Minimum pay rates for retail workers in Australia under the Retail Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004)
$27.81
Base rate/hr
$34.76
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for retail workers is $27.81/hr under the Retail Award. Casuals receive $34.76/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Working in a shop, supermarket, or store? You're almost certainly on the General Retail Industry Award. It covers everyone from cashiers and shelf stackers to store managers. Retail is one of the biggest employers of casuals in Australia, so knowing your rates matters.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Retail Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $54,952.56 |
| Level 2 | Retail Employee Level 2 | $28.45 | $35.56 | $56,217.20 |
| Level 3 | Retail Employee Level 3 | $28.89 | $36.11 | $57,086.64 |
| Level 4 | Retail Employee Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| Level 5 | Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.66 | $38.33 | $60,584.16 |
| Level 6 | Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $38.89 | $61,473.36 |
| Level 7 | Retail Employee Level 7 | $32.67 | $40.84 | $64,555.92 |
| Level 8 | Retail Employee Level 8 | $33.99 | $42.49 | $67,164.24 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the General Retail Industry 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 | $27.81 | +$6.95 | $34.76 |
| Level 2 | $28.45 | +$7.11 | $35.56 |
| Level 3 | $28.89 | +$7.22 | $36.11 |
| Level 4 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
| Level 5 | $30.66 | +$7.67 | $38.33 |
| Level 6 | $31.11 | +$7.78 | $38.89 |
| Level 7 | $32.67 | +$8.17 | $40.84 |
| Level 8 | $33.99 | +$8.50 | $42.49 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $27.81/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$34.76/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$41.71/hr
1.5x base
Public Holiday
$69.52/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.25x | $34.76/hr |
| Sunday | 1.5x | $41.71/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $69.52/hr |
| Evening (6pm–11pm) | 1.25x | $34.76/hr |
| Overtime (first 3 hours) | 1.5x | $41.71/hr |
| Overtime (after 3 hours) | 2x | $55.62/hr |
View the complete Retail Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Retail Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $27.81/hr (or $34.76/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in retail. 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 retail workers is $27.81/hr (Level 1) under the General Retail Industry Award. Casual workers receive $34.76/hr including the 25% casual loading. Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Yes. Retail workers earn 1.5x their base rate on Sundays ($41.72/hr for Level 1). Saturday is 1.25x ($34.76/hr). Public holidays pay 2.5x ($69.53/hr).
Retail workers get a 25% loading for hours worked between 6pm and 11pm on Monday to Friday. That's $34.76/hr for a Level 1 employee.
There are 8 classification levels in the Retail Award, from Level 1 (entry-level, $27.81/hr) up to Level 8 ($33.99/hr). Your level depends on your skills, qualifications, and responsibilities.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.
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