Penalty rates calculator
This penalty rates calculator works out your pay for weekend, evening and public holiday shifts. Enter your base rate and hours for each type of shift, choose casual or permanent, and see your gross pay with Saturday, Sunday and public holiday rates applied. It follows the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, one of the most common awards for casual shift work.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your weekend and public holiday pay
Enter your base hourly rate before any loading, then your hours for each shift type.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
Looking for steady shifts or a permanent role? TQN Personnel places casual, contract and permanent staff across Australia.
Find workHow to use the penalty rates calculator
- Enter your base hourly rate. This is the ordinary award rate before casual loading or penalties.
- Choose your employment type: casual, or full-time and part-time.
- Enter your weekday hours between 7am and 7pm, then any weekday evening and overnight hours.
- Enter your Saturday, Sunday and public holiday hours.
- Read your gross pay for the week, broken down by shift type, and your average hourly rate.
What are penalty rates?
Penalty rates are higher rates of pay for working at times outside normal business hours, such as weekends, public holidays, late nights and early mornings. They're set by modern awards and enterprise agreements, not by the National Employment Standards, so the exact rates depend on which award covers your job.
Penalty rates are usually written as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate. For casual employees, many awards express them as a percentage that already includes the 25% casual loading.
Hospitality award penalty rates from 1 July 2026
The calculator uses the penalty rates in the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, which covers hotels, pubs, bars, accommodation and many function venues:
| When you work | Full-time and part-time | Casual (includes loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm | 100% | 125% |
| Monday to Friday, 7pm to midnight | 100% + $2.95/hr | 125% + $2.95/hr |
| Monday to Friday, midnight to 7am | 100% + $4.42/hr | 125% + $4.42/hr |
| Saturday | 125% | 150% |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 225% | 250% |
Evening and overnight work on weekdays attracts a flat dollar amount per hour on top of the ordinary rate, not a percentage. Restaurant, fast food, clubs, retail and warehousing awards all use different rates, so check the award for your job before relying on these figures.
Worked example: a casual weekend shift pattern
A casual hospitality worker with a base rate of $26.50 works 16 weekday hours, 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday.
Weekday hours at 125% pay $530.00. Saturday at 150% pays $318.00. Sunday at 175% pays $371.00.
Total gross pay is $1,219.00 for 32 hours, an average of $38.09 an hour.
Sunday and Saturday penalty rates in Australia
Saturday and Sunday penalty rates are among the most searched pay questions in Australia. Under the hospitality award, permanent staff get time and a quarter on Saturday and time and a half on Sunday. Casuals get 150% and 175%. Other awards differ. For example, some retail and warehousing awards pay more for Sunday work, and some enterprise agreements roll penalty rates into a higher flat rate.
Is public holiday pay double time?
Not always. The hospitality award pays 225% for permanent staff and 250% for casuals, so it's more than double time. Many other awards pay double time and a half (250%) for public holidays. A permanent employee who isn't rostered on a public holiday that falls on their normal working day is still paid for the day at their ordinary rate.
Do penalty rates attract super?
Generally yes when they're paid for ordinary hours, because they form part of ordinary time earnings. Overtime is different and usually doesn't attract super.
Shift work through labour hire
Labour hire workers are paid under the award or agreement that applies to the work they do at the host's site, including its penalty rates. TQN Personnel places casual staff in hospitality, warehousing and events across Sydney, Melbourne and other cities. If you want more shifts, you can register with us here. For overtime on top of ordinary hours, use the overtime calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What are Sunday penalty rates in Australia?
It depends on the award. Under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, Sunday work is paid at 150% for full-time and part-time staff and 175% for casuals, including the casual loading. Other awards set different Sunday rates, so check your award's pay guide.
What are Saturday penalty rates in Australia?
Under the hospitality award, Saturday is 125% of the ordinary rate for permanent staff and 150% for casuals. Many other awards also pay time and a quarter or time and a half for Saturday work.
Is public holiday pay double time?
Often it's more. The hospitality award pays 225% for permanent staff and 250% for casuals on public holidays. Many awards pay 250%, which is double time and a half. Check the award or agreement that covers you.
What are penalty rates?
Penalty rates are higher hourly rates paid for working weekends, public holidays, late nights or early mornings. They come from modern awards and enterprise agreements and are usually shown as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate.
Do casuals get penalty rates?
Yes. Casual employees covered by an award get penalty rates for weekend, public holiday and other unsociable hours. Many awards show casual penalty rates as a combined percentage that already includes the 25% casual loading.
What are night shift penalty rates?
It varies by award. The hospitality award adds a flat $2.95 an hour for weekday work from 7pm to midnight and $4.42 an hour from midnight to 7am. Manufacturing, warehousing and nursing awards often use a percentage shift loading instead, commonly 15% to 30%.
Related calculators
Sources and assumptions
- Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Penalty rates and allowances
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Minimum wages
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.