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, trade and, for junior apprentices, whether you completed Year 12. In most trade awards (Vehicle Repair, Manufacturing, Hair and Beauty, Gardening and Landscaping, and the base rate in the Electrical and Building awards), the junior apprentice base rate from 1 July 2026 is: Year 1: $14.73/hr without Year 12 or $16.20/hr with Year 12; Year 2: $17.67/hr or $19.14/hr. Year 3 and 4 rates vary more by award, for example $22.09 and $25.92/hr under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award (cl 16.9(b)). These are for junior apprentices (under 21 when they started).

Some awards add allowances that are paid for all purposes, which lifts the rate. A first-year electrical apprentice must be paid at least $16.39/hr, or $17.97/hr with Year 12 (Electrical Contracting Award cl 16.4(a)(ii), Schedule B.4.5). A first-year plumbing apprentice gets $16.56/hr or $18.11/hr (Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award cl 18.2(c), Schedule E.2.1). Hospitality cooking apprentices have no Year 12 split: $16.20, $19.14, $23.56 and $27.98/hr for Years 1 to 4 (Hospitality Award cl 19.1(b), Table 7).

Adult apprentices (21 or older at commencement) get at least 80% of the trade rate in Year 1 ($23.56/hr in most awards). From Year 2 they get at least the award's lowest adult rate, or the junior rate for their year if that's higher. For example, a Year 2 adult apprentice gets $25.74/hr under the Vehicle Repair Award (cl 16.10(b)), $26.44/hr base or $28.90/hr all-purpose under the Electrical Award (cl 16.4(b)(v), Schedule B.4.1), and $27.53/hr as a plumber (Plumbing Award cl 18.3(b), Schedule E.3.1).

The short answer? Always check your specific award for the exact rate. Our apprentice wages calculator applies each award's table by trade.

The most common awards covering apprentices include: Building and Construction General On-site Award (carpenters, bricklayers, painters and other on-site construction trades), Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award (electricians, data cablers), Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award (plumbers, gasfitters, sprinkler fitters), Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award (boilermakers, fitters, machinists), Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award (mechanics, auto electricians, panel beaters), Hair and Beauty Industry Award (hairdressers, barbers, beauty therapists), Hospitality Industry (General) Award (commercial cookery apprentices) and the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (landscapers). 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: under the Building Award, $41.22/week for carpenters, $29.26 for bricklayers and $9.89 for painters, cl 21.1(a); $22.31/week for electrical apprentices, Electrical Award cl 18.3(g)), 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.