Children's Services Award Pay Rates 2025-26
All pay rates under the Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000018) for 2025-26, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and break rules.
Last verified: 1 July 2025Children's Services Award
MA000018 · Childcare
Common roles: Childcare worker, Childcare educator, Early childhood teacher, Family day care worker, Centre director
$24.10
Base rate/hr
$30.13
Casual rate/hr
Classification Pay Rates — Children's Services Award
| Level | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $24.10 | $30.13 | $915.80 | $47,621.60 |
| Level 2 | $24.88 | $31.10 | $945.44 | $49,162.88 |
| Level 3 | $26.18 | $32.73 | $994.84 | $51,731.68 |
| Level 4 | $28.18 | $35.23 | $1,070.84 | $55,683.68 |
| Level 5 | $30.07 | $37.59 | $1,142.66 | $59,418.32 |
| Level 6 | $32.15 | $40.19 | $1,221.70 | $63,528.40 |
Penalty Rates — Children's Services Award
Saturday
$36.15/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$48.20/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$60.25/hr
2.5x base
Overtime (first 2 hours)
$36.15/hr
1.5x base
Overtime (after 2 hours)
$48.20/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($24.10/hr base).View full penalty rate table →
Break Rules — Children's Services Award
| Shift Length | Meal Break | Rest Break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 hours | None | None | No |
| 4–5 hours | None | 10 min | Yes |
| 5–7.6 hours | 30 min | 10 min | No |
| 7.6+ hours | 30 min | 20 min | No |
Calculate Your Exact Rate
Select your classification level and penalty type below.
Compare with Related Awards
| Award | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Services Award | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $48.20/hr | $60.25/hr |
| Hospitality Award | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $36.15/hr | $54.23/hr |
| Retail Award | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $36.15/hr | $60.25/hr |
| Clerks Award | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $48.20/hr | $60.25/hr |
| Building Award | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $48.20/hr | $60.25/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Children's Services Award pay rate for 2025-26?
Under the Children's Services Award (MA000018), the Level 1 base rate is $24.10/hr from 1 July 2025. The casual rate (including 25% loading) is $30.13/hr. Higher classification levels receive progressively higher rates.
What is the Sunday rate under the Children's Services Award?
Permanent employees under the Children's Services Award receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee, that's $48.20/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Children's Services Award?
Public holiday work under the Children's Services Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $60.25/hr.
Who is covered by the Children's Services Award?
The Children's Services Award covers employees in the childcare industry. Common job titles include Childcare worker, Childcare educator, Early childhood teacher, Family day care worker, Centre director, Preschool teacher.
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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