Kmart Pay Rates 2026: Award Rates for Casual & Part-Time Staff

Kmart workers are covered by the Kmart National Agreement 2024 in stores (nominal expiry November 2028), with the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004) — the same award that covers Coles, Woolworths, and most other major retailers — as the legal floor underneath it. Kmart is owned by Wesfarmers, same as Bunnings. See our Kmart National Agreement 2024 page for the document itself.

This covers team members in-store — checkout, fitting rooms, stock replenishment, online orders, customer service, and department-specific roles.

Minimum hourly rates under the General Retail Industry Award from 1 July 2026:

• Level 1 permanent: $27.81/hr — this covers most Kmart team members
• Level 1 casual: $34.76/hr (includes 25% casual loading)
• Level 2 permanent: $28.45/hr — for experienced workers doing more complex tasks
• Level 2 casual: $35.56/hr

Kmart tends to pay at or near the award minimum. If you're getting less than $27.81/hr as a permanent adult worker (21+), you're being underpaid.

Kmart hires a lot of younger workers, especially for after-school and weekend shifts. Junior rates at Level 1:

• Under 16: $12.51/hr (permanent) / $15.64/hr (casual)
• 16 years: $13.91/hr (permanent) / $17.39/hr (casual)
• 17 years: $16.69/hr (permanent) / $20.86/hr (casual)
• 18 years: $19.47/hr (permanent) / $24.34/hr (casual)
• 19 years: $22.25/hr (permanent) / $27.81/hr (casual)
• 20 years, first 6 months with that employer: $25.03/hr (permanent) / $31.29/hr (casual)
• 20 years, 6 months or more with that employer: $27.81/hr (permanent) / $34.76/hr (casual) — the full adult rate

Your pay must increase from the first full pay period after your birthday. If Kmart doesn't do this automatically, tell them — and follow up in writing if they drag their feet.

The 6-month rule catches a lot of 20 year olds out. Under the General Retail Industry Award, once you have been with the same employer for more than 6 months, a 20 year old is on the full adult rate — not 90%. That is $27.81 an hour instead of $25.03, a difference of $2.78 for every hour you work. Service with a previous employer does not count. Check the date you started and check your payslip.

A bigger change is coming. In the junior rates case (AM2024/24) the Fair Work Commission decided that 18, 19 and 20 year olds under the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards will move to the adult rate for their classification once they have been with their employer for more than 6 months. Rates for under-18s do not change, and neither do rates for 18-20 year olds in their first 6 months. The Commission has said the change could start from 1 December 2026 and will be phased in, with the step dates still being settled. See our junior rates change calculator for what it means for your pay.

Kmart stores are open weekends and many public holidays, so penalty rates are a big part of your pay. For permanent Level 1 adults:

• Saturday: $34.76/hr (125%)
• Sunday: $41.72/hr (150%)
• Public holidays: $62.57/hr (225%)
• Evenings after 6pm: $34.76/hr (125%)

A lot of Kmart's trading hours fall on weekends and evenings. If you're rostered for those shifts, your pay should reflect it. Look at each shift on your payslip individually — don't just check the total.

If you're part-time at Kmart, your employer must give you:

• Guaranteed minimum hours — agreed in writing when you start
• Regular pattern of work — your days and hours should be reasonably predictable
• Pro-rata leave entitlements — annual leave, personal leave, and long service leave based on your hours
• Overtime — if you work beyond your agreed hours, those extra hours must be paid at overtime rates

If Kmart is rostering you like a casual (different hours every week, no guaranteed minimum) but classifying you as part-time, that's a problem. Part-time means a set agreement on hours.

Steps to make sure your Kmart pay is correct:

• Check your payslip against the rates listed above for your age and classification
• Make sure penalty rates are applied correctly — Saturday, Sunday, evening, and public holiday shifts should all show higher rates
• If you're casual, confirm the 25% loading is applied
• Use our retail worker pay rate tool to look up your minimum rate
• If something looks wrong, raise it with your manager in writing first. If that doesn't work, call Fair Work on 13 13 94