Minimum pay rates for manufacturing workers in Australia under the Manufacturing Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010)
$25.74
Base rate/hr
$32.18
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for manufacturing workers is $25.74/hr under the Manufacturing Award. Casuals receive $32.18/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Factory workers, machine operators, production staff, and warehouse hands are covered by the Manufacturing Award. With shift work common in this industry, your actual take-home can be a fair bit higher than the base rate once you factor in afternoon and night shift loadings.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C14 | Manufacturing Level C14 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $50,862.24 |
| C13 | Manufacturing Level C13 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $52,245.44 |
| C12 | Manufacturing Level C12 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $53,510.08 |
| C11 | Manufacturing Level C11 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $55,268.72 |
| C10 | Manufacturing Level C10 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| C9 | Manufacturing Level C9 | $30.38 | $37.98 | $60,030.88 |
| C8 | Manufacturing Level C8 | $31.30 | $39.13 | $61,848.80 |
| C7 | Manufacturing Level C7 | $32.13 | $40.16 | $63,488.88 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C14 | $25.74 | +$6.44 | $32.18 |
| C13 | $26.44 | +$6.61 | $33.05 |
| C12 | $27.08 | +$6.77 | $33.85 |
| C11 | $27.97 | +$6.99 | $34.96 |
| C10 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
| C9 | $30.38 | +$7.60 | $37.98 |
| C8 | $31.30 | +$7.83 | $39.13 |
| C7 | $32.13 | +$8.03 | $40.16 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $25.74/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$38.61/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$51.48/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$64.35/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $38.61/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $51.48/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $64.35/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.15x | $29.60/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.3x | $33.46/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $38.61/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $51.48/hr |
View the complete Manufacturing Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Manufacturing Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $25.74/hr (or $32.18/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in manufacturing. 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 manufacturing workers is $25.74/hr (C14 — entry level) under the Manufacturing Award. A qualified tradesperson at C10 earns $29.45/hr. The top classification (C7) pays $32.13/hr base.
Afternoon shifts attract a 15% loading ($29.60/hr for C14). Night shifts get a 30% loading ($33.46/hr). Saturday is 1.5x, Sunday is 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x.
The C classification runs from C14 (lowest, entry-level process worker) down to C1 (highest, professional engineer). Most factory hands start at C14 or C13. Tradespeople are typically C10. The lower the number, the higher the skill level and pay.
It depends. Some warehouse workers are covered by the Manufacturing Award, while others fall under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award or the Transport Award. It comes down to the nature of the business, not just your job title.
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