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Retail Award Pay Rates 2026-27

All pay rates under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004) for 2026-27, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and break rules.

Last verified: 19 July 2026

Retail Award

MA000004 · Retail

Common roles: Shop assistant, Retail manager, Cashier, Shelf stocker, Visual merchandiser

$27.81

Base rate/hr

$34.76

Casual rate/hr

Classification Pay Rates — Retail Award

LevelBase Rate/hrCasual Rate/hrWeekly (38hrs)Annual
Level 1$27.81$34.76$1,056.78$54,952.56
Level 2$28.45$35.56$1,081.10$56,217.20
Level 3$28.89$36.11$1,097.82$57,086.64
Level 4$29.45$36.81$1,119.10$58,193.20
Level 5$30.66$38.33$1,165.08$60,584.16
Level 6$31.11$38.89$1,182.18$61,473.36
Level 7$32.67$40.84$1,241.46$64,555.92
Level 8$33.99$42.49$1,291.62$67,164.24

Penalty Rates — Retail Award

Saturday

$34.76/hr

1.25x base

Sunday

$41.71/hr

1.5x base

Public Holiday

$69.52/hr

2.5x base

Evening (6pm–11pm)

$34.76/hr

1.25x base

Overtime (first 3 hours)

$41.71/hr

1.5x base

Overtime (after 3 hours)

$55.62/hr

2x base

Rates shown for Level 1 ($27.81/hr base).View full penalty rate table →

Break Rules — Retail Award

Shift LengthMeal BreakRest BreakPaid?
Up to 4 hoursNoneNoneNo
4–5 hoursNone10 minYes
5–7 hours30 min10 minNo
7–10 hours60 min10 minNo
10+ hours60 min20 minNo

Calculate Your Exact Rate

Select your classification level and penalty type below.

Compare with Related Awards

AwardBase RateCasual RateSundayPublic Holiday
Retail Award$27.81/hr$34.76/hr$41.71/hr$69.52/hr
Hospitality Award$26.44/hr$33.05/hr$39.66/hr$59.49/hr
Clerks Award$26.97/hr$33.71/hr$53.94/hr$67.43/hr
Building Award$26.67/hr$33.34/hr$53.34/hr$66.68/hr

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Retail Award pay rate for 2026-27?

Under the Retail Award (MA000004), the Level 1 base rate is $27.81/hr from 1 July 2026. The casual rate (including 25% loading) is $34.76/hr. Higher classification levels receive progressively higher rates.

What is the Sunday rate under the Retail Award?

Permanent employees under the Retail Award receive 1.5x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee, that's $41.71/hr on Sundays.

What is the public holiday rate under the Retail Award?

Public holiday work under the Retail Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $69.52/hr.

Who is covered by the Retail Award?

The Retail Award covers employees in the retail industry. Common job titles include Shop assistant, Retail manager, Cashier, Shelf stocker, Visual merchandiser, Store manager.

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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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