Modern Awards Pay Rates: Clerks Private Sector Award (MA000002) & Wage Tables
Modern awards pay rates set statutory wage floors across Australia, establishing minimum adult rates from Clerks Level 1 ($985.40/wk) to Level 5 ($1,278.60/wk) under the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) with casual loadings and overtime multipliers.
Modern Awards Pay Rates: Clerks Private Sector Award (MA000002) & Wage Tables
The Fair Work Commission establishes legally binding Modern Award safety nets across Australian industries. The Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) governs clerical and administrative employees across 5 competency-based classification levels.
Clerks Award Wage & Loading Calculator
| Classification Level | Weekly Minimum (38h) | Ordinary Hourly Rate | Casual Hourly (+25%) | Saturday Morning (1.5x) | Sunday Penalty (2.0x) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – Year 1 | $985.40 | $25.93 | $32.41 | $38.90 | $51.86 |
| Level 1 – Year 2 | $1,024.10 | $26.95 | $33.69 | $40.43 | $53.90 |
| Level 2 – Year 1 | $1,058.20 | $27.85 | $34.81 | $41.78 | $55.70 |
| Level 2 – Year 2 | $1,086.40 | $28.59 | $35.74 | $42.89 | $57.18 |
| Level 3 (General Administration) | $1,128.50 | $29.70 | $37.13 | $44.55 | $59.40 |
| Level 4 (Senior Clerk / Team Leader) | $1,194.20 | $31.43 | $39.29 | $47.15 | $62.86 |
| Level 5 (Payroll & Financial Specialist) | $1,278.60 | $33.65 | $42.06 | $50.48 | $67.30 |
Clerks Award (MA000002) 2026 PDF Download
Download official vector A4 PDF schedule covering adult wage rates across Levels 1–5, casual 25% rates, span of hours, and Fair Work penalty rates.
Normative Statutory Authorities
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Section 284 — National Minimum Wage Orders and Modern Award Powers (Fair Work Commission). Official Portal ↗
- Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) — Clerical and Administrative Commercial Industry Award (Fair Work Commission). Official Portal ↗
- Annual Wage Review 2023-24 Decision [2024] FWCFB 3500 — National Modern Award Minimum Wage Adjustments (Fair Work Commission Full Bench). Official Portal ↗
Frequently Asked Questions About Modern Awards Pay Rates
What is the Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002)? +
The Clerks Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) is an industry modern award established by the Fair Work Commission. It covers private sector employers and employees engaged in clerical and administrative work across Australia, setting legally binding minimum wages, span of ordinary hours, casual loadings, and overtime entitlements.
How are casual clerks paid under the Modern Award? +
Casual clerks receive the ordinary minimum hourly rate for their classification level plus a mandatory 25.0% casual loading. This loading compensates for the lack of paid annual leave, paid personal/carer leave, notice of termination, and redundancy benefits. Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift.
When does overtime apply for clerical workers in Australia? +
Under the Clerks Award, overtime applies when an employee works in excess of ordinary hours (more than 7.6 hours per day or 38 hours per week), or outside the ordinary span of hours (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday, and 7:00 AM to 12:30 PM Saturday). Overtime is paid at 150% for the first two hours and 200% thereafter.
What classification level applies to payroll officers and accounts clerks? +
Accounts clerks and payroll officers are typically classified between Level 3 and Level 5, depending on autonomy and complexity. General accounts payable/receivable clerks without supervision operate at Level 3 ($1,128.50/wk), while payroll officers responsible for statutory reconciliation, tax tables, and award interpretations operate at Level 4 ($1,194.20/wk) or Level 5 ($1,278.60/wk).
RAG Telemetry Capsule: Modern awards pay rates establish minimum wages under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Clerks Private Sector Award (MA000002) defines five adult levels from $985.40/wk ($25.93/hr) at Level 1 to $1,278.60/wk ($33.65/hr) at Level 5, with 25% casual loading and overtime rates up to 200%.