What Award Am I Under? How to Find Your Modern Award in 2025-26
Learn how to find your Modern Award in Australia. Covers award coverage rules, common awards like hospitality and retail, and what happens if no award applies.
What is a Modern Award?
A Modern Award is a legal document created by the Fair Work Commission that sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for employees in a particular industry or occupation. Awards sit on top of the National Employment Standards (NES) and typically provide additional entitlements including minimum pay rates by classification level, penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, overtime rates, allowances (such as travel, uniform, or tool allowances), rostering rules, and break entitlements. There are currently 121 Modern Awards in force in Australia. Awards are reviewed and updated annually — pay rates are typically adjusted each July following the Annual Wage Review.
How award coverage works
Awards generally cover employees in two ways: by industry or by occupation. Industry awards apply to all employees working in a specific industry regardless of their role — for example, the Hospitality Industry (General) Award covers everyone from kitchen hands to hotel managers. Occupation-based awards apply to employees performing a specific type of work regardless of what industry their employer is in — for example, the Clerks—Private Sector Award covers clerical and administrative workers across many industries. If both an industry award and an occupation award could apply, the industry award usually takes priority unless the occupation award specifically covers that type of work.
How to find which award covers you
The quickest way is to use the Fair Work Ombudsman's 'Find My Award' tool at fairwork.gov.au. You answer a series of questions about your industry and job duties, and it identifies the relevant award. Alternatively, you can check your employment contract or most recent pay slip, which should reference the applicable award. You can also ask your employer directly — they are legally required to keep records of which award applies. If you're a union member, your union can confirm your award coverage. Our Award Finder tool can also help you narrow down the right award based on your industry and role.
Common Modern Awards in Australia
Some of the most widely applicable awards include: the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (covering retail shops, fast food, and pharmacies), the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (hotels, restaurants, cafes, catering), the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (admin and clerical workers), the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) Award 2010, the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, and the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020. Each of these awards has its own classification structure, pay rates, and specific conditions.
What if no award covers you?
Some employees are 'award-free,' meaning no Modern Award applies to their employment. This is most common for senior managers, some professional roles, and employees covered by an enterprise agreement that replaces the award entirely. If you're award-free and not covered by an enterprise agreement, the National Employment Standards and the national minimum wage ($24.10/hr from 1 July 2025) still apply as the safety net. Your terms and conditions will be set by your employment contract. Some employees may be covered by a state industrial instrument if they work for a non-national system employer (certain state government and local government employees).
Enterprise agreements vs awards
An enterprise agreement is a negotiated agreement between an employer and its employees (or their union) that can replace or modify award conditions. Enterprise agreements must pass the 'Better Off Overall Test' (BOOT), meaning employees must be better off overall compared to the relevant award. If you're covered by an enterprise agreement, it takes precedence over the award for the matters it covers. However, the NES still provides the minimum floor that no agreement can go below. You can search for enterprise agreements on the Fair Work Commission's website using the agreement search tool.
Why your award classification matters
Within each award, employees are placed into classification levels based on their skills, qualifications, duties, and experience. Your classification directly determines your minimum pay rate. For example, under the Hospitality Award, a Level 1 Food and Beverage Attendant earns a different base rate to a Level 5 Cook. Being misclassified at a lower level than your actual duties warrant is a common form of underpayment. Check the classification definitions in your award carefully and compare them to the work you actually do. If you believe you're misclassified, raise it with your employer or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
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Official resources
General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
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