted under your award — in many cases it's not.

Apprentice underpayment is widespread — the Fair Work Ombudsman regularly identifies it as a priority compliance area. To check if you're being paid correctly: use our Pay Calculator and enter your award, year of apprenticeship, and hours worked. Compare the result to your payslip.

Check that you are receiving all applicable allowances, not just the base rate. Verify that overtime is being paid at the correct penalty rate (typically time and a half for the first 2-3 hours, double time thereafter).

Ensure you are being paid for TAFE attendance days at your ordinary rate. If you find a discrepancy, raise it with your employer first.

If unresolved, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman — they've a specific focus on apprentice and young worker compliance.

You can make a complaint anonymously, and you're legally protected from retaliation for raising pay concerns.