Australian Modern Award pay rate estimates
Free AI tool to generate indicative pay rate estimates for Australian award wages, penalty rates, overtime, and allowances. General information only. Not a payroll system. Always verify with Fair Work before making any payroll decisions.
AI Award Pay Estimator
What's the hourly rate for a Level 2 casual under the Hospitality Award working Saturday night?
Indicative estimate only—figures below are for general information and must be independently verified.
Indicative estimate for Level 2 casual (Hospitality Award) - Saturday:
- • Base rate (reference only): ~$24.73/hr
- • Casual loading (indicative): ~$6.18
- • Saturday penalty (illustrative): × 1.5
- • Indicative total (verify independently): ~$43/hr
What about if it's a public holiday?
Public holiday (indicative only):
- • Base + casual (reference): ~$30.91
- • Public holiday penalty (illustrative only)
- • Indicative total (verify independently): ~$77/hr
General information only—verify with Fair Work
Opens in ChatGPT (free account required)
What you'll need
Have these details ready to generate indicative estimates for general information only.
Modern Award name
Which award applies? E.g., Hospitality, Retail, Aged Care, SCHADS, Nurses.
Classification level
What level is the employee? E.g., Level 1, Level 2, Grade 3.
Employment type
Is the employee casual, part-time, or full-time permanent?
Shift details
Day of week, time of shift, overtime hours, public holidays.
What you can estimate
Get indicative estimates for common pay rate scenarios under Australian Modern Awards, subject to independent verification.
Example indicative output
Here's what an indicative pay rate estimate looks like from the AI tool. All figures require independent verification.
Indicative Pay Rate Estimate
Hospitality Industry (General) Award
Classification (user-supplied)
Level 2 - Food & Beverage
Employment Type (user-supplied)
Casual
Shift (user-supplied)
Saturday 6pm - 11pm
Rate references
Based on published info (currency not guaranteed)
Important: This is an indicative estimate for general information only. Do not use for payroll. Always verify with the Fair Work Pay Calculator before making any payroll decisions.
Awards referenced
The estimator can generate indicative estimates referencing many commonly used Modern Awards, subject to verification.
Need detailed rate tables? Browse our award rate guides for comprehensive breakdowns.
Industries using this tool
Australian businesses across these industries use our pay rate estimator for quick reference.
Hospitality
Restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars, clubs, catering services.
Retail
Shops, supermarkets, boutiques, department stores.
Aged care
Nursing homes, home care providers, disability support.
Healthcare
Medical centres, clinics, allied health practices.
How does this compare?
Understand when to use this AI estimator vs official tools and paid solutions.
This AI Tool
Quick AI-powered indicative estimates for general reference only. Free, instant, conversational.
Cost
Free
Speed
Instant
Conversational
Verification
Required
With Fair Work
Best for
Quick checks
Sense-checking
Fair Work Pay Calculator
Official government calculator. Required for payroll decisions and compliance.
Paid Payroll Software
Full payroll systems with award interpretation built in.
How it works
Four simple steps to get your pay rate estimate
Open the estimator
Click the button to launch the AI estimator in ChatGPT. You'll need a free ChatGPT account.
Enter your details
Tell it your award, classification level, employment type, and shift details.
Review the estimate
Receive an itemised breakdown of base rates, penalties, loadings, and estimated totals.
Verify with Fair Work
Always verify estimates with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator before payroll decisions.
Who this tool is for
Note: This tool is not suitable for determining payroll rates or minimum pay obligations.
Important things to know
Estimates only
Results are estimates based on published award rates. Always verify with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator for payroll decisions.
Not for payroll
Do NOT use these estimates directly for payroll processing. Incorrect rates can result in underpayment claims and Fair Work penalties.
AI can make mistakes
AI-generated content may contain errors. Complex scenarios, enterprise agreements, or recent rate changes may not be accurately reflected.
Enterprise agreements
If an employee is covered by an enterprise agreement, EA rates apply instead of Modern Award rates. This tool covers Modern Awards only.
Third-party platform
This tool runs on OpenAI's ChatGPT. You'll need a ChatGPT account and will be subject to their terms of service.
Rates change annually
Award rates typically change on 1 July each year. There may be a delay after annual wage reviews. Always verify current rates.
Legal disclaimer
This pay rate estimator is provided by RosterElf Pty Ltd (ABN 67 164 843 609) for general informational purposes only. RosterElf is not a tax agent, accountant, or legal practitioner.
Award rates and conditions are governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 and administered by the Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission. Rates typically change annually (usually 1 July). This tool does not assess award coverage, classification correctness, enterprise agreement overrides, or compliance with legal minimums.
Always verify calculations with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator before making any payroll decisions. Do not use this tool as a substitute for professional payroll or legal advice.
What to do after getting your estimate
Use these indicative estimates as a general reference only, then follow these steps before processing payroll.
Check the award
Review the specific Modern Award for any additional clauses, allowances, or conditions that may apply.
Update your systems
Ensure your payroll software has the correct rates. Consider software with automatic award updates.
Process payroll
Once verified, process wages through your payroll system with confidence.
