Charles Darwin University Pay Rates 2026: Professional & Academic Staff Pay
What Charles Darwin University workers should be paid in 2026 — the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties, and where the Charles Darwin University enterprise agreements sit.
Small Business & Compliance Writer · Former small business owner · Cert IV in Small Business Management
Who covers Charles Darwin University workers — award or agreement?
Charles Darwin University is the only university based in the Northern Territory, with campuses in Darwin, Alice Springs and other regional centres, alongside vocational and dual-sector training. Its workforce spans academics across every discipline and a professional staff cohort supporting teaching, research and campus operations across the territory.
Professional staff sit on the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award 2020, and academic staff — including casual sessional teaching — sit on the Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award 2020. Charles Darwin University's enterprise agreement (listed below) sets pay above these award floors; the tables here are the underlying minimum.
The federal awards relevant to Charles Darwin University roles:
- Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award 2020 (MA000007)
- Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award 2020 (MA000006)
Workforce snapshot. In its 2024-25 report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Charles Darwin University declared 2,340 employees across 2 reporting entities — 32.4% casual and 62.6% women. Source: WGEA 2025 Public Data File, data.gov.au (CC-BY 3.0 AU).
Professional staff award floor — HEW levels (1 July 2026)
Professional (general) staff sit on the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award 2020 (MA000007). The first pay point of each HEW level is:
| Classification | Minimum rate |
|---|---|
| HEW Level 1 (step 1) — $53,820/yr | $28.16/hr |
| HEW Level 2 (step 1) — $56,406/yr | $28.55/hr |
| HEW Level 3 (step 1) — $58,439/yr | $29.57/hr |
| HEW Level 4 (step 1) — $63,660/yr | $32.22/hr |
| HEW Level 5 (step 1) — $66,928/yr | $35.02/hr |
| HEW Level 6 (step 1) — $73,705/yr | $37.30/hr |
| HEW Level 7 (step 1) — $79,255/yr | $40.11/hr |
| HEW Level 8 (step 1) — $86,338/yr | $43.69/hr |
| HEW Level 9 (step 1) — $97,300/yr | $49.24/hr |
| HEW Level 10 (step 1) — $102,866/yr | $52.06/hr |
Casual professional staff add the 25% loading. University enterprise agreements set their own HEW scales above these figures.
Source: Fair Work Commission modern awards pay database, current-operative rates (1 July 2026 annual wage review). Casual figures add the 25% casual loading.
Academic staff award floor (1 July 2026)
Academic staff sit on the Higher Education Industry—Academic Staff—Award 2020 (MA000006). Step 1 of each level:
| Classification | Minimum rate |
|---|---|
| Level A (associate lecturer), step 1 — $68,991/yr | $34.80/hr |
| Level B (lecturer), step 1 — $89,382/yr | $45.09/hr |
| Level C (senior lecturer), step 1 — $104,940/yr | $52.94/hr |
| Level D (associate professor), step 1 — $122,225/yr | $61.66/hr |
| Level E (professor) — $151,614/yr | $76.48/hr |
Source: Fair Work Commission modern awards pay database, current-operative rates (1 July 2026 annual wage review). Casual figures add the 25% casual loading.
Casual academics are paid piece rates for each activity under the award. The most common:
| Casual academic activity | Award rate |
|---|---|
| Casual lecture (1 hour delivery + 2 hours associated work) | $173.99 |
| Casual tutorial (1 hour delivery + 2 hours associated work) | $135.76 |
| Repeat tutorial (1 hour delivery + 1 hour associated work) | $90.48 |
| Standard marking (per hour) | $45.22 |
The associated-work hours built into each rate are the crux of the sector's underpayment cases — if you are paid for the delivery hour only, or marking is capped below the time it takes, the award is not being met.
The Charles Darwin University enterprise agreements
Enterprise agreements set rates above the award, with their own classification structures and allowances. Current Charles Darwin University agreements in our corpus (3 in total):
- Charles Darwin University and Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 — approved June 2025, nominal expiry 31 October 2026.
- Charles Darwin University and Union Enterprise Agreement 2025 — approved June 2025, nominal expiry 31 October 2026.
- Charles Darwin University and Union Enterprise Agreement 2022 — approved April 2023, nominal expiry 31 December 2024.
We don't reproduce agreement dollar figures here — the agreement covering your site, state and stream is the document to read. Find your agreement, then your classification, then your pay point, and compare it with your payslip. The award tables on this page are the floor every one of these agreements must beat.
Common university pay issues at Charles Darwin University
The patterns worth checking on a Charles Darwin University payslip:
- Casual academic piece rates that don't cover the work — paid for the delivery hour only, or marking capped below the time it takes.
- Wrong HEW level for the duties actually performed.
- Rolling fixed-term contracts where the work is ongoing.
- Increments and step progression missed after contract changes.
What to do if your pay looks wrong
Match your payslip to your classification in the agreement (or the award tables above), and price any gap with our back-pay calculator. Raise it in writing with payroll or your manager first — most underpayments are fixed at that step. Unresolved, the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) recovers underpayments at no cost, up to six years back, and your union can run the claim for you. Not sure which instrument covers you? Ask our AI advisor with your role and location.
FairWork Mate AI
Check your own pay with the advisor
“I work at Charles Darwin University. Am I being paid the right rate for my age and hours — and are my weekend and public holiday penalties correct?”
Cited answers grounded in the Fair Work Act, your award and the Fair Work Commission decisions behind them. Free to start.
Ask the advisor →Pro is $29.99/mo for 150 questions, or a $14.99 7-Day Pass covers 50 questions over 7 days. See plans
Get pay and rights updates for your job
Free email updates when award rates, the minimum wage or workplace laws change.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Related articles
What University of Sydney workers should be paid in 2026 — the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties, and where the University of Sydney enterprise agreements sit.
UNSW Sydney Pay Rates 2026: Professional & Academic Staff PayWhat UNSW Sydney workers should be paid in 2026 — the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties, and where the UNSW Sydney enterprise agreements sit.
University of Melbourne Pay Rates 2026: Professional & Academic Staff PayWhat University of Melbourne workers should be paid in 2026 — the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties, and where the University of Melbourne enterprise agreements sit.
Monash University Pay Rates 2026: Professional & Academic Staff PayWhat Monash University workers should be paid in 2026 — the Higher Education Industry—General Staff—Award floor by classification, casual loading, penalties, and where the Monash University enterprise agreements sit.
Ran Kirkwood Landscaping in Bendigo for eight years before moving into trade supply operations. Writes about Modern Award compliance, employer obligations, and contractor classification from an operator's perspective. Cert IV in Small Business Management (La Trobe TAFE Bendigo, 2014). Based in Kangaroo Flat, Victoria.