The Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) classifies office and administrative staff into five clerical levels — Level 1 (with three year pay-points), Level 2 (two pay-points), and Levels 3, 4 and 5 — plus a separate call-centre stream in Schedule B. The right level depends on the skill, judgement and responsibility a role requires, not its job title. This guide explains who the Clerks Award covers, how to work out what level someone sits at, and the minimum FY2026/27 pay for each level. Getting classification right is the foundation of compliant award-aware rostering and payroll.
Quick summary
- Coverage:
The Clerks Award is the catch-all default for private-sector clerical work — but only where no industry award already covers the employer
- 5 levels + a stream:
Levels 1–5 (Level 1 and 2 have year pay-points) plus a dedicated call-centre stream in Schedule B
- 2026/27 pay:
Level 1 (year 1) is $26.97/hr; Level 5 tops out at $33.99/hr for full-time and part-time staff
- Casuals:
25% loading on top of the base rate, plus a minimum of 3 hours’ pay per engagement
Who is covered by the Clerks Award (and who isn't)
The Clerks Award covers private-sector employers — and their employees — engaged wholly or principally in clerical work, including administrative duties of a clerical nature. It commonly applies to receptionists and front-desk staff, data-entry and records clerks, accounts and payroll clerks, secretaries and personal assistants, call-centre operators, and office managers.
The key thing to understand is that the Clerks Award is the default (catch-all) award for clerical work — it applies only where no industry award covers the employer. So it does not cover:
- Clerical staff whose employer is already covered by an industry award — an admin assistant in a shop is usually under the Retail award, and payroll staff in a factory under the Manufacturing award, not the Clerks Award.
- Professionals whose duties sit above the clerical classifications, such as a qualified accountant.
- Public-sector and local-government employers (the award is private sector only).
Before you rely on these rates, confirm coverage with Fair Work’s Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT). Note too that where a workplace has an enterprise agreement in place, that agreement can set the pay and conditions instead of the award — although it must leave employees better off overall than the award would.
The Clerks Award classification levels explained
The award classifies employees by the level of skill, judgement and responsibility their duties require — not their job title. Here are the five clerical levels in plain English:
- Level 1 – Entry-level clerical work under direct supervision: reception, filing, mail, basic data entry, photocopying and simple word processing. Level 1 has three pay-points (year 1, 2 and 3), so pay steps up with service.
- Level 2 – Work requiring some experience and judgement: maintaining records, accounts and payroll data entry, secretarial and customer-service duties. Level 2 has two pay-points (year 1 and 2).
- Level 3 – Skills and knowledge beyond Level 2: maintaining a set of accounts, PA/secretarial duties, and some responsibility for guiding other staff.
- Level 4 – Responsibility for a work area or function: bookkeeping to trial balance, senior secretarial work, and supervising clerical employees.
- Level 5 – Advanced clerical and administrative skills: office management, coordinating a team, and higher-level responsibility for a function.
Alongside these sits a dedicated call-centre stream in Schedule B for call-centre and customer-contact teams — the two classifications are principal customer contact specialist (experienced operators handling complex contact) and technical associate (specialised technical support). These have their own rates separate from the general clerical levels.
Clerks Award pay rates 2026/27 by level
Clerks Award adult hourly minimums by level, FY2026/27 (ordinary weekday hours)
| Level (pay-point) | Full-time & part-time | Casual (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – year 1 | $26.97 | $33.71 |
| Level 1 – year 2 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Level 1 – year 3 | $29.11 | $36.39 |
| Level 2 – year 1 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 2 – year 2 | $30.00 | $37.50 |
| Level 3 | $31.11 | $38.89 |
| Level 4 | $32.67 | $40.84 |
| Level 5 | $33.99 | $42.49 |
Minimums effective the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Casual figures are the base rate plus the 25% loading (base × 1.25) for ordinary weekday hours. Always confirm against the current Fair Work pay guide.
A few things to read off the table. Level 1 (year 1) — the lowest adult rate and effectively the minimum wage under this award — is $26.97/hr, which works out to $1,024.70 per 38-hour week for full-time staff. The gap between Level 1 and Level 2 is real but modest: a starter on Level 1 (year 1) earns $26.97/hr, while a more experienced administrator on Level 2 (year 1) earns $29.45/hr — about $2.48/hr more.
Casual rates are simply the base rate plus a 25% loading (base × 1.25) — so a Level 1 (year 1) casual employee earns $33.71/hr for ordinary hours. Casuals (and part-timers) must also be paid for a minimum of 3 hours per engagement. All of these are minimums — you can always pay more. These figures come from our full Clerks Award pay guide; confirm them against the official Fair Work pay guide before you set wages. If you’re not certain your pay lines up, our free underpayment risk calculator is a quick sanity check, and award interpretation applies each level’s penalties automatically once the classification is set.
