Manufacturing Award pay guide 2026/2027

Casual rates for ordinary weekday hours in the general manufacturing stream, generated from the current Fair Work pay guide:

If you only skim one section, make it this one:

• The Manufacturing Award [MA000010] uses the metal/engineering classification structure: C14 (entry) up through the C10 trade rate to C4 and above.
• 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:
  • C14 (entry): full-time/part-time $25.74/hr, casual $32.18/hr.
  • C10 (trade): full-time/part-time $29.45/hr, casual $36.81/hr.
• Penalties (day workers): Saturday +50%, Sunday +100%, public holidays +150%; casual rates are higher again.
• Apprentices and shiftwork (afternoon/night/permanent-night) have their own rates.
• Get classification, employment type and shift type right for every employee.

The Manufacturing Award covers a broad range of manufacturing and associated industries and occupations, including:

• Engineering and metal trades, fabrication and machining, food and beverage manufacturing, plastics, rubber, chemicals, building products, printing-adjacent manufacturing and more.
• Employees from entry-level (C14) through trade-qualified (C10) to technical and professional officers (C4 and above).

Important — who’s covered by other awards: meat processing → Meat Industry Award; electrical contracting → Electrical Award; road transport/distribution → Road Transport Award; plumbing → Plumbing Award. Confirm coverage with Fair Work’s PACT tool before applying rates.

A snapshot of the current FY2026/27 general-manufacturing rates, generated from the same data that powers the calculator above.

Ordinary weekday rates for the C14–C4 classifications:

Casuals receive the same base rate plus a 25% loading. Ordinary weekday casual rates:

Apprentice rates (general manufacturing, started on or after 1 January 2014, did not complete year 12). Apprentices who completed year 12 are paid higher rates — see the pay guide.

Classification follows skills, training and responsibility — using the metal/engineering C-grade structure:

• C14–C11 are production/operative levels, from induction (C14) through increasingly skilled operative work.
• C10 is the trade rate — a qualified engineering/manufacturing tradesperson.
• C9–C4 (and above) cover post-trade, special-class, technical and professional officers.
• Apprentices are paid stage/year-based rates; trade-qualified juniors must be paid the adult rate.

Write each employee’s C-grade and employment type into your payroll/rostering system. If unsure, confirm the right level.

General manufacturing penalties (day workers, on the ordinary rate):

• Saturday: 150% (full-time/part-time and casual base)
• Sunday: 200% (full-time/part-time and casual base)
• Public holiday: 250% (day worker and non-continuous shiftworker)
• Shiftwork loadings (separate from the calculator): afternoon and night shifts attract a loading on the ordinary rate, with a higher permanent night shift loading, and weekend shiftwork has its own rates.
• Overtime: time-and-a-half for the first hours then double time, with extra entitlements for short breaks between shifts.

The calculator above covers ordinary, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday rates for day workers. For shiftwork and overtime, use Fair Work’s PACT tool or award-interpreting software.

• 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.

• 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 — under this award the penalty applies to the loaded casual ordinary rate (so, for example, casual Saturday is 150% of the casual ordinary rate).

The Manufacturing Award has many allowances — these are some of the most common:

• Tool allowance – about $0.47/hr for most tradespersons ($0.89/hr for carpenters/joiners/boatbuilders).
• Leading hand – about $1.29/hr (3–10 employees), $1.93/hr (11–20).
• First aid – about $22.26 per week.
• Meal (overtime) – about $19.14 per meal.
• Cold places – about $0.82/hr; confined spaces – about $1.12/hr.

Many trade, disability and industry-specific allowances also apply. Exact amounts update each pay guide — see the Fair Work pay guide.

• Confirm the award and stream (general manufacturing; not meat, electrical, road transport or plumbing).
• Download the latest pay guide (FY2026/27).
• Classify each employee by C-grade and apprentice stage.
• Set base rates and apply weekend/public-holiday penalties, shiftwork loadings, tool and other allowances, and overtime.
• Use award-interpreting software so shiftwork and overtime are calculated automatically, and keep records for 7 years.

• C-grade structure: C14 entry → C10 trade rate → C4 and above.
• Saturday +50%, Sunday +100%, public holidays +150% for day workers.
• Apprentice and shiftwork rates are separate — don’t forget them.
• Tool and trade allowances are easy to miss.
• Update every July and keep good records.

For official guidance, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.