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Pay & Wages

IGA Pay Rates 2026: Casual, Part-Time & Junior Pay

IGA hourly rates 2026 — casual loading, junior rates, weekend penalties under the General Retail Industry Award. Verify your IGA payslip.

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Prepared with AI assistance and checked against primary sources. How we work

FairWork Mate is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IGA. This guide sets out award minimums and is general information, not a statement about the pay practices of IGA.

IGA award coverage

IGA stores are independently owned and operated under the IGA banner. Each store is a separate employer. Most are covered by the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004).

Some larger IGA stores or chains (Ritchies, Drakes, Foodworks) may have enterprise agreements. Ask your store owner for a copy if you're unsure.

Cited answers from the Fair Work Act, modern awards and Fair Work Commission decisions. 1 free question, 1 more with a free account.

IGA hourly rates 2026

Award minimums from 1 July 2025:

  • Level 1 (checkout, shelf-stacking): $27.81/hr permanent / $34.76/hr casual
  • Level 2 (deli, butcher's assistant, experienced): $28.45/hr / $35.56/hr
  • Level 3 (department head, butcher, baker): $28.89/hr / $36.11/hr

Junior rates at IGA

Same scale as Coles and Woolworths under the same award:

  • 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%)

Penalty rates

Saturday: $34.76/hr · Sunday: $41.71/hr · Public holiday: $62.57/hr · Evening (after 6pm): $34.76/hr.

Why IGA pay can be more variable

Because each IGA is independently owned, pay practices vary widely. Some IGA owners are scrupulous about award compliance; others are repeatedly audited by the FWO. Common issues:

  • Cash-in-hand pay below award rate
  • No casual loading on top of base
  • "Trial shifts" worked unpaid (these must be paid)
  • Junior rate stuck at the wrong age

If your IGA pays cash without a payslip, that's a red flag. You're entitled to a written payslip within one working day of being paid. Contact the FWO on 13 13 94 if your IGA refuses to provide one.

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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 the FairWork Mate Editorial Team

FairWork Mate is an independent Australian publisher of workplace-rights information. Our content is prepared with AI assistance and draws on primary sources — the Fair Work Act, modern awards, and Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman material. It is general information, not legal advice.