Award and registered agreement free employees

Award and registered agreement free employees are those whose employment conditions aren't covered by any specific award or registered agreement. This means they don't have predefined terms like pay rates, working hours, or other conditions as set in these agreements. Their employment terms are typically outlined by their individual contracts or the national employment standards. This category can include certain professionals, managers, or employees in specific sectors where awards or agreements don't apply.

What award-free employees are entitled to

Rates current from 1 July 2026.

Award and agreement free employees still get the National Employment Standards and must be paid at least the national minimum wage, which is $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 for a 38-hour week) from 1 July 2026. Their other pay and conditions come from their employment contract. Fewer roles are award free than many employers think, so check the award coverage clauses before treating an employee as award free. For example, a senior manager is often award free, but an office manager doing mainly administrative work may be covered by the Clerks—Private Sector Award 2020.

Read our guide to modern awards to check coverage.