Pharmacy Award pay guide 2026/2027
A simple, practical guide for community and retail pharmacy 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 Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 [MA000012] 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, and shows the standard daytime/evening penalty bands (the award also has narrower morning, late-evening and Saturday-evening bands). Employers must always check the current Fair Work pay guide before setting or paying wages.
The Pharmacy Award covers community and retail pharmacies. Hospital pharmacists may be covered by health-sector awards, allied-health staff by the Health Professionals & Support Services Award, and general shops by the General Retail 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 MA000012?
This is it. MA000012 is the official Fair Work code for the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020. This guide covers its pay rates, classifications, penalties and compliance for 2026/27.
View official MA000012 on Fair Work →Award rate calculator
See how RosterElf interprets the Pharmacy Award
This is an educational example showing how the Pharmacy 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant L1 | Entry-level retail/dispensary assistant | $34.76 |
| Assistant L2 | Assistant with experience / Certificate II | $35.56 |
| Assistant L3 | Senior assistant / Certificate III | $36.81 |
| Assistant L4 | Supervisor / dispensary technician | $38.33 |
| Intern 1st half | Provisionally registered intern (first half) | $42.49 |
| Intern 2nd half | Provisionally registered intern (second half) | $43.93 |
| Pharmacist | Registered pharmacist | $52.18 |
| Experienced Pharmacist | Pharmacist with experience | $57.15 |
| Pharmacist in charge | In charge of a pharmacy | $58.50 |
| Pharmacist manager | Manages a pharmacy | $65.19 |
Evening, weekend & public holiday rates are higher
On top of the ordinary rates above: evening (Mon–Fri 7pm–9pm) +25%, Saturday (8am–6pm) +25%, Sunday (7am–9pm) +50% and public holidays +125% for full-time and part-time staff (casual rates are higher again — the 25% loading is added to the penalty). Narrower morning, late-evening and Saturday-evening bands attract higher rates. See the penalty section below, and use the calculator for the standard figures.
Quick summary for time-poor employers
Important: This guide assumes the Pharmacy Award applies to a community/retail pharmacy. Hospital pharmacists and allied-health staff may be covered by different awards — confirm coverage first (see the disclaimer above).
If you only skim one section, make it this one:
- The Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 [MA000012] covers pharmacy assistants (Levels 1–4), students, interns and pharmacists (including experienced, in-charge and manager).
- 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:
- Pharmacy assistant level 1: full-time/part-time $27.81/hr, casual $34.76/hr.
- Pharmacist: full-time/part-time $41.74/hr, casual $52.18/hr.
- Penalties: evening and Saturday +25%, Sunday +50%, public holidays +125% (full-time/part-time); casual rates are higher again.
- Junior rates apply for assistants under 21; time bands (morning, late evening) attract higher rates.
- Get classification, age, employment type and shift time right for every employee.
Bottom line: with time-of-day bands, junior 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 Pharmacy Award covers employers and employees in community and retail pharmacies:
- Pharmacy assistants (Levels 1–4) — retail and dispensary assistants and supervisors.
- Pharmacy students and interns — provisionally registered, working towards registration.
- Pharmacists — including experienced pharmacists, pharmacists in charge and pharmacist managers.
Important — who’s covered by other awards: hospital/public-sector pharmacists are often covered by health-sector awards; allied-health and health-support staff → Health Professionals & Support Services Award; general shops → General Retail 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. Pharmacy students are paid at the equivalent assistant-level rates by year of course.
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: Pharmacy assistant level 1 is now $27.81/hr and a Pharmacist is $41.74/hr (full-time/part-time). Penalty, junior and casual rates rose proportionally. Always confirm against the current pay guide.
Adult – full-time & part-time
Ordinary weekday rates for assistants, interns and pharmacists:
| Level | Example roles | Weekly pay | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant L1 | Entry-level retail/dispensary assistant | $1,056.80 | $27.81 |
| Assistant L2 | Assistant with experience / Certificate II | $1,081.00 | $28.45 |
| Assistant L3 | Senior assistant / Certificate III | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| Assistant L4 | Supervisor / dispensary technician | $1,165.10 | $30.66 |
| Intern 1st half | Provisionally registered intern (first half) | $1,291.50 | $33.99 |
| Intern 2nd half | Provisionally registered intern (second half) | $1,335.50 | $35.14 |
| Pharmacist | Registered pharmacist | $1,586.30 | $41.74 |
| Experienced Pharmacist | Pharmacist with experience | $1,737.40 | $45.72 |
| Pharmacist in charge | In charge of a pharmacy | $1,778.40 | $46.80 |
| Pharmacist manager | Manages a pharmacy | $1,981.60 | $52.15 |
Adult rates. Pharmacy students mirror assistant rates by year of course; junior rates apply for assistants under 21.
