Big W Pay Rates 2026: Hourly Rate, Casual & Weekend Pay

Big W is owned by Woolworths Group. Big W workers are covered by the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004), the same award that covers Coles, Target, and Kmart. Woolworths Group also runs enterprise agreements at some banners, but the award is the legal floor.

This covers checkout, customer service, replenishment, online fulfilment, and most floor and stockroom roles at Big W.

Award minimum rates from 1 July 2025:

• Level 1: $25.44/hr permanent / $31.80/hr casual
• Level 2: $26.03/hr permanent / $32.54/hr casual
• Level 3: $26.47/hr permanent / $33.09/hr casual
• Level 4: $26.97/hr permanent / $33.71/hr casual

Most Big W team members are Level 1. If you handle till banking, train new staff, or supervise a section, push for Level 2 or 3.

Under 21? You're paid a percentage of the adult Level 1 rate:

• Under 16: $11.45/hr (45%)
• 16: $12.72/hr (50%)
• 17: $15.26/hr (60%)
• 18: $17.81/hr (70%)
• 19: $20.35/hr (80%)
• 20: $22.90/hr (90%)

The increase applies from the first pay period after your birthday — check your next payslip carefully.

Working outside ordinary hours pays more. Permanent adult Level 1:

• Saturday: $31.80/hr (125%)
• Sunday: $38.16/hr (150%)
• Public holiday: $57.24/hr (225%)
• Evening (after 6pm): $31.80/hr (125%)

Casual penalty multipliers apply on top of the casual base ($31.80/hr) — Sunday casual is 175% of the un-loaded base, and public holidays are 250%.

Woolworths Group, Big W's parent, signed an Enforceable Undertaking with the FWO in 2021 for over $571 million in self-reported underpayments across multiple banners. Issues commonly seen:

• Annualised salary set-off failures for assistant managers
• Public holiday penalty miscalculations
• Junior rate not updated after birthdays
• Wrong classification level applied

The 2021 program closed in late 2024 — but underpayments past that date are not part of the EU. If your pay looks short, check it yourself.

Use our payslip checker with your hourly rate, hours, and shift times to flag any mismatch with the award. If you find a gap, raise it with Big W payroll first. If unresolved, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 — the FWO recovers underpayments for free.