Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000096)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award covers employees working in commercial laundries, dry cleaning shops, linen hire services, garment pressing operations, and related cleaning and finishing businesses. If you work as a laundry hand, dry cleaner, presser, spotter, shirt finisher, linen sorter, delivery driver, or counter attendant in a dry cleaning or laundry business, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 25,000 workers across independent operators, franchise chains, and large commercial laundry operations.
This award does NOT cover employees performing cleaning duties in hotels or hospitals (Hospitality Award or Health Award), employees in textile manufacturing (Textile, Clothing, Footwear Award, MA000017), or employees in general cleaning services like office cleaning (Cleaning Services Award, MA000022). The key test is whether your employer's primary business is providing dry cleaning, laundering, or linen hire services. See clause 4 for coverage terms.
How classification levels work
The award has separate classification structures for dry cleaning employees and laundry employees, reflecting the different skills required in each stream (clause 14 and Schedule A). Dry cleaning has levels from DC1 (entry-level) through DC5 (supervisor). Laundry has levels from L1 through L5. Each stream maps to duties specific to that part of the industry. A counter attendant in a dry cleaning shop and a machine operator in a commercial laundry have different classification paths.
Saturday split and shiftwork
The award has a distinctive Saturday penalty structure that splits before and after midday. Saturday ordinary hours worked before midday attract a lower penalty than hours worked after midday. This reflects the industry pattern where Saturday morning trading is standard for retail dry cleaners, while Saturday afternoon work is less common. Shiftwork provisions include morning, afternoon, and night shift loadings, with specific penalties for non-successive shifts (where you are required to change between shift patterns).
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
Dry Cleaning Employees
| Level | Typical Duties (Schedule A) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC1 | Counter attendant, basic receiving and tagging | $939.50 | $24.73 | $30.91 |
| DC2 | Spotter (basic), presser (basic), machine operator | $968.60 | $25.49 | $31.86 |
| DC3 | Experienced spotter, skilled presser, garment finisher | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| DC4 | Senior operator, quality controller, team leader | $1,060.20 | $27.90 | $34.88 |
| DC5 | Supervisor, shop manager, specialist cleaner | $1,102.80 | $29.02 | $36.28 |
Laundry Employees
| Level | Typical Duties (Schedule A) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | General laundry hand, sorting, basic folding | $939.50 | $24.73 | $30.91 |
| L2 | Machine operator, washer, basic ironer | $968.60 | $25.49 | $31.86 |
| L3 | Experienced operator, shirt presser, linen grader | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| L4 | Senior operator, team leader, maintenance assistant | $1,060.20 | $27.90 | $34.88 |
| L5 | Supervisor, plant manager, specialist engineer | $1,102.80 | $29.02 | $36.28 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38 (clause 13.1). Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1).
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 24 and clause 25).
Full-Time and Part-Time Day Workers
| When you work | Penalty | DC1/L1 example | DC3/L3 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 100% | $24.73/hr | $26.59/hr |
| Saturday -- ordinary hours before midday | 125% (clause 24.1) | $30.91/hr | $33.24/hr |
| Saturday -- ordinary hours after midday | 150% (clause 24.1) | $37.10/hr | $39.89/hr |
| Sunday | 200% (clause 24.2) | $49.46/hr | $53.18/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% (clause 24.3) | $61.83/hr | $66.48/hr |
| Overtime -- Mon to Sat first 3 hours | 150% (clause 25.1) | $37.10/hr | $39.89/hr |
| Overtime -- Mon to Sat after 3 hours | 200% (clause 25.1) | $49.46/hr | $53.18/hr |
Shiftworkers (Full-Time and Part-Time)
| When you work | Penalty | DC1/L1 example | DC3/L3 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning, afternoon, or night shift | 115% (clause 24.4) | $28.44/hr | $30.58/hr |
| Permanent night shift | 130% (clause 24.4) | $32.15/hr | $34.57/hr |
| Non-successive shift (change of shift pattern) | 150% (clause 24.5) | $37.10/hr | $39.89/hr |
Casual Employees (including casual overtime)
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | DC1/L1 example | DC3/L3 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% | $30.91/hr | $33.24/hr |
| Saturday before midday | 150% (clause 24.6) | $37.10/hr | $39.89/hr |
| Saturday after midday | 175% (clause 24.6) | $43.28/hr | $46.53/hr |
| Sunday | 225% (clause 24.7) | $55.64/hr | $59.83/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% (clause 24.8) | $68.01/hr | $73.12/hr |
| Casual overtime -- Mon to Sat first 3 hours | 175% (clause 25.3) | $43.28/hr | $46.53/hr |
| Casual overtime -- Mon to Sat after 3 hours | 225% (clause 25.3) | $55.64/hr | $59.83/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. This award includes casual overtime provisions. See clauses 24 and 25.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Casual counter attendant on a Saturday morning
Sophie is a casual DC1 counter attendant who works a 4-hour Saturday morning shift (8am to 12pm).
