Minimum pay rates for education workers in Australia under the Educational Services Award. Updated 1 July 2025.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2020 (MA000075)
$24.95
Base rate/hr
$31.19
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for education workers is $24.95/hr under the Educational Services Award. Casuals receive $31.19/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2025.
Teachers' aides, school support staff, and education workers outside of universities are covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award. Whether you're a classroom assistant, lab technician, or school admin officer, these are the minimum rates your employer must meet.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Education Support Level 1 | $24.95 | $31.19 | $49,301.20 |
| Level 2 | Education Support Level 2 | $25.52 | $31.90 | $50,427.52 |
| Level 3 | Education Support Level 3 | $27.10 | $33.88 | $53,549.60 |
| Level 4 | Education Support Level 4 | $29.84 | $37.30 | $58,963.84 |
| Level 5 | Education Support Level 5 | $32.15 | $40.19 | $63,528.40 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2025 under the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2020. 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 | $24.95 | +$6.24 | $31.19 |
| Level 2 | $25.52 | +$6.38 | $31.90 |
| Level 3 | $27.10 | +$6.78 | $33.88 |
| Level 4 | $29.84 | +$7.46 | $37.30 |
| Level 5 | $32.15 | +$8.04 | $40.19 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $24.95/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$37.43/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$49.90/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$62.38/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $37.43/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $49.90/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $62.38/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $37.43/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $49.90/hr |
View the complete Educational Services Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Educational Services Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $24.95/hr (or $31.19/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in education. 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 education support workers is $25.52/hr (Level 1) under the Educational Services Award. Casual workers receive $31.90/hr including the 25% casual loading. Rates took effect from 1 July 2025.
Yes. Saturday pays 1.5x, Sunday pays 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x your base rate. However, most education roles are Monday to Friday during school terms, so penalties are less commonly triggered than in other industries.
There are multiple levels based on qualifications and duties. Level 1 covers entry-level support staff ($25.52/hr). Higher levels cover qualified teachers' aides, coordinators, and senior education workers with higher base rates.
Most teachers in government schools work under enterprise agreements that pay above the award. However, some private tutoring companies, small private schools, and after-school care providers do rely on award rates, which can result in lower pay than the public sector.
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is 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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