Children's Services Award Pay Rates 2026-27
All pay rates under the Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120) for 2026-27, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and break rules.
Children's Services Award
MA000120 · Childcare
Common roles: Childcare worker, Childcare educator, Early childhood teacher, Family day care worker, Centre director
$28.81
Base rate/hr
$36.01
Casual rate/hr
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Classification Pay Rates — Children's Services Award
| Level | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $28.81 | $36.01 | $1,094.78 | $56,928.56 |
| Level 2 | $29.69 | $37.11 | $1,128.22 | $58,667.44 |
| Level 3 | $32.47 | $40.59 | $1,233.86 | $64,160.72 |
| Level 4 | $34.65 | $43.31 | $1,316.70 | $68,468.40 |
| Level 5 | $36.57 | $45.71 | $1,389.66 | $72,262.32 |
| Level 6 | $38.25 | $47.81 | $1,453.50 | $75,582.00 |
| Level 7 | $40.00 | $50.00 | $1,520.00 | $79,040.00 |
| Level 8 | $46.12 | $57.65 | $1,752.56 | $91,133.12 |
Penalty Rates — Children's Services Award
$43.21/hr
$57.62/hr
$72.02/hr
$43.21/hr
$57.62/hr
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 |
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Compare with Related Awards
| Award | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Services Award | $28.81/hr | $36.01/hr | $57.62/hr | $72.02/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 |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $33.34/hr | $53.34/hr | $66.68/hr |
More on the Children's Services Award
Children's Services Award (MA000120) 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 childcare
- West Bathurst Preschool Teachers and EarlyStart Children & Family Centre Enterprise Agreement 2025
- C&K Early Childhood Education Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Queensland Kindergarten Early Childhood Education Multi-Employer Enterprise Agreement 2026
- Holland Park Kindergarten Early Childhood Collective Education Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Landsborough Kindergarten Early Childhood Education Collective Enterprise Agreement 2025
- Mermaid Waters Community Kindergarten Early Childhood Education Collective Enterprise Agreement
Children's Services Award enforcement cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Children's Services Award pay rate for 2026-27?
Under the Children's Services Award (MA000120), the Level 1 base rate is $28.81/hr from 1 July 2026. The casual rate (including 25% loading) is $36.01/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 $57.62/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 $72.02/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, Room leader, Assistant director.
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