Bunnings Pay Rates 2026: Casual, Part-Time & Weekend Rates

Bunnings team members are covered by the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004). However, Bunnings also has enterprise agreements that generally pay above the award minimum.

Bunnings is well known in Australian retail for paying better than most competitors. They've consistently offered rates above the award floor, which is one reason they tend to attract and keep experienced staff.

Even if you're on an enterprise agreement, the award is still the safety net. Your total pay package can never leave you worse off than the award.

The General Retail Industry Award minimum for Level 1 is $27.81/hr, but Bunnings typically pays more. Under recent enterprise agreements, Bunnings team members have received:

• Team member (entry level): approximately $28–$30/hr base rate
• Specialist/trade team member: approximately $30–$33/hr
• Team leader/supervisor: approximately $33–$36/hr

Exact rates depend on your location, EA, and role. The point is: Bunnings generally pays a few dollars above the award minimum. If you're getting less than the award rate of $27.81/hr, that's definitely wrong regardless of any agreement.

Casual Bunnings workers get the 25% casual loading on top of their base rate. Using the award minimum as the floor:

• Award minimum casual rate: $34.76/hr (Level 1)
• Typical Bunnings casual rate: $35–$38/hr (above award)

The casual loading compensates you for not getting annual leave, personal leave, or redundancy pay. If you've been casual at Bunnings for 12 months with regular shifts, you have the right to request conversion to permanent part-time or full-time.

Penalty rates apply to all Bunnings workers, whether on the award or an EA. At a minimum (using award rates for Level 1 permanent):

• Saturday: 125% — at least $34.76/hr
• Sunday: 150% — at least $41.72/hr
• Public holidays: 225% — at least $62.57/hr

Bunnings stores are open on most public holidays (except Christmas Day and Good Friday). If you work a public holiday, you must get the penalty rate. You can also refuse to work public holidays if you have reasonable grounds.

Under some Bunnings EAs, weekend penalty rates are slightly different — check your specific agreement or ask your payroll team.

Bunnings pays above the award minimum for a few reasons:

• Product knowledge: Bunnings wants staff who actually know about hardware, timber, gardening, and trade supplies. That expertise commands higher pay
• Retention: Training someone to work across Bunnings departments takes time. Paying more keeps staff longer and reduces turnover costs
• Enterprise bargaining: The SDA (Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association) has negotiated agreements with Bunnings that set rates above the award
• Competition: Bunnings competes for workers against trade and construction, which pay well. Above-award rates help them attract staff

If you're considering retail work, Bunnings is generally one of the better-paying options in the industry.

Whether you're on the award or an EA, here's how to make sure you're getting paid right:

• Ask HR or your store manager which agreement or award you're covered by
• Get a copy of the EA if there is one — your employer must provide it on request
• Compare your payslip rates against the EA rates or the award minimum, whichever applies
• Check that penalty rates are being applied correctly for weekend and evening shifts
• If your EA rate is below the award minimum for any shift, that's a problem — the award overrides

Use our retail worker pay rate tool to check the award minimum as a baseline.