Skip to main content
FairWorkMate

School Admin Officer Early Morning Pay Rate 2026

How much does a school admin officer earn on early morning? 1.3x penalty rate under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020.

Last verified: 1 July 2025

Quick Answer

A school admin officer working on early morning earns $32.70/hr (30% above the base rate of $25.15/hr).

Based on the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000023), Level 1 adult rate, effective 1 July 2025.

Base Rate vs Early Morning Penalty Rate

Weekday Base Rate

$25.15/hr

1.0x (no penalty)

Early Morning Penalty Rate

$32.70/hr

1.3x (+30%)

Casual Early Morning Rate

Casual school admin officers receive their casual-loaded rate ($31.44/hr, which includes 25% casual loading) multiplied by the early morning penalty rate of 1.3x.

Base rate$25.15/hr
+ 25% casual loading$31.44/hr
x 1.3 early morning penalty$40.87/hr

How the Penalty Rate Is Calculated

1

Start with the base hourly rate: $25.15/hr

2

Multiply by the early morning penalty rate: 1.3x

3

$25.15 x 1.3 = $32.70/hr

What the Award Says About Early Morning Work

Under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020, employees working early morning hours receive 1.3x their base rate. Early morning hours are generally defined as work performed between midnight and 6am or 7am, depending on the award. These penalties recognise the health and lifestyle impact of working unsociable hours.

Source: Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000023). Rates effective from 1 July 2025 following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review.

Weekly Earnings Example

If you work 8 hours on early morning, you earn $261.56 instead of $201.20 on a weekday — that's $60.36 extra.

Weekday (8hrs)

$201.20

Early Morning (8hrs)

$261.56

Extra Earned

+$60.36

All Penalty Rates for School Admin Officers

Day / TimeMultiplierFull-Time RateCasual Rate
Weekday (base)1.0x$25.15/hr$31.44/hr
Saturday1.5x$37.72/hr$47.16/hr
Sunday2x$50.30/hr$62.88/hr
Public Holiday2.5x$62.88/hr$78.60/hr
Christmas Day2.5x$62.88/hr$78.60/hr
Evening1.15x$28.92/hr$36.16/hr
Early Morning1.3x$32.70/hr$40.87/hr

Am I Getting the Right Penalty Rate?

Use our Penalty Rate Calculator to check your exact rate based on your award, classification level, and employment type.

Open Penalty Rate Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a school admin officer earn on early morning?

A school admin officer working on early morning earns $32.70 per hour under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020. This is 1.3x the base rate of $25.15/hr, which is 30% more than the ordinary weekday rate. Casual school admin officers earn $40.87/hr (1.3x their casual rate of $31.44/hr).

What is the early morning penalty rate for school admin officers?

The early morning penalty rate for school admin officers is 1.3x the base hourly rate under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000023). For a Level 1 school admin officer, this means $32.70/hr instead of $25.15/hr. The penalty rate compensates employees for working during unsociable hours.

Do casuals get penalty rates on early morning?

Yes. Casual school admin officers receive penalty rates on early morning. The 1.3x penalty multiplier is applied to the casual rate of $31.44/hr (which already includes 25% casual loading), giving a total of $40.87/hr. Casual employees receive both their loading and the penalty rate.

Can my employer make me work on early morning?

Your employer can roster you to work on early morning as part of your ordinary hours or as overtime, provided it aligns with the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 and your employment contract. However, you must be paid the correct penalty rate of 1.3x your base rate ($32.70/hr). If you believe your roster is unreasonable, you can raise this with your employer or contact Fair Work.

Other Early Morning Penalty Rates

Get notified when rates change

Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.

Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.