Casual Loading Calculator
Casual loading is an extra percentage - 25% in most modern awards - added to a casual worker's base pay to make up for not getting paid leave, notice or redundancy. This calculator turns a permanent base rate into a casual hourly rate: $26.00 an hour plus 25% loading is $32.50.
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What is casual loading
Casual loading is extra pay on top of the base hourly rate that casual employees receive because they miss out on many permanent entitlements - paid annual and personal leave, notice of termination, and redundancy pay. In most modern awards it's 25%.
So a casual isn't just paid the same as a permanent worker; they're paid the base rate plus loading for every ordinary hour. On weekends and public holidays, penalty rates apply as well. Check your award in the Fair Work pay guides to confirm your loading and how it combines with penalties.
How to calculate it
The maths is simple: casual rate = base rate × (1 + loading%). At a $26.00 base and 25% loading, that's $26.00 × 1.25 = $32.50 an hour. Over a 20-hour week of ordinary time, that's $650 - with $130 of it being the loading.
Enter your permanent base rate, your loading percentage and your weekly hours in the calculator, and it returns the casual hourly rate, the weekly pay for ordinary hours, and how much of that is loading. For weekend and evening shifts, use the penalty rates calculator, since those percentages usually already include loading.
Casual vs permanent: what you give up
The loading is compensation, so it's worth knowing what it replaces. As a casual you generally don't get paid annual leave, paid sick/carer's leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay, and your hours can be less predictable.
In return you get the higher hourly rate and more flexibility. Whether that's a good trade depends on how regular your work is - long-term regular casuals may be eligible to request conversion to permanent. Weigh the extra 25% against the leave and security you forgo, and check your rights on the Fair Work website.
Casual loading on weekends
On weekends and public holidays, casuals are usually paid a penalty rate that already builds in the loading, rather than loading plus penalty stacked separately - though it varies by award. That's why a casual Saturday rate (often 150%) is higher than the permanent Saturday rate (often 125%).
To avoid double-counting, don't add 25% on top of a casual weekend penalty rate unless your award specifically says to. Use the penalty rates calculator with "Casual" selected and enter your base rate before loading - it applies the correct casual percentages for each day.
Frequently asked questions
What does 25% casual loading mean?
It means a casual is paid 25% more than the equivalent permanent base rate for ordinary hours, to compensate for missing entitlements like paid leave and notice. On a $26 base, 25% loading adds $6.50, making $32.50 an hour. The exact percentage is set by your award - check the Fair Work pay guide.
What does casual loading mean in Australia?
Casual loading is the extra pay Australian casual employees receive on top of their base rate because they don't get paid leave, notice or redundancy. Most modern awards set it at 25%. It's paid for ordinary hours; weekend and public-holiday work usually attracts penalty rates that build the loading in.
Do casuals have to be paid loading?
Yes - if you're a casual covered by a modern award or agreement, the loading (commonly 25%) is a legal minimum on top of the base rate. If your pay doesn't reflect it, check your award's pay guide and raise it with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.
How many hours can casuals do a week?
There's no single cap in most awards, but rosters, maximum weekly hours (generally around 38 ordinary hours plus reasonable additional hours) and minimum shift lengths apply. Long-term regular casuals may be able to request conversion to permanent. Check your specific award for shift and hours rules.
Is casual loading 20% or 25%?
In most modern awards it's 25%. A few older or specific instruments may differ, so confirm the figure in your award's Fair Work pay guide. The calculator defaults to 25% but lets you enter a different percentage if your award sets another.
How much is casual pay loading?
Typically 25% of the base rate. On a $26 base that's $6.50 extra per hour, for a casual rate of $32.50. Over the year the loading compensates for leave and other entitlements permanent staff receive instead. Enter your base rate above to see the dollar amount.
Can casuals work less than 3 hours?
Most awards set a minimum engagement per shift - often 3 hours, sometimes 2 - meaning a casual must be paid for at least that many hours even on a shorter shift. The exact minimum depends on your award, so check its pay guide or the Fair Work website.
Does a 7.6 hour day include lunch?
A 7.6-hour day usually refers to paid ordinary hours (a 38-hour week over 5 days), and unpaid meal breaks are generally on top of that. So a rostered 7.6-hour day often means being at work longer once an unpaid lunch break is added. Your award or agreement sets the break rules.
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Estimate only - not legal or payroll advice. Check your award and the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides. Not affiliated with the Fair Work Ombudsman.