Under 21? You're paid a percentage of the adult Level 1 rate: Under 16: $12.51/hr (45%) 16: $13.91/hr (50%) 17: $16.69/hr (60%) 18: $19.47/hr (70%) 19: $22.25/hr (80%) 20: $25.03/hr (90%) The increase applies from the first pay period after your birthday — check your next payslip carefully.

Pay & Wages

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

Q: Big W adult hourly rates

Award minimum rates from 1 July 2025: Level 1: $27.81/hr permanent / $34.76/hr casual Level 2: $28.45/hr permanent / $35.56/hr casual Level 3: $28.89/hr permanent / $36.11/hr casual Level 4: $29.45/hr permanent / $36.81/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.

8 May 20262 min read

Big W workers' pay in 2026 — hourly rates, casual loading, junior rates, and weekend penalties under the General Retail Industry Award. Verify your Big W payslip.

Daniel Nguyen

Payroll & Compliance Editor · Registered BAS Agent, Cert IV Accounting & Bookkeeping

What award covers Big W workers?

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.

Big W adult hourly rates

Award minimum rates from 1 July 2025:

Level 1: $27.81/hr permanent / $34.76/hr casual
Level 2: $28.45/hr permanent / $35.56/hr casual
Level 3: $28.89/hr permanent / $36.11/hr casual
Level 4: $29.45/hr permanent / $36.81/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.

Big W junior rates

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

Under 16: $12.51/hr (45%)
16: $13.91/hr (50%)
17: $16.69/hr (60%)
18: $19.47/hr (70%)
19: $22.25/hr (80%)
20: $25.03/hr (90%)

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

Penalty rates and weekend pay

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

Saturday: $34.76/hr (125%)
Sunday: $41.71/hr (150%)
Public holiday: $62.57/hr (225%)
Evening (after 6pm): $34.76/hr (125%)

Casual penalty multipliers apply on top of the casual base ($34.76/hr) — Sunday casual is 175% of the un-loaded base, and public holidays are 250%.

Big W underpayment context

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.

Verify your Big W pay

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.

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Official resources

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.

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About Daniel Nguyen

Six years running payroll for a Western Sydney commercial builder before moving to compliance writing and contract payroll. Registered BAS Agent (TPB). Cert IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping. Writes about pay calculations, superannuation, and the 2026 Payday Super rollout. Based in Cabramatta, Sydney.

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