Casual loading

Casual loading compensates casual employees for the benefits that full-time or part-time employees receive, such as paid leave and job security. This additional payment is a percentage of the base hourly rate, varying depending on the award or agreement. It acknowledges the irregular nature of casual work.

How much is casual loading?

Rates current from 1 July 2026.

Most modern awards set casual loading at 25% of the ordinary hourly rate. From 1 July 2026, a casual employee on the national minimum wage must be paid at least $33.05 an hour: $26.44 plus a 25% loading of $6.61. Casual employees do not get paid annual leave, paid personal/carer's leave, or notice and redundancy pay, but they do get unpaid carer's and compassionate leave, community service leave and 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave each year. Check your award, because it sets how the loading interacts with overtime and penalty rates.

Read our guide to casual loading.