MA000010 · Pay Rates 2026

Manufacturing Award Pay Rates

Minimum rates under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award MA000010, current as at 2026-07-01. Sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000010.

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Casual loading
25%
Super
12%
Effective
2026-07-01
Next review
2027-07-01
Quick answer

Under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries Award (MA000010), the minimum full-time adult rate starts at $25.74/hour (C14 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level I). Saturdays pay 150% (full/part-time); Sundays 200% (full/part-time); public holidays 250% (full/part-time). Casuals receive these rates plus the 25% casual loading. Figures current as at 1 July 2026, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide — full tables below, or ask Fitz for the exact rate for your classification and shift.

Page updated 21 October 2026: added Christmas and New Year public holiday rates and the 2026–27 change timeline. Rates current as at 1 July 2026.

Classification Hourly Rates

Full-time minimum rates by classification. Casual employees receive these rates plus the 25% casual loading (or the all-inclusive casual rate where the award specifies one).

Classification (full-time)HourlyWeekly
C14 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level I$25.74$978.10
C13 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level II$26.44$1004.90
C12 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level III$27.08$1029.10
C11 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level IV$27.97$1062.90
C11 - Laboratory tester$27.97$1062.90
C10 - Engineering/manufacturing tradesperson - level I$29.45$1119.10
C10 - Engineering/manufacturing systems employee - level V$29.45$1119.10
C9 - Engineering/manufacturing tradesperson - level II$30.38$1154.30
C9 - Engineering/laboratory technician - level I$30.38$1154.30
C8 - Engineering/manufacturing tradesperson - special class level I$31.30$1189.40
C8 - Engineering/laboratory technician - level II$31.30$1189.40
C7 - Engineering/manufacturing tradesperson - special class level II$32.13$1221.10
C7 - Engineering/laboratory technician - level III$32.13$1221.10
C6 - Engineering/laboratory technician - level IV$33.77$1283.10
C6 - Advanced engineering tradesperson - level I$33.77$1283.10
C5 - Engineering/laboratory technician - level V$34.46$1309.50
C5 - Advanced engineering tradesperson - level II$34.46$1309.50
C4 - Engineering associate/laboratory technical officer - level I$35.38$1344.50
C3 - Engineering associate/laboratory technical officer - level II$37.24$1415.00
C2(a) - Principal engineering supervisor/trainer/coordinator$38.16$1450.20
C2(a) - Leading technical officer$38.16$1450.20
C2(b) - Principal technical officer$39.83$1513.70
Advanced Certificate or National Diploma - 0 years of relevant work experience$26.53—
Advanced Certificate or National Diploma - 1 year of relevant work experience$29.29—

Showing 24 of 98 full-time classifications. Ask Fitz for any classification, employment type or stream.

Not sure which level a role belongs at? See every Manufacturing Award classification explained with full-time and casual rates.

Penalty Rates

Weekend and public holiday penalties as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate. Casual percentages are all-inclusive of the casual loading.

When worked% of ordinary rate
Saturday (FT/PT)150%
Sunday (FT/PT)200%
Public holiday (FT/PT)250%

Common Allowances

Frequently-applied allowances from the Pay Guide MA000010. Ask Fitz for the full list and the exact conditions.

AllowanceAmountUnit
First aid allowance$22.26per week
Meal allowance$19.14per meal
Leading hand allowance (in charge of 3-10 employees, all-purpose)$1.29per hour
Leading hand allowance (in charge of 11-20 employees, all-purpose)$1.93per hour
Leading hand allowance (in charge of more than 20 employees, all-purpose)$2.45per hour
Tool allowance (tradespersons other than carpenter/joiner/shipwright, not vehicle manufacturing, all-purpose)$0.47per hour
Tool allowance (carpenter, joiner and shipwright/boatbuilder, not vehicle manufacturing, all-purpose)$0.89per hour
Cold places allowance$0.82per hour
Hot places allowance (between 46°C and 54°C)$0.85per hour
Hot places allowance (in excess of 54°C)$1.12per hour
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Christmas, New Year & Public Holiday Rates (2026–27)

The summer public holidays are where Manufacturing Award payroll errors cluster, because the public holiday penalty is the largest multiplier in the award and Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, which brings substitute-day rules into play. For a C14 - Engineering/manufacturing employee - level I employee on the current minimum of $25.74 an hour:

Hour workedFull-time / part-timeCasual
Ordinary Monday–Friday hour$25.74$32.18
Public holiday hour (250%)$64.35Ask Fitz

The same multiplier applies at every classification level, so take the level’s ordinary rate from the table above and multiply. Casual public holiday rates under this award depend on the shift and loading; ask Fitz for the exact figure. The national public holidays in the period are:

Each state and territory gazettes its own list, including part-day holidays such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in some jurisdictions, so check your state’s list before the roster is published. The penalty applies to hours worked on the gazetted day; where a substitute day is declared, the award sets out which day attracts the penalty, and that is a question worth asking Fitz before the pay run rather than after.

What Changed in 2026, and What Changes Next

The rates on this page took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, following the Fair Work Commission’s 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase, and apply for the 2026–27 financial year. The next Annual Wage Review decision is expected in June 2027 and takes effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027. Superannuation guarantee is 12%. Nothing else is scheduled to change the Manufacturing Award minimum rates before then; if the Commission varies the award mid-year, the rates alert below will tell you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Manufacturing Award pay rates in 2026?
The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award MA000010 minimum rates are current as at 2026-07-01 (next review 2027-07-01). Full-time classification rates, penalty rates and allowances are listed above; casual employees receive a 25% loading.
What penalty rates apply under MA000010?
Weekend and public holiday penalties are shown in the penalties table above, expressed as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate. Casual penalty percentages are all-inclusive of the 25% casual loading.
How much did the Manufacturing Award rates increase in 2026?
By 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, in line with the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review decision. The rates on this page are the post-increase minimums and apply until the next review takes effect on 1 July 2027.
What is the Manufacturing Award pay rate for 2026-27?
The 2026–27 minimum full-time adult rate starts at $25.74 an hour, with higher classifications listed in the table on this page. The figures apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 unless the Fair Work Commission varies the award.
What is the Manufacturing Award public holiday rate on Christmas Day 2026?
250% of the ordinary rate for full-time and part-time employees. For the lowest adult classification that is $64.35 an hour. Christmas Day falls on Friday 25 December 2026.
How current is this data?
These figures are extracted from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000010 and are current as at 2026-07-01. Fitz HR re-checks them against the Pay Guide and flags when an award is past its review date of 2027-07-01.

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