Minimum pay rates for retail workers under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.
Last verified: 21 May 2026General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004)
Retail workers include shop assistants, cashiers, shelf stockers, and sales staff working in stores, supermarkets, and shopping centres.
$24.10
Base rate/hr
$30.13
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$24.10
Hourly (Casual)
$30.13
Weekly (38hrs)
$915.80
Annual (Full-Time)
$47,621.60
Retail Workers in Australia are generally covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004). 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 retail workers 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).
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Retail employee (introductory) | $24.10 | $30.13 | $915.80 | $47,621.60 |
| Level 2 | Experienced sales assistant | $24.73 | $30.91 | $939.74 | $48,866.48 |
| Level 3 | Specialised retail employee | $25.15 | $31.44 | $955.70 | $49,696.40 |
| Level 4 | Supervisor/2IC | $25.68 | $32.10 | $975.84 | $50,743.68 |
| Level 5 | Department/section manager | $26.74 | $33.43 | $1,016.12 | $52,838.24 |
| Level 6 | Assistant store manager | $27.25 | $34.06 | $1,035.50 | $53,846.00 |
| Level 7 | Store manager (small) | $28.54 | $35.68 | $1,084.52 | $56,395.04 |
| Level 8 | Store manager (large) | $29.71 | $37.14 | $1,128.98 | $58,706.96 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2025. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual retail workers receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $24.10/hr to $30.13/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 retail worker working 38 hours per week would earn $59,536.88 (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 retail workers receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($24.10/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.
Junior rates apply to employees under 21. Under 16: 36% of adult rate. 16 years: 47.3%. 17 years: 57.3%. 18 years: 68.3%. 19 years: 82.5%. 20 years: 97.7%.
Junior rates are a percentage of the full adult rate. They are designed to recognise that younger employees may have less experience and training.
Penalty rates apply when retail workers work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($24.10/hr base).
Saturday
$30.13/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$36.15/hr
1.5x base
Public Holiday
$60.25/hr
2.5x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Retail is one of the most common industries for wage underpayment in Australia. Issues often arise around penalty rate miscalculations and unpaid overtime.
If you earn less than $24.10/hr as a full-time or part-time retail worker, or less than $30.13/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
The minimum hourly rate for a retail worker in Australia is $24.10/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $30.13/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the General Retail Industry Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
Under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004), the minimum wage for a retail worker starts at $24.10/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $915.80/week or $47,621.60/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $24.95/hr.
Retail Workers in Australia are generally covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some retail workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual retail worker receives $30.13/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $24.10/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
Under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, retail workers receive: Saturday 1.25x ($30.13/hr), Sunday 1.5x ($36.15/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($60.25/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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