Calculate overtime & penalty rates for Australian awards
Estimate the cost of overtime, weekend and public holiday shifts. This calculator applies penalty multipliers to give indicative figures for planning purposes.
This calculator provides general estimates only. Penalty rates, overtime rules and superannuation obligations vary by Modern Award, enterprise agreement and employment type, and this is not legal or payroll advice — always verify with the official Fair Work Pay Calculator before making business decisions. 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.
Overtime & penalty rate calculator
Enter a shift to estimate its true cost including penalties, overtime and super.
Estimated shift cost
Estimates only — verify before making decisions.
Common penalty rates
Typical ranges only — rates vary by award. Check your specific Modern Award for accurate figures.
Saturday
Typically 1.25× – 1.5× of base pay.
Sunday
Typically 1.5× – 2.0× of base pay.
Public holiday
Typically 2.0× – 2.5× of base pay.
What are penalty rates?
Penalty rates apply when employees work outside ordinary hours — weekends, public holidays, evenings or early mornings — to compensate for unsociable hours.
Saturday rates
Typically 125–150% of base pay. Varies by award and employment type (casual vs permanent).
Sunday rates
Typically 150–200% of base pay. Usually higher than Saturday rates under most awards.
Public holiday rates
Typically 200–250% of base pay — the highest penalty rates under most awards.
Want to calculate penalty rates step by step? Read our guide to calculating penalty rates in Australia, including award-specific examples, common mistakes and best practices.
What is overtime?
Beyond ordinary hours
Overtime generally applies when employees work beyond their ordinary or rostered hours. Most awards require 150% for the first 2–3 hours and 200% thereafter.
Multipliers can stack
When overtime falls in a penalty period (e.g. Sunday overtime), multipliers may stack, significantly increasing the cost — important for accurate forecasting.
Worked examples
- Sunday shift — $30/hr × 1.5 (Sunday penalty) × 4 hrs = $180 (plus super).
- Weekday overtime — first 2 hrs at 1.5×, then 2× after: ($30 × 1.5 × 2) + ($30 × 2 × 2) = $90 + $120 = $210.
- Public holiday — $30/hr × 2.5 × 6 hrs = $450 (plus super).
- Sunday overtime (stacked) — $30/hr × 1.5 × 1.5 = $67.50/hr effective.
Multipliers vary by Modern Award and employment type — always confirm yours against the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Why penalty shifts increase labour costs
The same 8-hour shift at $25/hour across different days:
Weekday (1.0×)
$200 — base cost.
Sunday (1.5×)
$300 — +50% increase.
Sunday OT (2.0×)
$400 — +100% increase.
Why accurate roster planning matters
Small changes to shift timing or scheduling can have outsized impacts on your total wage bill. Understanding the true cost of each shift helps you make smarter rostering decisions.
Want penalty rates applied automatically?
Upgrade to RosterElf for automated award interpretation, penalty rate calculations and payroll integration.
Free calculator
Perfect for quick penalty rate estimates
- Estimate penalty shift costs
- Overtime multiplier calculations
- Superannuation calculations
- No signup required
- Automatic award interpretation
- Real-time roster cost tracking
- Payroll export (Xero & MYOB)
- Team availability management
Full Suite
Rostering, payroll & HR in one
per employee per month
+ GST, billed annually
Payroll & HR tools in one system
- Smart rostering & availability
- Time & attendance (GPS & photo)
- Award interpretation & penalties
- Payroll export (Xero & MYOB)
- HR Hub with employee profiles
- Digital onboarding & contracts
- Policies, certificates & compliance tracking
- Payroll sync with employee records
- Workwise AI compliance assistant
- Central document storage & management
- Leave management with approvals
No credit card required · 15-day free trial
Related resources
Explore guides, insights, and templates to help you get more from this tool.
Explore more free tools
Discover other calculators and AI tools to help manage your workforce.
Casual vs part-time calculator
Compare the estimated cost of casual vs part-time employment including loadings.
Payroll cost calculator
Estimate employee costs including super, leave, and casual loading.
Free invoice generator
Create and download professional tax invoices with GST and ABN details — no signup required.
Roster cost forecast calculator
Forecast the estimated cost of your staff roster before publishing shifts.
Labour cost percentage calculator
Calculate what percentage of your revenue is spent on labour costs.
Shift cost calculator
Estimate the cost of a single staff shift including penalties and super.
Salary & pay calculator
Calculate your take-home pay in Australia. Convert hourly to annual salary, estimate tax, Medicare levy, and super for 2025-26.
AI employment contract generator
Generate draft employment contracts for casual, part-time, or full-time employees using AI.
Frequently asked questions
-
Overtime pay = base hourly rate × the overtime multiplier × hours worked. For example, $30/hr at time-and-a-half (1.5×) for 2 hours is $30 × 1.5 × 2 = $90. Most Australian awards pay 150% for the first 2–3 overtime hours and 200% after that. Add superannuation (12%) on top. See our guide to calculating penalty rates for award-specific steps.
-
Your overtime rate is your base hourly rate multiplied by the overtime multiplier in your award — commonly 1.5× (time-and-a-half) for the first few hours, then 2× (double time). So a $30/hr base becomes $45/hr at 1.5× and $60/hr at 2×. Confirm the exact multipliers in your Modern Award.
-
Time and a half means 1.5× your base hourly rate — 50% more than your ordinary pay. It’s the most common first-tier overtime and Saturday penalty rate under many Australian awards. Two hours of a $30/hr job at time and a half is $30 × 1.5 × 2 = $90.
-
When overtime is worked during a penalty period (e.g. Sunday overtime), multipliers typically stack. For example, Sunday at 150% with overtime at 150% could give an effective rate of 225% (1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25). Check your award for specific stacking rules.