Automate award interpretation with RosterElf
RosterElf's payroll integration features automatic award interpretation, so your timesheets export with the correct rates already applied.
- Automatic award rate updates
- Penalty rates applied automatically
- Xero, MYOB & KeyPay integration
- Compliance-ready timesheet exports
Ready to estimate award rates?
Get instant estimates for Australian award pay. Free to use—always verify with Fair Work before payroll.
Related resources
Explore more tools, guides, and resources for Australian award pay and compliance.
Award rate guides
Detailed rate tables for Hospitality, Retail, Aged Care, SCHADS and more.
Payroll integration
Connect RosterElf to Xero, MYOB, or KeyPay for automatic award interpretation.
Employment contract generator
Generate draft employment contracts for full-time, part-time, and casual staff.
Frequently asked questions
- To estimate award pay in Australia, you need to know the employee's applicable Modern Award, their classification level, and the type of hours worked (ordinary, overtime, weekend, or public holiday). This AI tool helps you generate indicative estimates by entering these details and receiving an itemised indicative breakdown based on user-supplied information and published award references, subject to verification. Always verify with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator before making payroll decisions.
- Penalty rates are higher pay rates that apply when employees work outside ordinary hours—such as weekends, public holidays, evenings, or early mornings. The exact penalty depends on the specific Modern Award. For example, under the Hospitality Award, casual employees may receive 150% on Saturdays and 175% on Sundays. This estimator helps you work out these rates, but results should be verified with Fair Work.
- Yes. The estimator can provide estimates for public holiday penalty rates for most Modern Awards. In many awards, employees receive 225% to 250% of their base rate for public holiday work. Always check your specific award and verify with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator, as rates vary between industries and employment types.
- No. This is an AI-powered estimator provided by RosterElf for general informational purposes. It is NOT the official Fair Work Pay Calculator. For official calculations, especially for payroll processing, employment disputes, or compliance purposes, always use the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
IMPORTANT – READ BEFORE CONTINUING
Please scroll to read and accept these terms
1. Estimates Only – Not Official or Accurate
This tool provides indicative pay rate estimates only for general informational purposes. It is not the official Fair Work Pay Calculator, is not authoritative, and does not guarantee accuracy, completeness, or currency. Award pay rates, penalties, overtime, and allowances change regularly and depend on award coverage, classification level, enterprise agreements, and individual circumstances.
2. No Payroll or Payment Decisions – No Reliance
You must not rely on any output from this tool to:
- calculate employee wages
- process payroll
- determine minimum pay obligations
- make compliance decisions
- resolve employment or underpayment disputes
Any reliance on this tool is unreasonable and entirely at your own risk. Incorrect pay rates may result in underpayment claims, back-pay liability, interest, penalties, and enforcement action.
3. Not Legal, Payroll, Tax, or Financial Advice
RosterElf Pty Ltd (ABN 67 164 843 609) is not a law firm, payroll provider, tax agent, accountant, or industrial relations advisor. This tool does not provide legal advice, payroll advice, tax advice, financial advice, or compliance confirmation. Use of this tool does not create any professional, advisory, or fiduciary relationship. You must obtain advice from a qualified payroll, industrial relations, or legal professional for specific matters.
4. No Award Coverage or Classification Determination
This tool does not determine:
- whether a Modern Award applies
- which award applies
- the correct classification level
- whether an enterprise agreement applies or overrides an award
All award, classification, and employment details are user-supplied and must be independently verified.
5. Artificial Intelligence Limitations
This tool uses artificial intelligence, which:
- may produce errors or omissions
- may rely on incomplete or outdated information
- may not account for enterprise agreements, workplace-specific arrangements, or recent rate changes
Outputs should be treated as indicative only, not definitive.
6. Mandatory Verification with Fair Work
Before making any payroll or payment decision, you must verify all rates using:
- the official Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Calculator or pay guides, and/or
- a qualified payroll or industrial relations professional
7. Third-Party Platform (OpenAI)
This tool operates via OpenAI's ChatGPT platform. You will be redirected to chatgpt.com and are subject to OpenAI's terms of service and privacy policy. RosterElf does not control, and is not responsible for, the operation, availability, accuracy, or outputs of OpenAI's platform. A ChatGPT account may be required.
8. Limitation of Liability – Use at Your Own Risk
To the maximum extent permitted by law, RosterElf Pty Ltd excludes all liability for any loss, damage, cost, claim, or liability arising from or related to use of this tool, including (without limitation):
- underpayment claims
- back-pay liability
- penalties or fines
- interest or compensation orders
- regulatory or enforcement action
- reliance on incorrect or incomplete information
If any liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the minimum extent required by law.
9. Privacy and User Responsibility
Information you enter into this tool may be processed by OpenAI. You must not enter sensitive personal information. You are responsible for ensuring that any information you provide is lawful and appropriate. Review our AI Tools Privacy Policy for further details.
10. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of Western Australia, and you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Western Australia.
Acceptance
By continuing, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and acknowledge that this tool provides general information only and must not be relied upon.
Scroll down to read all terms before accepting
You've read the terms. You may now accept and continue.