- Base rate: $24.73/hr
- Saturday before midday casual rate: 150% = $24.73 x 1.50 = $37.10/hr
- Total for 4 hours: $148.40 gross
- Clause reference: clause 24.6
Example 2: Full-time laundry operator on permanent night shift
Ahmed is a permanent L2 laundry machine operator working permanent night shifts (10pm to 6am) in a commercial laundry.
- Base rate: $25.49/hr
- Permanent night shift rate: 130% = $25.49 x 1.30 = $33.14/hr
- Total for 8 hours: $265.12 gross
- Clause reference: clause 24.4
Example 3: Part-time presser working a Saturday afternoon into overtime
Claire is a part-time DC3 presser whose agreed hours are Monday to Friday. She works from 10am to 4pm on a Saturday.
- Base rate: $26.59/hr
- 10am to 12pm (Saturday before midday): 125% = $26.59 x 1.25 = $33.24/hr x 2 = $66.48
- 12pm to 4pm (Saturday after midday): 150% = $26.59 x 1.50 = $39.89/hr x 4 = $159.56
- Total for 6 hours: $226.04 gross
- Note: As these hours are outside Claire's agreed part-time hours, the Saturday penalty rates or overtime rates apply, whichever is higher.
- Clause reference: clause 24.1
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the minimum shift length for dry cleaning and laundry workers?
Casual and part-time employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours per shift (clause 11.2). This applies even if the shop is quiet and there is little work. At the DC1/L1 casual rate ($30.91/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $92.73 gross.
2. Why is Saturday split into before and after midday?
The Saturday split reflects the industry's trading patterns. Retail dry cleaning shops commonly trade on Saturday mornings but close at or after midday. The lower Saturday morning rate (125% for permanent employees) recognises that Saturday morning is quasi-normal trading. Saturday afternoon hours attract 150% because they are less standard. This split has been maintained from pre-modern award arrangements. See clause 24.1.
3. What is a non-successive shift penalty?
A non-successive shift occurs when your employer changes your shift pattern without providing the required minimum break between shifts. For example, if you finish an afternoon shift at 11pm and are rostered to start a morning shift at 5am the next day (less than 8 hours' break), the morning shift is a non-successive shift and attracts a 50% loading (150% of base rate). This penalty discourages employers from scheduling back-to-back shifts with insufficient rest. See clause 24.5.
4. I pick up and deliver dry cleaning in a van. Am I under this award?
If you are employed by a dry cleaning or laundry business and your duties include picking up and delivering garments to customers, you are covered by this award. Delivery drivers employed by dry cleaning and laundry businesses are classified within the award's structure. If you are employed by a separate delivery company that contracts to multiple businesses, the Road Transport and Distribution Award (MA000038) may apply instead.
5. Are there allowances for working with chemicals?
Yes. The award includes allowances for employees who work with dry cleaning solvents and chemicals. These disability allowances are paid per hour in addition to the base rate and recognise the health risks associated with exposure to perchloroethylene (perc) and other dry cleaning chemicals. Employers must also comply with WHS regulations regarding chemical exposure limits and ventilation requirements. See clause 19.
Check Your Rate
Working in a dry cleaning shop or commercial laundry? Use our free calculator to check your exact pay rate.
Select your stream (dry cleaning or laundry), classification level, employment type, and the day and time you work. The calculator handles the Saturday morning/afternoon split, shiftwork loadings, non-successive shift penalties, and casual overtime -- all with clause references so you can verify every number.
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- creator: Fair Work Commission
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Home > Awards > Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award (MA000096)
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.