My payslip looks wrong
How to read a payslip, common errors to watch for, and what to do if something doesn't add up.
What must be on your payslip
Under the Fair Work Act, your employer must give you a payslip within 1 working day of paying you. It must include: the employer's name and ABN, your name, the pay period, your gross and net pay, the hourly rate and hours worked, any loadings, allowances, bonuses or penalty rates, superannuation contributions, and deductions (tax, union fees, etc). If any of these are missing, your payslip doesn't meet legal requirements.
How to check your base rate
Find your award and classification level, then compare the minimum rate to what's on your payslip. Your base hourly rate should be at least the award minimum. If you're casual, the rate should include 25% casual loading on top of the base rate. Check the Fair Work Commission's pay calculator for current rates. Remember that rates change each July when the Annual Wage Review takes effect.
Check your penalty rates
If you worked weekends, public holidays, late nights, or overtime, check that the correct penalty rates have been applied. Common errors include: paying flat rate for all hours regardless of when they were worked, applying the wrong penalty rate percentage, or calculating penalties on the wrong base rate. Your award sets the specific penalty rates — they vary by industry.
Check your super
Your super contribution should be 12% of your ordinary time earnings (as of 1 July 2025). Check that the super amount on your payslip matches this. Note that super is sometimes shown as a separate line item and paid quarterly rather than each pay period. The amount on your payslip should match what actually arrives in your super fund — check your super account to confirm.
Common payslip errors
The most common mistakes are: not paying casual loading (25%), incorrect penalty rates for weekends or public holidays, not paying overtime rates after 38 hours in a week, incorrect tax withholding, deductions you didn't authorise, not showing super or showing the wrong amount, and rounding hours down. Some of these are genuine mistakes; others are deliberate wage theft.
What to do if your payslip is wrong
1. Check your hours against your own records (keep a diary of hours worked). 2. Compare your rate against your award using the FWC pay calculator. 3. Raise the issue with your employer in writing — email is best. 4. If your employer doesn't fix it within a pay cycle, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94. 5. You can recover up to 6 years of underpayments. Keep all your payslips and records.
Official resources
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is 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.
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