Minimum pay rates for software developers under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002)
Software developers design, build, and maintain applications, websites, and systems. Many are covered by the Clerks Award when employed in non-IT-specific businesses.
$25.68
Base rate/hr
$32.10
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$25.68
Hourly (Casual)
$32.10
Weekly (38hrs)
$975.84
Annual (Full-Time)
$50,743.68
Software Developers in Australia are generally covered by the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002). 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 software developers 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 3 | Graduate developer / junior programmer | $25.68 | $32.10 | $975.84 | $50,743.68 |
| Level 4 | Mid-level developer with 2+ years experience | $26.74 | $33.43 | $1,016.12 | $52,838.24 |
| Level 5 | Senior developer / team lead | $28.54 | $35.68 | $1,084.52 | $56,395.04 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2025. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual software developers receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $25.68/hr to $32.10/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 software developer working 38 hours per week would earn $63,429.60 (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 software developers receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($25.68/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.
Penalty rates apply when software developers work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($25.68/hr base).
Saturday
$32.10/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$51.36/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$64.20/hr
2.5x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Software developers are often misclassified as independent contractors or paid a flat salary that doesn't account for overtime. Unpaid overtime is a major issue in the tech industry.
If you earn less than $25.68/hr as a full-time or part-time software developer, or less than $32.10/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $25.68/hr | $32.10/hr | $50,743.68 | MA000002 |
| Receptionist | $24.10/hr | $30.13/hr | $47,621.60 | MA000002 |
| Admin Officer | $24.73/hr | $30.91/hr | $48,866.48 | MA000002 |
| Accountant | $27.14/hr | $33.93/hr | $53,628.64 | MA000002 |
The minimum hourly rate for a software developer in Australia is $25.68/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $32.10/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
Under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002), the minimum wage for a software developer starts at $25.68/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $975.84/week or $50,743.68/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $24.95/hr.
Software Developers in Australia are generally covered by the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some software developers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual software developer receives $32.10/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $25.68/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
Under the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020, software developers receive: Saturday 1.25x ($32.10/hr), Sunday 2x ($51.36/hr), and Public Holiday 2.5x ($64.20/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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