Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000075)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award covers general staff (non-teaching) employed by non-government post-secondary education providers across Australia. This includes administrative officers, student services staff, enrolment officers, IT support technicians, laboratory technicians, librarians, maintenance workers, and other support staff at private RTOs (Registered Training Organisations), private colleges, English language schools, and non-government TAFE-like institutions.
The award does NOT cover teaching staff (such as trainers and assessors, who are covered by the Educational Services Teachers Award or specific enterprise agreements), staff at government-operated TAFEs (covered by state public sector agreements), or general staff at universities (covered by the Higher Education General Staff Award MA000007).
How classification levels work
Classification levels range from Level 1 (entry-level duties such as mail handling, basic cleaning, and simple data entry) through to Level 8 (senior management roles like head of campus operations or chief financial officer). Your classification depends on the nature and complexity of your work, the level of supervision you receive, and any qualifications required for the role.
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. Many post-secondary support roles are part-time, reflecting the semester-based nature of educational operations.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Level | Typical Duties | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Mail handling, basic cleaning, simple data entry | $940.00 | $24.74 | $30.93 |
| Level 2 | Enrolment clerk, reception, accounts payable | $978.20 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Level 3 | Student services officer, admin coordinator | $1,035.80 | $27.26 | $34.08 |
| Level 4 | IT support officer, experienced student services | $1,073.20 | $28.24 | $35.30 |
| Level 5 | Team leader, senior admin, laboratory manager | $1,127.00 | $29.66 | $37.08 |
| Level 6 | Department manager, campus operations manager | $1,190.40 | $31.33 | $39.16 |
| Level 7 | Senior manager, head of student experience | $1,262.00 | $33.21 | $41.51 |
| Level 8 | Head of campus operations, CFO (small institution) | $1,340.00 | $35.26 | $44.08 |
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 | Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $27.26/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $40.89/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $54.52/hr |
| Saturday, Sunday or public holiday (shiftworker) | 200% | $54.52/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $68.15/hr |
| Overtime -- work in excess of daily hours (first 2 hours) | 150% | $40.89/hr |
| Overtime -- work in excess of daily hours (after 2 hours) | 200% | $54.52/hr |
| Overtime -- work in excess of weekly hours (first 3 hours) | 150% | $40.89/hr |
| Overtime -- work in excess of weekly hours (after 3 hours) | 200% | $54.52/hr |
Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | Base rate (100%) | $27.26/hr |
| Afternoon and night shift | 115% | $31.35/hr |
| Permanent night shift | 125% | $34.08/hr |
| Saturday, Sunday or public holiday | 200% | $54.52/hr |
| Overtime -- first 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% | $40.89/hr |
| Overtime -- after 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% | $54.52/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% (casual loading) | $34.08/hr |
| Saturday | 175% | $47.71/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $61.34/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $74.97/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for post-secondary education support staff?
Ordinary hours are a maximum of 38 per week, or an average of 38 per week over a semester or agreed averaging period. The standard span of hours is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday. Many RTOs and colleges offer evening and weekend classes, so support staff may be rostered outside these hours with shift or overtime penalties applying.
2. Do enrolment staff get paid extra during peak periods?
Enrolment officers working during peak enrolment periods are entitled to the same penalty rates as at any other time. If peak periods require you to work beyond your ordinary hours, overtime applies at 150% for the first 2 hours (daily excess) or first 3 hours (weekly excess), and 200% thereafter. Weekend work during enrolment drives attracts Saturday (150%) or Sunday (200%) penalties.
3. Are RTO admin staff classified differently from TAFE admin staff?
Non-government RTO staff are covered by this award with the same classification structure. Government TAFE staff are NOT covered by this award -- they are covered by state public sector agreements which may have different classification levels and pay rates. If your RTO is privately operated, this award applies regardless of whether you deliver TAFE-equivalent qualifications.
4. What shift penalties apply for IT staff working after hours?
IT support staff who are rostered to work afternoon or night shifts receive a 115% penalty loading. Permanent night shift workers receive 125%. If IT staff are simply called out to fix an urgent issue outside their normal hours (rather than being rostered for shifts), this is treated as overtime -- 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% thereafter.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual post-secondary staff?
Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift. At Level 2 casual rate ($32.18/hr), the minimum payment for any casual engagement is $96.54 gross. This applies to all casual general staff, whether working in administration, student services, or facilities.
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 level, employment type, and shift pattern.
Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including penalty rates, overtime, and shift loadings. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.
Schema Markup Suggestions
FAQ Schema (FAQPage)
Apply FAQPage schema to the 5 FAQ questions and answers above.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What are the ordinary hours for post-secondary education support staff under this award?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Ordinary hours are a maximum of 38 per week, or an average of 38 per week over a semester or agreed averaging period. The standard span is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday."
}
}
]
}
Breadcrumb Schema
Home > Awards > Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award (MA000075)
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.