How do I calculate pay for a single shift in Australia?

Multiply your paid hours (total shift duration minus any unpaid breaks) by the applicable hourly rate. The hourly rate equals your base rate × the day-type penalty multiplier (General Retail Award permanent rates: 1.0 weekday, 1.25 Saturday, 1.5 Sunday, 2.25 public holiday). Under most awards a casual adds 25% of the base rate to that percentage (casual Saturday 150%, Sunday 175%, public holiday 250% under the Retail Award). Penalty multipliers vary between Modern Awards — always verify yours.

What are the standard penalty rate multipliers in Australia?

For full-time and part-time employees under the General Retail and Hospitality awards: Weekday 1.0× (no penalty), Saturday 1.25×, Sunday 1.5× and Public Holiday 2.25×. Other awards set different rates — for example Sunday is 2.0× under the Clerks and SCHADS awards and public holidays are 2.5× under many others. Check the specific award that covers your job.

Do casuals get penalty rates on top of the 25% casual loading?

Yes, but under most Modern Awards the two are added, not multiplied. The award's casual column adds 25% of the minimum rate to the penalty percentage: under the General Retail Award a permanent Sunday is 150% and a casual Sunday is 175% (not 150% × 1.25); a public holiday is 225% permanent and 250% casual. A few awards work differently — SCHADS casuals get 175% on Saturday and 225% on Sunday, and the Manufacturing Award applies the penalty to the casual rate. The Casual Loading calculator shows the method per award.

Is my unpaid meal break deducted from my shift pay?

Yes. Unpaid meal breaks (typically 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hours) are deducted from the total shift duration to give you paid hours. Rest breaks (usually 10-minute paid breaks every few hours) are NOT deducted — they are paid time. Check your award for specific break rules.

What if my shift goes overnight (e.g. 10pm to 6am)?

Most awards pay weekend and public holiday penalties for the hours actually worked on that day, so a shift that runs past midnight into a Sunday or public holiday is split at midnight. Pick the 'day after midnight' in the calculator and the post-midnight hours are paid at that day's rate (the unpaid break is taken from the start-day hours first). Some awards have their own rule for night shiftworkers — check yours.

Shift Pay Calculator Australia 2026

Calculate exact pay for a single shift. Includes penalty rates by day, casual loading, and unpaid break deduction.

Last verified: 2 August 2026Jump to calculator ↓

Under the General Retail Award an 8-hour Sunday shift at $25/hr base earns $300 for a permanent employee (150%) and $350 for a casual (175%). Enter your shift below for an exact figure.

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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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