What level am I? Matching common admin roles to a level
A rough guide to where common roles land
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Receptionist / junior admin assistant → usually Level 1 (progressing through the year 1–3 pay-points)
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Experienced administrator with independent duties → often Level 2
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Accounts or payroll clerk maintaining a set of accounts → typically Level 3
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Bookkeeper to trial balance / supervising other clerks → Level 4
-
Office manager coordinating a team and an admin function → Level 5
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Call-centre operator → general clerical Levels 1–3, or the Schedule B call-centre stream
Classify once, pay it right every time. RosterElf applies the correct Clerks Award level, penalty rates, overtime and the 3-hour minimum engagement automatically from each shift’s times — shows live wage cost as you build the roster, and sends accurate hours straight to payroll. Explore rostering software and the full Clerks Award pay guide, or see how to roster office and admin staff.
Clerks Award classification FAQ
Who is covered by the Clerks Award, and who isn't?
The Clerks – Private Sector Award (MA000002) covers private-sector employers engaged wholly or principally in clerical work, and their clerical employees — receptionists, data-entry and payroll clerks, secretaries, call-centre operators and office managers. It is the catch-all default that applies only where no industry award covers the employer. It does not cover clerical staff whose employer is under an industry award (e.g. an admin assistant in a shop), qualified professionals such as accountants, or public-sector and local-government employers. Confirm coverage with Fair Work’s PACT tool.
What are the classification levels in the Clerks Award?
There are five clerical levels plus a call-centre stream. Level 1 (year 1–3 pay-points): entry-level work under supervision. Level 2 (year 1–2): work needing some experience and judgement. Level 3: skills beyond Level 2, such as maintaining accounts. Level 4: responsibility for a work area, bookkeeping to trial balance, supervising clerks. Level 5: advanced administration and office management. The Schedule B call-centre stream has two classifications — principal customer contact specialist and technical associate. See the full detail in our Clerks Award pay guide.
What level am I under the Clerks Award?
Your level depends on the skill, judgement and responsibility your duties require, not your job title. As a rough guide: a receptionist or junior admin assistant is usually Level 1; an experienced administrator Level 2; an accounts clerk maintaining a set of accounts Level 3; a bookkeeper to trial balance or a supervisor of clerks Level 4; and an office manager Level 5. Match your actual duties against the Schedule A definitions, and use our free underpayment risk calculator to check your pay lines up.
What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 hourly rates?
For FY2026/27, Level 1 (year 1) is $26.97/hr and Level 2 (year 1) is $29.45/hr for full-time and part-time staff — a difference of about $2.48/hr. Level 1 progresses through three year pay-points ($26.97, $28.24, $29.11) and Level 2 through two ($29.45, $30.00). Level 1 is entry-level clerical work under supervision, while Level 2 requires more experience and judgement. These are minimums effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 — confirm on the Fair Work pay guide.
What are the casual rates under the Clerks Award?
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the equivalent permanent base rate, to compensate for the lack of paid leave. For FY2026/27 that makes a Level 1 (year 1) casual $33.71/hr for ordinary weekday hours (base × 1.25), rising to $42.49/hr at Level 5. On weekends and public holidays the loading stacks with penalty rates, pushing the effective rate higher again. Casuals must also be paid for a minimum of 3 hours per engagement. Use Fair Work’s pay calculator (PACT) for exact figures.
What are the overtime and weekend rates under the Clerks Award?
For full-time and part-time day workers, ordinary weekend/public-holiday rates are Saturday 125%, Sunday 200% and public holidays 250% of the base rate. Overtime — hours beyond 38 a week or outside the ordinary span (Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat 7am–12.30pm) — is paid at 150% for the first two hours then 200% (Mon–Sat), 200% on Sundays and 250% on public holidays. Casual rates are higher because the 25% loading applies on top.
Can a casual convert to permanent under the Clerks Award?
Yes. Under the Fair Work Act employee-choice pathway, a casual who has worked a regular, ongoing pattern of hours — generally after 6 months, or 12 months in a small business — may request conversion to permanent (part-time or full-time). On conversion they give up the 25% casual loading and gain paid leave entitlements. Because eligibility turns on hire date and business size, follow the process in our casual conversion guide and get advice before refusing a request. Reviewing your casuals once or twice a year helps you stay ahead of this.
Does the Clerks Award have a working-from-home clause?
The award already allows genuine work-from-home arrangements to use a wider ordinary-hours span (6am–11pm Monday to Friday, by agreement). Separately, the Fair Work Commission is developing a model working-from-home term for the Clerks Award, expected around mid-2026 — but it is not yet finalised, so don’t rely on it yet. Watch the Fair Work pay guides and Clerks Award updates for the final wording.
