Penalty Rates Calculator
This penalty rates calculator works out your gross weekly pay when some shifts are paid at a higher rate. Enter your base hourly rate and the hours you worked on weekdays, evenings, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, choose your award and employment type, and it applies each penalty rate and casual loading for you.
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What penalty rates are
Penalty rates are the higher hourly rates you're paid for working at times most people don't - evenings, weekends and public holidays. They compensate for unsociable hours and are set out in your modern award, not agreed casually with your employer.
The exact rate depends on three things: which award covers your job, whether you're permanent or casual, and which day and time you work. Rates are written as a percentage of your ordinary base rate - a shift paid at 150% is time-and-a-half. They're reviewed each year in the Annual Wage Review and can change from 1 July, so last year's rate may have moved.
Rates by award (from the Fair Work pay guides)
Below are the casual penalty rates this calculator applies by default, as a percentage of the base rate, for the three awards it covers. Permanent (full-time and part-time) rates are lower because casuals also receive casual loading. These figures are pending a final check against the current pay guide - the tool shows a warning until that's done - so always confirm your own classification's rate in the linked Fair Work pay guide.
| Shift (casual) | Retail | Hospitality | Fast food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday (ordinary) | 125% | 125% | 125% |
| Weekday evening | 150% | 140% | 135% |
| Saturday | 150% | 150% | 150% |
| Sunday | 175% | 175% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 250% | 250% |
Worked example: casual retail worker
Say you're a casual on the General Retail Industry Award with a base rate of $26.00 an hour, working 16 ordinary weekday hours, 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Sunday.
- Weekday: $26.00 × 125% × 16 h = $520.00
- Saturday: $26.00 × 150% × 8 h = $312.00
- Sunday: $26.00 × 175% × 6 h = $273.00
That's $1,105.00 gross for 30 hours. At a flat base rate those 30 hours would pay $780, so penalty rates and casual loading added $325. Enter your own base rate and hours above to see your figure; the total is before tax and super.
Casuals: loading and penalties together
Casual loading (25% in most modern awards) is paid because casuals don't get paid leave or notice. In many awards the casual penalty percentages already include that loading - which is why a casual Saturday rate (150%) is higher than the permanent one (125%).
To avoid double-counting, enter your base rate before loading and pick "Casual"; the tool then applies the casual percentages, which have the loading built in. If you only work ordinary hours and want to see loading on its own, use the casual loading calculator instead. Always check whether your award adds loading on top of penalties or folds it in.
If you think you're underpaid
First, confirm the correct rate: find your award and classification in the Fair Work pay guides and compare it with your payslip, checking the penalty rates for each day you worked. Keep your own record of shifts, dates and hours.
Raise it with your employer in writing - often it's a payroll error that's quickly fixed. If it isn't resolved, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman, which offers free help and can investigate underpayment. There are time limits on recovering unpaid wages, so don't leave it too long. This tool gives an estimate to help you check - it isn't legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate your pay rate?
Multiply your base hourly rate by the penalty percentage for each shift, then by the hours worked, and add the shifts together. For example, $26 at a 150% Saturday rate for 8 hours is $26 × 1.5 × 8 = $312. This calculator does that across your whole week and totals it before tax.
What are the Security Award hourly rates for 2026?
This calculator covers the retail, hospitality and fast food awards, not the Security Services Industry Award, so it doesn't list security rates. For those, open the Security Services Industry Award pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website. You can also enter your own percentages here using the "Other award" option.
How to work out pay rate from a salary?
Divide the annual salary by 52 to get weekly pay, then by your ordinary weekly hours to get an hourly rate. For example, $54,600 ÷ 52 ÷ 38 ≈ $27.63 an hour. Use that as your base rate. A salary may already fold in penalties, so check your contract and award.
How do I calculate my hourly rate?
If you're paid hourly, your base rate is on your payslip (for casuals, the rate before loading). If you're on a salary, divide it by 52 weeks and then by your ordinary weekly hours. Enter that base rate above and the calculator applies the correct penalty percentages.
How do you calculate penalty rates?
Penalty rates are a percentage of your ordinary base rate. Take the base rate, multiply by the penalty percentage for that shift (say 175% for a casual Sunday), then by the hours worked. The calculator uses the percentages set in your award's Fair Work pay guide and shows each shift's rate.
What are the penalty rates in Australia?
They vary by award, but typically weekends and public holidays pay more than weekday ordinary hours - Saturday and Sunday attract loadings, and public holidays the highest. Casuals receive higher percentages because casual loading is included. Because rates differ by award and change on 1 July, check your specific award's pay guide.
Who gets a pay rise in July 2026?
Award and minimum-wage rates are reviewed each year in the Annual Wage Review, with changes generally from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. If you're paid under a modern award, your base and penalty rates may rise then. Check the updated pay guide for your award after the decision is published.
What are the penalty rates in Queensland?
Most employees are covered by national modern awards, so penalty rates are the same in Queensland as elsewhere for those awards - they're set federally. What differs by state is public holidays: Queensland has its own dates, which affect when public-holiday rates apply. Check your award's pay guide and the QLD public holiday list.
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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.