Under the General Retail Industry Award MA000004 (2026), a Retail Employee Level 1 earns $27.81/hr full-time ($34.76/hr casual). Saturday is 125% (full-time/part-time) or 150% (casual); Sunday is 150% or 175%; public holidays are 225% or 250%. An evening loading of 25% applies to ordinary hours worked after 6pm Monday to Friday. The 25% casual loading is already built into the casual penalty percentages — do not stack it on top.
Rates current as at 2026-07-01 (Annual Wage Review), sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000004. Next review 2027-07-01.
Retail Employee Level 1: $27.81/hr full-time · $34.76/hr casual
Saturday: 125% (full-time/part-time) · 150% (casual)
Sunday: 150% (full-time/part-time) · 175% (casual)
Public holiday: 225% (full-time/part-time) · 250% (casual)
Evening loading (after 6pm Mon–Fri): +25% on ordinary hours
Casual loading: 25% (already absorbed into the casual percentages above)
Under the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004), the minimum full-time adult rate from 1 July 2026 starts at $27.81/hour (Retail Employee Level 1). Saturdays pay 125% (full/part-time) or 150% (casual); Sundays 150% (full/part-time) or 175% (casual); public holidays 225% (full/part-time) or 250% (casual). Casual percentages already include the 25% casual loading. Sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide — full classification tables below, or ask Fitz for your exact rate.
Retail Employee Rates by Classification Level
The Award runs from Retail Employee Level 1 (entry level) to Level 8 (the most senior in-store roles). Using the wrong level is itself a breach — a Level 3 employee paid at Level 1 is being systematically underpaid on every shift.
| Classification (full-time) | Hourly | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $1056.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 2 | $28.45 | $1081.00 |
| Retail Employee Level 3 | $28.89 | $1097.80 |
| Retail Employee Level 4 | $29.45 | $1119.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 5 | $30.66 | $1165.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 6 | $31.11 | $1182.10 |
| Retail Employee Level 7 | $32.67 | $1241.40 |
| Retail Employee Level 8 | $33.99 | $1291.80 |
Casual employees are paid the relevant level rate plus the 25% casual loading — for a Level 1 that is $34.76/hr.
Penalty Rates — Weekends & Public Holidays
Weekend and public holiday penalties are a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate. Casual percentages are all-inclusive of the 25% loading.
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (all-inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 125% | 150% |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 225% | 250% |
For a Level 1 employee, Sunday is $41.71/hr (full-time/part-time) or $48.67/hr (casual); a public holiday is $69.52/hr for a casual.
Evening Loading & Overtime
The retail evening loading is a common trap. Ordinary hours worked after 6:00pm Monday to Friday attract a 25% loading. It applies to ordinary hours only — not to hours already paid at weekend or public holiday penalty rates.
Overtime is paid at 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% after that. On a Sunday and on public holidays, overtime is paid at the higher applicable rate. The evening loading and overtime are not paid on top of each other for the same hour — the higher single entitlement applies.
Common Mistakes That Trigger Audits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base rate for a retail worker in 2026?
What are the Sunday penalty rates under the Retail Award?
What is the retail evening loading?
Is casual loading paid on top of weekend penalty rates in retail?
Is there an easy way to calculate Retail Award rates?
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