Adult – casual
Casuals receive the same base rate plus a 25% loading. Ordinary weekday casual rates:
| Level | Example roles | Casual hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant L1 | Entry-level retail/dispensary assistant | $34.76 |
| Assistant L2 | Assistant with experience / Certificate II | $35.56 |
| Assistant L3 | Senior assistant / Certificate III | $36.81 |
| Assistant L4 | Supervisor / dispensary technician | $38.33 |
| Intern 1st half | Provisionally registered intern (first half) | $42.49 |
| Intern 2nd half | Provisionally registered intern (second half) | $43.93 |
| Pharmacist | Registered pharmacist | $52.18 |
| Experienced Pharmacist | Pharmacist with experience | $57.15 |
| Pharmacist in charge | In charge of a pharmacy | $58.50 |
| Pharmacist manager | Manages a pharmacy | $65.19 |
Casual rates shown are the ordinary weekday rate (base + 25% loading). Evening, weekend and public-holiday loadings apply on top — use the calculator above.
How to classify your staff
Classification follows role, qualifications and registration:
- Pharmacy assistants Levels 1–4 progress from entry-level retail/dispensary work to supervisory and dispensary-technician roles.
- Students are paid by year of course; interns by half of their intern year.
- Pharmacists progress from registered pharmacist to experienced pharmacist, pharmacist in charge and pharmacist manager.
- Juniors (under 21) apply to pharmacy assistants — about 45% under 16 up to 90% at 20.
Write each employee’s classification, age (for junior assistants) and employment type into your payroll/rostering system. If unsure, confirm the right level.
Penalty rates & time bands
Pharmacy Award penalties are based on the time of day as well as the day of week (on the ordinary rate):
- Evening (Mon–Fri 7pm–9pm): 125% (full-time/part-time), 150% (casual)
- Saturday (8am–6pm): 125% (full-time/part-time), 150% (casual)
- Sunday (7am–9pm): 150% (full-time/part-time), 175% (casual)
- Public holiday: 225% (full-time/part-time), 250% (casual)
- Narrower bands attract higher rates: morning work (7am–8am) and late-evening work (9pm–midnight) Mon–Fri, and Saturday evening (6pm–9pm) and late evening (9pm–midnight). Sunday before 7am / after 9pm is paid at the higher band too.
- 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, evening, Saturday (8am–6pm), Sunday (7am–9pm) and public-holiday rates. For the narrower bands and overtime, use Fair Work’s PACT tool or award-interpreting software.
Stop calculating pharmacy time bands by hand
RosterElf's award interpretation engine applies Pharmacy Award evening, weekend, public-holiday and junior rates automatically from each shift's exact 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 evening, weekend and public-holiday rates are higher than the permanent rates because the loading is added to the penalty (for example, casual Sunday is 175% 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:
- Laundry – about $6.42/week (full-time) or $1.28 per shift (part-time/casual).
- Meal (overtime) – about $24.72, with a further $22.15 after more than 4 hours of overtime.
- Motor vehicle – about $1.01 per km.
- District (Broken Hill) – about $47.90 per week.
Exact amounts update each pay guide — see the Fair Work pay guide.
Step-by-step compliance plan
- Confirm the award applies (community/retail pharmacy; not hospital pharmacy or general retail).
- Download the latest pay guide (FY2026/27).
- Classify each employee by role, registration and age (for junior assistants).
- Set base rates and apply evening/weekend/public-holiday penalties by time band, plus overtime.
- Use award-interpreting software so the time bands are calculated automatically, and keep records for 7 years.
Final takeaways
- Four groups: assistants (Levels 1–4), students, interns and pharmacists.
- Time-of-day bands drive penalties — evening, late evening, morning, Saturday and Sunday bands.
- Standard rates: evening and Saturday +25%, Sunday +50%, public holidays +125%.
- Junior assistant rates step up with age — review on each birthday.
- 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 Pharmacy Award
Run the Pharmacy Award on autopilot
RosterElf builds the award rules into your rosters, timesheets and payroll.
Award interpretation
Automatically applies evening, weekend, public-holiday and junior rates from exact 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 a kiosk time clock and live attendance.
Payroll integration
Send award-interpreted timesheets straight to Xero, MYOB and other payroll systems.
Pharmacy 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 Pharmacy Award by hand
RosterElf applies Pharmacy Award (MA000012) evening, weekend, public holiday and junior rates automatically based on each shift's exact times.
Pharmacy Award FAQ
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The Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (MA000012) covers employees in community and retail pharmacies: pharmacy assistants (Levels 1–4), pharmacy students, interns and pharmacists (including experienced pharmacists, pharmacists in charge and pharmacist managers). Hospital and public-sector pharmacists are often covered by health-sector awards instead.
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Pharmacy assistants under 21 are paid a percentage of the adult level rate: about 45% under 16, 50% at 16, 60% at 17, 70% at 18, 80% at 19 and 90% at 20, reaching the full adult rate at 21. Junior rates step up on each birthday, so review them regularly. Students, interns and pharmacists are paid their own (non-junior) rates.
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Students are paid at the equivalent pharmacy-assistant level for their year of course. Interns (provisionally registered, working towards full registration) are paid an intern rate split into a first half and second half of the intern year, which sits between the senior assistant and pharmacist rates.