Airport Employees Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000049)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Airport Employees Award covers employees working at airports across Australia in non-airline roles. This includes airport ground services staff (baggage handlers, ramp operators, aircraft refuellers, terminal cleaners), administrative services staff (customer service officers, booking clerks, office administrators), technical services staff (airfield lighting technicians, electronics technicians, maintenance workers), and professional engineers employed by airport operators, ground handling companies, and airport service providers.
The award does NOT cover airline cabin crew or pilots (covered by separate awards), airline operations and ground staff employed by airlines (covered by the Airline Operations Ground Staff Award MA000048), or air traffic controllers and aviation rescue firefighters (covered by specific enterprise awards).
How classification levels work
The award has four classification streams, each with its own level structure: ground services (operational roles), administrative services (office and customer-facing roles), technical services (maintenance and technical roles), and professional engineers. Your classification is determined by the type of work you perform, your qualifications, and your level of responsibility within the relevant stream.
What about part-time and casual workers?
Part-time employees receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees on a pro-rata basis. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. Airports operate 24/7, so shift penalties are common across all streams.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Stream / Level | Typical Duties | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Services Level 1 | Terminal cleaner, ramp hand, basic refuelling | $940.00 | $24.74 | $30.93 |
| Ground Services Level 2 | Baggage handler, tow operator, aircraft refueller | $970.80 | $25.55 | $31.94 |
| Ground Services Level 3 | Leading hand, pushback operator, senior ramp | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| Admin Services Level 1 | Reception, data entry, general admin | $978.20 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Admin Services Level 2 | Customer service officer, booking clerk | $1,035.80 | $27.26 | $34.08 |
| Admin Services Level 3 | Senior admin, accounts, team leader | $1,073.20 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Technical Services Level 1 | Trades assistant, basic maintenance | $978.20 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Technical Services Level 2 | Qualified tradesperson, airfield lighting tech | $1,058.60 | $27.86 | $34.83 |
| Technical Services Level 3 | Senior technician, electronics specialist | $1,139.20 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
| Professional Engineer Level 1 | Graduate engineer | $1,139.20 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
| Professional Engineer Level 2 | Experienced engineer | $1,262.00 | $33.21 | $41.51 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Non-Shiftworkers)
| When you work | Penalty | Ground Services L2 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $25.55/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $38.33/hr |
| Sunday (all hours worked) | 200% | $51.10/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $63.88/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 150% | $38.33/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 200% | $51.10/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday first 3 hours | 150% | $38.33/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday after 3 hours | 200% | $51.10/hr |
Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | Ground Services L2 example |
|---|---|---|
| Day shift | Base rate (100%) | $25.55/hr |
| Night shift | 115% | $29.38/hr |
| Non-rotating night shift | 130% | $33.22/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $38.33/hr |
| Saturday and Sunday (all hours worked) | 200% | $51.10/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $63.88/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Ground Services L2 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% (casual loading) | $31.94/hr |
| Saturday | 175% | $44.71/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $57.49/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $70.26/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for airport ground staff?
Ordinary hours are 38 per week or an average of 38 per week over a roster cycle. Airports operate 24/7, so ordinary hours for ground services staff can be rostered across any day of the week and any time of day. Shift penalties apply for night work and weekend work. The roster cycle may span up to 4 weeks.
2. Do baggage handlers get paid more for early morning shifts?
Baggage handlers and other ground services staff who work night shifts receive a 115% penalty loading on their base rate. For non-rotating night shift workers (those permanently rostered on nights), the loading is 130%. If you regularly start work at 4:00am or 5:00am, check whether your shift falls within the night shift definition under the award.
3. Are airport engineers classified differently from technicians?
Yes. Professional engineers have their own classification stream with separate pay rates. A graduate engineer starts at Professional Engineer Level 1, which has a higher base rate than Technical Services Level 1. However, experienced technicians at Technical Services Level 3 may earn comparable rates to early-career engineers. The classification depends on whether you hold an accredited engineering degree.
4. What penalty rates apply for aircraft refuellers working Christmas Day?
All airport employees who work on a public holiday receive 250% of their base rate. For a Ground Services Level 2 employee ($25.55/hr base), Christmas Day work would earn $63.88/hr. Casual employees receive 275% of the base rate on public holidays. If you work overtime on a public holiday, the overtime rate is calculated on the public holiday rate.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual airport workers?
Casual employees in ground services must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift. At Ground Services Level 2 casual rate ($31.94/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $95.82 gross. Administrative and technical casual employees also have a 3-hour minimum engagement.
Check Your Rate
Not sure if you are being paid correctly? Use our free pay rate calculator to check your exact rate based on your classification stream, level, and shift pattern.
Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including shift penalties, overtime, and casual loading. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.
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Home > Awards > Airport Employees Award (MA000049)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.