Minimum pay rates for warehousing workers in Australia under the Storage & Wholesale Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 (MA000084)
$27.08
Base rate/hr
$33.85
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for warehousing workers is $27.08/hr under the Storage & Wholesale Award. Casuals receive $33.85/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Warehouse workers, forklift operators, and wholesale distribution staff are covered by the Storage Services and Wholesale Award. Whether you're picking and packing, loading trucks, or managing inventory, the award sets your minimum rates. Overtime and shift loadings are common in this sector.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Storage Worker Level 1 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $53,510.08 |
| Level 2 | Storage Worker Level 2 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $55,268.72 |
| Level 3 | Storage Worker Level 3 | $28.77 | $35.96 | $56,849.52 |
| Level 4 | Storage Worker Level 4 | $29.61 | $37.01 | $58,509.36 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Storage Services and Wholesale 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 | $27.08 | +$6.77 | $33.85 |
| Level 2 | $27.97 | +$6.99 | $34.96 |
| Level 3 | $28.77 | +$7.19 | $35.96 |
| Level 4 | $29.61 | +$7.40 | $37.01 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $27.08/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$40.62/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$54.16/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$67.70/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $40.62/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $54.16/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $67.70/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.15x | $31.14/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.3x | $35.20/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $40.62/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $54.16/hr |
View the complete Storage & Wholesale Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Storage & Wholesale Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $27.08/hr (or $33.85/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in warehousing. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →The minimum base rate for warehouse workers is $27.08/hr (Level 1) under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award. Casual workers receive $33.85/hr. Forklift operators at Level 2 earn $27.97/hr base.
Yes. Overtime applies for hours worked beyond 38 per week (or 7.6 per day for day workers). The first 2 hours of overtime are 1.5x your base rate, and anything after that is double time.
Afternoon shifts attract a 15% loading and night shifts get 30%. Saturday pays 1.5x, Sunday pays 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x your base rate.
A high-risk work licence is required to operate a forklift. Workers with a forklift licence are typically classified at Level 2 or above, which attracts a higher base rate. Your employer must cover the cost of any licences required for your role.
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