Cleaning Services Award pay guide 2026/2027
A simple, practical guide for contract and commercial cleaning employers
Updated • FY2026/27 rates — effective the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026
Written by
Steve Harris
Summarise with AI
This guide provides general information about the Cleaning Services Award 2020 [MA000022] and related Australian workplace laws as at the date of publication.
It does not constitute legal, financial, payroll or employment advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Pay rates, penalty rates and allowance amounts under modern awards change periodically, particularly following the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. This guide includes indicative minimum figures based on rates effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Employers must always check the current Fair Work pay guide before setting or paying wages.
The Cleaning Services Award covers contract cleaning businesses. Cleaners directly employed in another industry may be covered by that industry’s award (for example, a cleaner employed by a manufacturer may fall under the Manufacturing Award). Always confirm award coverage (e.g. using Fair Work’s Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT)).
If you need award-specific guidance, see:
Looking for MA000022?
This is it. MA000022 is the official Fair Work code for the Cleaning Services Award 2020. This guide covers its pay rates, classifications, penalties and compliance for 2026/27.
View official MA000022 on Fair Work →Award rate calculator
See how RosterElf interprets the Cleaning Services Award
This is an educational example showing how the Cleaning Services Award penalty rates work. It demonstrates how RosterElf automatically calculates correct pay rates based on classification level, employment type, and shift times.
Award penalty rates
Example weekly cost (38 hours)
Example only - not for payroll use
This is a demonstration of how RosterElf calculates award-compliant rates.
The actual cost for your employees will depend on:
- Their specific classification level and employment type
- Actual hours worked and shift times
- Any additional allowances, overtime, or enterprise agreement provisions
- Current award rates (which change annually in July)
For accurate payroll calculations, always:
- Verify current rates with the official Fair Work pay guide
- Confirm your employees' correct award coverage and classification
- Use award interpretation software or consult a payroll professional
- Review your specific enterprise agreement (if applicable)
Do not rely on this example for actual wage payments.
Stop calculating penalty rates manually
Let RosterElf handle award compliance automatically
Manual award calculations are time-consuming and error-prone. One mistake can lead to underpayments, compliance issues, and Fair Work penalties. RosterElf's award interpretation engine does the work for you.
How RosterElf automates award calculations
Create pay templates
Create pay templates for each classification level with award-compliant base rates and penalty multipliers. RosterElf applies the correct template to each shift automatically.
Award interpretation →Define rate rules
Configure when different penalty rates apply (evenings, weekends, public holidays). The system detects which rate to use based on shift times and days.
Penalty rates guide →Auto-apply to shifts
Every rostered shift calculates the correct pay rate based on the employee's classification, employment type, and shift timing. No manual work required.
Payroll integration →Quick casual pay rates reference 2026/27
Casual rates for ordinary weekday hours, generated from the current Fair Work pay guide:
FY2026/27 rates are in effect
All modern award rates rose 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, and the national minimum wage is now $26.44/hr. The rates below and in the calculator reflect the current Fair Work pay guide.
Casual hourly rates 2026/27 (ordinary weekday hours)
| Level | Example roles | Casual hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | General/entry-level cleaning duties | $33.85 |
| Level 2 | Specialised cleaning / leading hand | $34.96 |
| Level 3 | Advanced / supervisory cleaning duties | $36.81 |
Weekend, public holiday & shift rates are higher
On top of the ordinary rates above: Saturday +50%, Sunday +100% and public holidays +150% for full-time and part-time staff (casual rates are higher again — the 25% loading is added to the penalty). Early-morning (before 6am / after 6pm) and non-rotating night-shift work attract separate loadings. See the penalty section below, and use the calculator for the ordinary/weekend/public-holiday figures.
Quick summary for time-poor employers
Important: This guide assumes the Cleaning Services Award applies (contract cleaning). Cleaners directly employed within another industry may be covered by that industry’s award — confirm coverage first (see the disclaimer above).
If you only skim one section, make it this one:
- The Cleaning Services Award 2020 [MA000022] covers contract cleaning, with cleaning service employees Levels 1–3.
- Minimums are reviewed each July. The FY2026/27 pay guide took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, lifting all rates by 4.75%.
- Example 2026/27 adult minimum pay:
- Level 1: full-time/part-time $27.08/hr, casual $33.85/hr.
- Level 3: full-time/part-time $29.45/hr, casual $36.81/hr.
- Penalties: Saturday +50%, Sunday +100%, public holidays +150% (full-time/part-time); casual rates are higher again.
- Early-morning and night-shift loadings, broken shifts and height allowances apply on top.
- Get level, employment type and shift type right for every employee.
Bottom line: with early-morning/night loadings, broken shifts and weekend rates, manual calculation is error-prone — check your underpayment risk. Award-aware rostering software with award interpretation keeps it correct automatically.
Who the award covers (and who it doesn't)
The Cleaning Services Award covers employers and employees in the contract cleaning industry — cleaning offices, buildings, schools, shopping centres and other premises under a cleaning contract. Cleaning service employees are classified into Levels 1–3 by skill and responsibility.
Important — who’s covered by other awards: a cleaner directly employed by a business in another industry is usually covered by that industry’s award — for example, the Manufacturing Award for a factory cleaner, or the relevant health/hospitality award. Confirm coverage with Fair Work’s PACT tool before applying rates.
2026/27 pay rates overview: what you must pay
A snapshot of the current FY2026/27 rates, generated from the same data that powers the calculator above.
What changed from 2025/26
The FY2026/27 Annual Wage Review lifted all modern award minimum rates by 4.75%. For this award, for example: Level 1 is now $27.08/hr and Level 3 is $29.45/hr (full-time/part-time). Penalty and casual rates rose proportionally. Always confirm against the current pay guide.
