Security Award Penalty Rates
All penalty rates under the Security Services Industry Award 2020 (MA000016) for 2025-26, including weekends, public holidays, evening, and overtime.
Security Award — Key Rates at a Glance
Saturday
$42.63/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$56.84/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$71.05/hr
2.5x base
Night (midnight–6am or 6pm–midnight, Mon–Fri)
$34.59/hr
1.217x base
Permanent night work (more than two-thirds of shifts include midnight–6am)
$36.95/hr
1.3x base
Overtime Mon–Sat (first 2 hours)
$42.63/hr
1.5x base
Overtime Mon–Sat (after 2 hours)
$56.84/hr
2x base
Rates shown for Level 1 ($28.42/hr base). See full table below for all levels.
Full Penalty Rate Table — Security Award
| Level | Base Rate | Saturday 1.5x | Sunday 2x | Public Holiday 2.5x | Night 1.217x | Permanent night work 1.3x | Overtime Mon–Sat 1.5x | Overtime Mon–Sat 2x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $28.42/hr | $42.63/hr | $56.84/hr | $71.05/hr | $34.59/hr | $36.95/hr | $42.63/hr | $56.84/hr |
| Level 2 | $29.24/hr | $43.86/hr | $58.48/hr | $73.10/hr | $35.59/hr | $38.01/hr | $43.86/hr | $58.48/hr |
| Level 3 | $29.73/hr | $44.60/hr | $59.46/hr | $74.33/hr | $36.18/hr | $38.65/hr | $44.60/hr | $59.46/hr |
| Level 4 | $30.23/hr | $45.35/hr | $60.46/hr | $75.58/hr | $36.79/hr | $39.30/hr | $45.35/hr | $60.46/hr |
| Level 5 | $31.20/hr | $46.80/hr | $62.40/hr | $78.00/hr | $37.97/hr | $40.56/hr | $46.80/hr | $62.40/hr |
Compare Penalty Rates Across Awards (Level 1)
| Award | Base Rate | Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Award | $28.42/hr | $56.84/hr (2x) | $71.05/hr (2.5x) |
| Hospitality Award | $26.44/hr | $39.66/hr (1.5x) | $59.49/hr (2.25x) |
| Retail Award | $27.81/hr | $41.71/hr (1.5x) | $62.57/hr (2.25x) |
| Clerks Award | $26.97/hr | $53.94/hr (2x) | $67.43/hr (2.5x) |
| Building Award | $26.67/hr | $53.34/hr (2x) | $66.68/hr (2.5x) |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the penalty rates under the Security Award?
The Security Award (MA000016) provides penalty rates for Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday, Night (midnight–6am or 6pm–midnight, Mon–Fri), Permanent night work (more than two-thirds of shifts include midnight–6am), Overtime Mon–Sat (first 2 hours), Overtime Mon–Sat (after 2 hours). Percentage rates range from 1.217x to 2.5x of the base hourly rate.
What is the Sunday penalty rate for security workers?
Under the Security Award, permanent employees receive 2x their base rate for Sunday work. For a Level 1 employee at $28.42/hr, this means $56.84/hr on Sundays.
What is the public holiday rate under the Security Award?
Public holiday work under the Security Award is paid at 2.5x the base rate. For Level 1, that's $71.05/hr.
Who is covered by the Security Award?
The Security Award covers employees in the security industry. Common job titles include Security guard, Security officer, Crowd controller, Bouncer, Patrol officer, Control room operator.
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