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 2026Retail Award
MA000004 · Retail
Common roles: Shop assistant, Retail manager, Cashier, Shelf stocker, Visual merchandiser
$27.81
Base rate/hr
$34.76
Casual rate/hr
Know someone covered by the Retail Award?
Classification Pay Rates — Retail Award
| Level | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (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 Length | Meal Break | Rest Break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 hours | None | None | No |
| 4–5 hours | None | 10 min | Yes |
| 5–7 hours | 30 min | 10 min | No |
| 7–10 hours | 60 min | 10 min | No |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | No |
Calculate Your Exact Rate
Select your classification level and penalty type below.
Compare with Related Awards
| Award | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday | Public 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.
FairWork Mate AI
Is the figure right for you?
The advisor reads your payslip, contract or letter against the Fair Work Commission case library and cites the decision behind every answer.
Just need today sorted? A Day Pass is 25 questions over 24 hours, no account. Get a Day Pass — $4.99
Get pay and rights updates for your job
Free email updates when award rates, the minimum wage or workplace laws change.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Embed the Retail Award Pay Rates 2026-27 on your site, free. Get the code →