Adult – full-time & part-time
Ordinary weekday rates for cleaning service employees Levels 1–3:
| Level | Example roles | Weekly pay | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | General/entry-level cleaning duties | $1,028.90 | $27.08 |
| Level 2 | Specialised cleaning / leading hand | $1,062.90 | $27.97 |
| Level 3 | Advanced / supervisory cleaning duties | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
Adult rates. Early-morning and night-shift loadings apply on top — see the penalty section.
Adult – casual
Casuals receive the same base rate plus a 25% loading. Ordinary weekday casual rates:
| Level | Example roles | Casual hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | General/entry-level cleaning duties | $33.85 |
| Level 2 | Specialised cleaning / leading hand | $34.96 |
| Level 3 | Advanced / supervisory cleaning duties | $36.81 |
Casual rates shown are the ordinary weekday rate (base + 25% loading). Weekend, public-holiday and shift loadings apply on top — use the calculator above.
How to classify your staff
Classification follows skill and responsibility — not job title.
- Level 1 covers general cleaning duties.
- Level 2 covers more specialised cleaning and leading-hand responsibilities.
- Level 3 covers advanced and supervisory cleaning work.
Write each employee’s level and employment type into your payroll/rostering system. If unsure, confirm the right level.
Penalty rates & shift loadings
Cleaning Services Award penalties (on the ordinary rate):
- Saturday: 150% (full-time/part-time), 175% (casual)
- Sunday: 200% (full-time/part-time), 225% (casual)
- Public holiday: 250% (full-time/part-time), 275% (casual)
- Early-morning / evening: a loading applies for shifts starting before 6am or finishing after 6pm.
- Non-rotating night shift (finishing after midnight and at/before 8am) attracts a higher loading.
- Broken shift: about $4.71 per day (max $23.56/week).
- Overtime: time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours then double time; double time on Sundays and public holidays.
The calculator above covers ordinary, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday rates. For early-morning, night-shift and overtime, use Fair Work’s PACT tool or award-interpreting software.
Stop calculating cleaning shift loadings by hand
RosterElf's award interpretation engine applies Cleaning Services Award weekend, public-holiday and shift rates automatically from each shift's times.
See award interpretationFull-time vs part-time vs casual
Full-time & part-time
- Full-time is around 38 hours per week, ongoing; part-time has a regular agreed pattern.
- Both receive paid annual and personal/carer’s leave (pro-rata for part-time) and other NES entitlements. Part-time hours should be agreed in writing.
Casual
- Paid a 25% casual loading instead of paid leave, with a minimum engagement per shift.
- Casual weekend and public-holiday rates are higher than the permanent rates because the loading is added to the penalty (for example, casual Sunday is 225% of the base rate).
Casuals working regular, ongoing hours may be eligible for casual conversion to permanent employment.
Allowances
Common allowances under this award include:
- Broken shift – about $4.71 per day (max $23.56/week).
- First aid – about $16.87 per week.
- Leading hand (Level 2) – from about $61.73 per week, by team size.
- Height – about $1.11–$2.27/hr for multi-storey external cleaning.
- Cold places – about $0.69/hr; hot places – about $0.69–$0.83/hr.
Exact amounts update each pay guide — see the Fair Work pay guide.
Step-by-step compliance plan
- Confirm the award applies (contract cleaning; not a cleaner employed under another industry’s award).
- Download the latest pay guide (FY2026/27).
- Classify each employee by level.
- Set base rates and apply weekend/public-holiday penalties, early-morning/night loadings, broken shifts and overtime.
- Use award-interpreting software so shift loadings are calculated automatically, and keep records for 7 years.
Final takeaways
- Levels 1–3 cover general to supervisory cleaning.
- Saturday +50%, Sunday +100%, public holidays +150%.
- Early-morning and night-shift loadings are common in cleaning — don’t forget them.
- Broken shifts and height allowances are easy to miss.
- Update every July and keep good records.
For official guidance, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Industries using this award
Explore rostering solutions for businesses covered by the Cleaning Services Award
Run the Cleaning Services Award on autopilot
RosterElf builds the award rules into your rosters, timesheets and payroll.
Award interpretation
Automatically applies weekend, public-holiday and shift rates from shift times.
Rostering software
Build award-aware rosters in minutes with live wage cost and compliance warnings.
Time & attendance
Capture exact start and finish times with GPS clock-in across client sites.
Payroll integration
Send award-interpreted timesheets straight to Xero, MYOB and other payroll systems.
Cleaning Services Award knowledge base
Step-by-step help for applying the award inside RosterElf.
Related award rate guides
Explore other Australian Modern Award pay rate guides
Stop calculating the Cleaning Services Award by hand
RosterElf applies Cleaning Services Award (MA000022) penalty, shift and public holiday rates automatically based on shift times.
Cleaning Services Award FAQ
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The Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022) covers employers and employees in the contract cleaning industry — cleaning offices, buildings, schools, shopping centres and other premises under a cleaning contract. Cleaning service employees are classified into Levels 1–3. A cleaner directly employed by a business in another industry is usually covered by that industry’s award instead.
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If a cleaner is employed directly by a business in another industry (rather than by a contract cleaning company), they’re usually covered by that industry’s award — for example, a factory cleaner under the Manufacturing Award. The Cleaning Services Award applies to dedicated contract cleaning businesses. Use Fair Work’s PACT tool to confirm.
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Level 1 is general cleaning, Level 2 is specialised cleaning and leading-hand work, and Level 3 is advanced and supervisory cleaning. Classification follows the duties and responsibility of the role, not the job title — review it when an employee’s duties change.