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Apprentice Wages

Wage Rates for Australian Apprentices

An Australian Apprentice is usually paid a training wage that is less than the average award wage.

However, many employers choose to pay above the stipulated minimum wage to ensure they:

  • Attract the best candidates when recruiting.
  • Build a healthy relationship with existing Australian apprentices and, in turn, retain their services after the completion of the training period.
  • Provide their trades with quality education and training.
  • Help trades such as carpenters become fully qualified.
1st year apprentice approximate pay
$0.28
minimum an hour

Building and Construction General On-site Award 2010

1st year apprentice approximate pay
$0.90
minimum an hour

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2010

1st year apprentice approximate pay
$0.48
minimum an hour

Hair and Beauty Industry Award 2010

1st year apprentice approximate pay
$0.48
minimum an hour

Restaurant Industry Award 2010

Source: Fair Work Calculator 2019
All figures are approximate and based on full time employees who are under the age of 21 and don’t have any additional benefits or subsidies.

Australian Apprenticeships Wage Levels

You must pay Australian Apprentices for the time they spend training. The wage level will vary according to:

  • The level of qualification
  • The year of training the Australian Apprentice is in
  • The industry and sector of the Australian Apprenticeship
  • The type of Australian Apprenticeship eg school-based, part-time or full-time
  • Whether the Australian Apprentice has finished school
  • Previous skills already acquired by the Australian Apprentice.

As Australian Apprentices become more skilled and achieve the competencies detailed in the training plan, they progress through each wage level. Click here to read more about the major myths of Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

For mature-aged and adult students aged over 21, mature-age apprenticeship wages will apply. These wages are higher than standard apprenticeships.

Awards

Awards set out minimum wages and conditions of employment for specified employees, including those of Australian Apprentices.

Awards may include:

  • Minimum rates of pay and allowances
  • Overtime, shift penalty and other penalty rates
  • Hours of work
  • Leave provisions, for example sick/personal leave or recreation leave.

Awards may be federal or state:

Federal Awards

Federal Awards apply in more than one state or territory. All federal awards have a clause that identifies who is bound by the award, for example employers who are members of the Australian Hotels Association or Master Builders Association.

State Awards

State Awards are made by state or territory industrial tribunals. These are similar in content to federal awards, and also set out minimum pay and conditions of employment for groups of employees. They cover all employers and employees in the industry or occupation to which the award relates.

More than one award may apply to an employee but provide different parts of the overall employment package.

You need to determine which award or awards cover your employee. The easiest way to find out is to call WageLine in your state or territory.

If you’re unsure of your award, click here.

Other Wage Related Costs

With other costs such as superannuation, workers’ compensation, entitlements or requirements, you will generally treat an Australian Apprentice the same as all other employees.

Although some state and territory governments offer exemptions on workers’ compensation and/or payroll tax.

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