Site Supervisor Pay Rate Australia 2026-27
Site Supervisors earn at least $31.31/hr (CW/ECW 5), $39.14/hr casual — about $1,190 a week full-time — under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. Every classification level, penalty rates below.
Last verified: 2 August 2026Site Supervisor Pay Rate
Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020)
Site supervisors oversee construction projects, manage trades workers, ensure safety compliance, and coordinate daily operations on building sites.
$31.31
Base rate/hr
$39.14
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$31.31
Hourly (Casual)
$39.14
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,189.78
Annual (Full-Time)
$61,868.56
What Award Covers Site Supervisors?
Site Supervisors 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 site supervisors 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 →
Site Supervisor Classification Levels & Pay Rates
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CW/ECW 5 | Special class tradesperson (may assist with supervision and training) | $31.31 | $39.14 | $1,189.78 | $61,868.56 |
| CW/ECW 6 | Special class tradesperson level II | $32.14 | $40.18 | $1,221.32 | $63,508.64 |
| CW/ECW 7 | Sub-foreperson | $33.06 | $41.33 | $1,256.28 | $65,326.56 |
| CW/ECW 8 | Foreperson | $33.86 | $42.33 | $1,286.68 | $66,907.36 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Building and Construction General On-site Award MA000020 cl 19.1(a), rates from 1 July 2026. The award names a sub-foreperson at CW/ECW 7 and a foreperson at CW/ECW 8 (Schedule A.2.7–A.2.8); a leading hand gets an allowance on top of their rate (cl 19.2). Penalty and overtime rates are paid on the ordinary hourly rate, which adds the industry allowance (cl 2, cl 22). In the metal and engineering construction sector, employers with 30 or more employees pay forepersons and supervisors the weekly rates in cl 43.
Casual Site Supervisor Pay Rate
Casual site supervisors receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $31.31/hr to $39.14/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 site supervisor working 38 hours per week would earn $77,340.64 (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 Site Supervisor Pay Rate
Part-time site supervisors receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($31.31/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.
Site Supervisor Penalty Rates
Penalty rates apply when site supervisors work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for CW/ECW 5 permanent employees ($31.31/hr base).
Saturday
$46.96/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$62.62/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$78.27/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 Site Supervisor?
Site supervisors often work long hours including early starts. Common underpayment issues include not receiving proper overtime rates and being misclassified as salaried when the Building Award applies.
If you earn less than $31.31/hr as a full-time or part-time site supervisor, or less than $39.14/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a site supervisor get paid per hour?
The minimum hourly rate for a site supervisor in Australia is $31.31/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $39.14/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 site supervisor?
Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020), the minimum wage for a site supervisor starts at $31.31/hr (CW/ECW 5 adult rate). This equates to $1,189.78/week or $61,868.56/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
What award covers site supervisors?
Site Supervisors 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 site supervisors may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
What is the casual rate for a site supervisor?
A casual site supervisor receives $39.14/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $31.31/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
What are the penalty rates for a site supervisor?
Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, site supervisors receive: Saturday 1.5x ($46.96/hr), Sunday 2x ($62.62/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($78.27/hr) at CW/ECW 5 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.
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