Painter Pay Rate Australia 2026

Minimum pay rates for painters under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.

Last verified: 2 August 2026

Painter Pay Rate

Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020)

Painters prepare surfaces and apply paint, stain, and protective coatings to buildings and structures. They work on residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

$29.71

Base rate/hr

$37.14

Casual rate/hr

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Hourly (Full-Time)

$29.71

Hourly (Casual)

$37.14

Weekly (38hrs)

$1,128.98

Annual (Full-Time)

$58,706.96

What Award Covers Painters?

Painters in Australia are generally covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.

Some painters may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).

View full Building and Construction General On-site Award pay rates →

Painter Classification Levels & Pay Rates

Level	Description	Base Rate/hr	Casual Rate/hr	Weekly (38hrs)	Annual
CW/ECW 3	Painter's labourer / assistant	$28.10	$35.13	$1,067.80	$55,525.60
CW/ECW 4	Qualified painter / decorator	$29.71	$37.14	$1,128.98	$58,706.96
CW/ECW 5	Advanced painter / specialist finisher	$31.05	$38.81	$1,179.90	$61,354.80

Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.

Casual Painter Pay Rate

Casual painters receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $29.71/hr to $37.14/hr.

The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual painter working 38 hours per week would earn $73,388.64 (before tax and penalty rates).

From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →

Part-Time Painter Pay Rate

Part-time painters receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($29.71/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.

Painter Penalty Rates

Penalty rates apply when painters work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($29.71/hr base).

Saturday

$44.57/hr

1.5x base

Sunday

$59.42/hr

2x base

Public Holiday

$74.28/hr

2.5x base

Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.

Am I Being Underpaid as a Painter?

Painters in the construction industry are often engaged as sham contractors. Employees are entitled to award rates, leave, and superannuation that contractors miss out on.

If you earn less than $29.71/hr as a full-time or part-time painter, or less than $37.14/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.

Check if you’re underpaid Calculate back pay owed

Compare with Similar Roles

Job Title	Base Rate	Casual Rate	Annual (FT)	Award
Painter	$29.71/hr	$37.14/hr	$58,706.96	MA000020
Carpenter	$29.71/hr	$37.14/hr	$58,706.96	MA000020
Site Supervisor	$31.05/hr	$38.81/hr	$61,354.80	MA000020
Concreter	$29.71/hr	$37.14/hr	$58,706.96	MA000020

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a painter get paid per hour?

The minimum hourly rate for a painter in Australia is $29.71/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $37.14/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.

What is the minimum wage for a painter?

Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020), the minimum wage for a painter starts at $29.71/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,128.98/week or $58,706.96/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.

What award covers painters?

Painters in Australia are generally covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some painters may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.

What is the casual rate for a painter?

A casual painter receives $37.14/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $29.71/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.

What are the penalty rates for a painter?

Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, painters receive: Saturday 1.5x ($44.57/hr), Sunday 2x ($59.42/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($74.28/hr) at Level 1 rates.

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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.