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Building Award Pay Rates 2026-27

All pay rates under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020) for 2026-27, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and break rules.

Last verified: 19 July 2026

Building Award

MA000020 · Construction

Common roles: Labourer, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Site supervisor

$26.67

Base rate/hr

$33.34

Casual rate/hr

Classification Pay Rates — Building Award

LevelBase Rate/hrCasual Rate/hrWeekly (38hrs)Annual
CW1$26.67$33.34$1,013.46$52,699.92
CW2$26.29$32.86$999.02$51,949.04
CW3$28.10$35.13$1,067.80$55,525.60
CW4$29.71$37.14$1,128.98$58,706.96
CW5$31.05$38.81$1,179.90$61,354.80
CW6$32.55$40.69$1,236.90$64,318.80
CW7$34.38$42.98$1,306.44$67,934.88
CW8$35.90$44.88$1,364.20$70,938.40

Penalty Rates — Building Award

Saturday (first 2 hours)

$40.01/hr

1.5x base

Saturday (after 2 hours)

$53.34/hr

2x base

Sunday

$53.34/hr

2x base

Public Holiday

$66.68/hr

2.5x base

Overtime (first 2 hours)

$40.01/hr

1.5x base

Overtime (after 2 hours)

$53.34/hr

2x base

Rates shown for Level 1 ($26.67/hr base).View full penalty rate table →

Break Rules — Building Award

Shift LengthMeal BreakRest BreakPaid?
Up to 5 hoursNoneNoneNo
5–8 hours30 minNoneNo
8–10 hours30 min10 minYes
10+ hours60 min20 minYes

Calculate Your Exact Rate

Select your classification level and penalty type below.

Compare with Related Awards

AwardBase RateCasual RateSundayPublic Holiday
Building Award$26.67/hr$33.34/hr$53.34/hr$66.68/hr
Hospitality Award$26.44/hr$33.05/hr$39.66/hr$59.49/hr
Retail Award$27.81/hr$34.76/hr$41.71/hr$69.52/hr
Clerks Award$26.97/hr$33.71/hr$53.94/hr$67.43/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Building Award pay rate for 2026-27?

Under the Building Award (MA000020), the Level 1 base rate is $26.67/hr from 1 July 2026. The casual rate (including 25% loading) is $33.34/hr. Higher classification levels receive progressively higher rates.

What is the Sunday rate under the Building Award?

Permanent employees under the Building Award receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee, that's $53.34/hr on Sundays.

What is the public holiday rate under the Building Award?

Public holiday work under the Building Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $66.68/hr.

Who is covered by the Building Award?

The Building Award covers employees in the construction industry. Common job titles include Labourer, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Site supervisor, Bricklayer, Painter.

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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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