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.
Building Award
MA000020 · Construction
Common roles: Labourer, Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Site supervisor
$26.67
Base rate/hr
$33.34
Casual rate/hr
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Classification Pay Rates — Building Award
| Level | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CW/ECW 1 (a) | $26.67 | $33.34 | $1,013.46 | $52,699.92 |
| CW/ECW 1 (b) | $27.20 | $34.00 | $1,033.60 | $53,747.20 |
| CW/ECW 1 (c) | $27.56 | $34.45 | $1,047.28 | $54,458.56 |
| CW/ECW 1 (d) | $28.05 | $35.06 | $1,065.90 | $55,426.80 |
| CW/ECW 2 | $28.62 | $35.78 | $1,087.56 | $56,553.12 |
| CW/ECW 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193.20 |
| CW/ECW 4 | $30.38 | $37.98 | $1,154.44 | $60,030.88 |
| CW/ECW 5 | $31.31 | $39.14 | $1,189.78 | $61,868.56 |
| CW/ECW 6 | $32.14 | $40.18 | $1,221.32 | $63,508.64 |
| CW/ECW 7 | $33.06 | $41.33 | $1,256.28 | $65,326.56 |
| CW/ECW 8 | $33.86 | $42.33 | $1,286.68 | $66,907.36 |
| ECW 9 | $34.46 | $43.08 | $1,309.48 | $68,092.96 |
Penalty Rates — Building Award
$40.01/hr
$53.34/hr
$53.34/hr
$66.68/hr
$40.01/hr
$53.34/hr
$40.01/hr
$33.34/hr
Break Rules — Building Award
| Shift Length | Meal Break | Rest Break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | None | None | No |
| 5–8 hours | 30 min | None | No |
| 8–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
Calculate Your Exact Rate
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Compare with Related Awards
| Award | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday | Public 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 | $62.57/hr |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $33.71/hr | $53.94/hr | $67.43/hr |
More on the Building Award
Building Award (MA000020) overview
Coverage, penalty rates, casual overtime method and break rules.
Search enterprise agreements
An enterprise agreement replaces the award where one covers your workplace. Search by employer.
Enterprise agreements in construction
- Terrex Group Field Crew Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Complex Facade Install Pty Ltd / CFMEU South Australia Greenfields Agreement 2026
- Civilmart Mittagong Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Built Ptd Ltd / CFMEU South Australia Enterprise Agreement 2026
- BESIX Watpac / CFMEU South Australia Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Boyle Civil Contracting Perdaman Ceres Project Greenfields Agreement 2024
Employer pay guides under the Building Award
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Building Award pay rate for 2026-27?
Under the Building Award (MA000020), the CW/ECW 1 (a) 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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