Compare casual vs part-time employment costs
Compare the estimated annual cost of employing someone as casual or part-time. This calculator gives indicative figures based on casual loading, paid leave entitlements and superannuation.
This calculator provides general estimates only. Actual employment costs depend on awards, penalties, superannuation eligibility and individual circumstances, and it does not constitute legal or payroll advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Casual vs part-time cost calculator
Enter the base rate and hours. Adjust leave and super assumptions in the advanced options.
Estimated annual cost
Estimates only — verify before making decisions.
Why casual and part-time costs differ
Casual employees receive a higher hourly rate (a casual loading, usually 25%) to compensate for not receiving paid leave. Part-time employees receive entitlements such as annual leave and personal leave, which increase total employment cost over time.
Which is cheaper depends on the hours and entitlements. To document a side-by-side comparison for your records, download our casual vs part-time cost template.
Real-world cost examples
How employment type affects total cost in common scenarios. Examples use 25% casual loading, 12% super, 4 weeks annual leave, 10 days personal leave and 10 public holidays.
Café worker · $24.73/hr · 20 hrs/wk
Casual $35,610 vs part-time $32,180 — part-time saves ~$3,430/yr.
Retail assistant · $25.00/hr · 15 hrs/wk
Casual $25,110 vs part-time $23,850 — part-time saves ~$1,260/yr.
Aged care worker · $28.50/hr · 30 hrs/wk
Casual $61,490 vs part-time $55,420 — part-time saves ~$6,070/yr.
What's included in each employment type
Key entitlement differences between casual and part-time employees in Australia.
Casual employees
Get a 25% casual loading and can refuse shifts. Do not get paid annual leave, personal/carer’s leave, paid public holidays, notice of termination or redundancy pay. Super still applies.
Part-time employees
Get pro-rata paid leave (4 weeks annual, 10 days personal), paid public holidays, notice and redundancy, and guaranteed hours. No casual loading. Super applies.
Casual conversion rights in Australia
Since 2021, eligible casual employees have the right to request conversion to permanent employment. In general terms: employment begins, after around 6 months of regular work an employee may become eligible, and an employer must respond to a written conversion request within 21 days — refusing only on reasonable business grounds.
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Frequently asked questions
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No. Casual employees are paid a higher hourly rate, but part-time employees receive paid leave. The cheaper option depends on the hours worked and entitlements — in many scenarios part-time works out lower over a full year.
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Most modern awards apply a 25% casual loading, but this can vary by award or agreement.
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Yes. This calculator compares base costs only. Penalty rates, allowances and overtime can change the outcome.