Minimum pay rates for childcare workers in Australia under the Children's Services Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120)
$28.81
Base rate/hr
$36.01
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for childcare workers is $28.81/hr under the Children's Services Award. Casuals receive $36.01/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Early childhood educators and childcare workers are covered by the Children's Services Award. If you work in a long day care centre, family day care, preschool, or kindergarten, these are the rates you should be seeing on your payslip.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 1 — Introductory Educator | $28.81 | $36.01 | $56,928.56 |
| Level 2 | Level 2 — Educator | $29.69 | $37.11 | $58,667.44 |
| Level 3 | Level 3 — Qualified Educator | $32.47 | $40.59 | $64,160.72 |
| Level 4 | Level 4 — Experienced Educator | $34.65 | $43.31 | $68,468.40 |
| Level 5 | Level 5 — Advanced Educator | $36.57 | $45.71 | $72,262.32 |
| Level 6 | Level 6 — Room Leader | $38.25 | $47.81 | $75,582.00 |
| Level 7 | Level 7 — Assistant Director | $40.00 | $50.00 | $79,040.00 |
| Level 8 | Level 8 — Director | $46.12 | $57.65 | $91,133.12 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Children's Services Award 2010. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $28.81 | +$7.20 | $36.01 |
| Level 2 | $29.69 | +$7.42 | $37.11 |
| Level 3 | $32.47 | +$8.12 | $40.59 |
| Level 4 | $34.65 | +$8.66 | $43.31 |
| Level 5 | $36.57 | +$9.14 | $45.71 |
| Level 6 | $38.25 | +$9.56 | $47.81 |
| Level 7 | $40.00 | +$10.00 | $50.00 |
| Level 8 | $46.12 | +$11.53 | $57.65 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $28.81/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$43.21/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$57.62/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$72.02/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $43.21/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $57.62/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $72.02/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $43.21/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $57.62/hr |
View the complete Children's Services Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Children's Services Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $28.81/hr (or $36.01/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in childcare. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Real Fair Work decisions and Federal Court penalties in this industry.
The minimum base rate for childcare workers is $28.81/hr (Level 1 — Introductory Educator) under the Children's Services Award, effective 1 July 2026. Casual childcare workers at the same level get $36.01/hr (25% loading). A Level 6 Room Leader earns $38.25/hr base, a Level 7 Assistant Director earns $40.00/hr, and a Level 8 Director earns $46.12/hr.
The Children's Services Award 2010 (MA000120) covers childcare workers, early childhood educators, family day care workers, room leaders, assistant directors, and centre directors. If you hold a teaching qualification, you may be on a higher level (and a separate award — the Educational Services (Teachers) Award MA000077 — may apply for some early-childhood teaching roles).
Under the Children's Services Award, a qualified early childhood teacher at Level 5 earns $36.57/hr base ($45.71/hr casual). Level 6 (room leader) earns $38.25/hr base. Many employers pay above-award rates to attract qualified staff.
Yes. Saturday pays 1.5x and Sunday pays 2.0x your base rate. Public holidays are 2.5x. However, most childcare centres don't operate on weekends, so these penalties are less commonly triggered than in other industries.
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