Funeral Industry 2025 Pay Rates (MA000105)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Funeral Industry covers employees in the funeral industry, including funeral directors, embalmers, funeral arrangers, hearse drivers, mortuary attendants, and funeral home administrative staff. If you work at a funeral home, mortuary, or funeral services company, this award applies to you. It covers approximately 8,000 workers across Australia.

This award does NOT cover cemetery and crematorium workers (Cemetery Industry Award, MA000070), florists, or general transport drivers. See clause 4.1 for the full coverage terms.

How classification levels work

Classifications cover roles from general funeral worker through to funeral arranger, embalmer, hearse driver, and funeral director. Shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers have different provisions, and employees undertaking removals have specific rates.

Key features of this award

Funeral work often requires after-hours removals (collecting deceased persons). The award includes specific penalty rates for removal work performed at different times, including midnight-to-7am removals which attract the highest penalties.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.

Refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000105 for current dollar amounts for each classification level. Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25.

Penalty Rates

Penalty rate multipliers from the Fair Work Commission penalty rate schedule for MA000105. All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.

The award specifies penalty rates ranging from 100% to 250% depending on when and how you work.

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees

Casual Employees

Penalty rate categories in this award

The following penalty rate descriptions apply under MA000105:

• Afternoon
• Afternoon shift
• Afternoon shift - Monday to Friday – After 3 hours
• Afternoon shift - Monday to Friday – First 3 hours
• Afternoon shift - Saturday to Sunday - After 3 hours
• Afternoon shift - Saturday to Sunday - First 3 hours
• Day shift
• Day shift (minimum hourly rate)
• Employees undertaking removals - 7.00 pm to midnight and 7.00 am to 7.00 pm - After first 3 hours
• Employees undertaking removals - 7.00 pm to midnight and 7.00 am to 7.00 pm - First 3 hours
• Employees undertaking removals - Midnight to 7.00 am – all hours worked
• Monday to Friday – after 3 hours
• Monday to Friday – first 3 hours
• Monday to Saturday – after 3 hours
• Monday to Saturday – first 3 hours
• Non-continuing afternoon
• Non-continuing afternoon shift
• Non-continuing afternoon shift - Monday to Friday - After 3 hours
• Non-continuing afternoon shift - Monday to Friday - First 3 hours
• Non-continuing afternoon shift – Saturday and Sunday - After 3 hours
• Non-continuing afternoon shift – Saturday and Sunday - First 3 hours
• Ordinary hours
• Public holiday
• Public holiday – all day
• Public holiday – all employees other than employees undertaking removals
• Sunday – all day

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Refer to the specific award clauses for exact percentages applicable to each classification level and employment type.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Casual worker on a Sunday

A casual employee working a 3 hours-hour minimum shift on a Sunday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000105 pay guide
• Sunday casual rate: base rate x Sunday casual penalty percentage
• Minimum payment: Sunday casual rate x 3 hours hours
• Clause reference: refer to casual penalty rates clause

Example 2: Full-time worker on a public holiday

A full-time employee working an 8-hour public holiday shift.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000105 pay guide
• Public holiday rate: base rate x public holiday percentage (up to 250%)
• Total: public holiday rate x 8 hours
• Clause reference: refer to public holiday clause

Example 3: Part-time worker with overtime

A part-time employee who works 2 hours beyond their rostered hours on a weekday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000105 pay guide
• Overtime rate: base rate x overtime percentage
• Clause reference: refer to overtime clause

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do funeral workers get extra pay for after-hours removals?

Yes, employees undertaking removals between 7pm and midnight, and between midnight and 7am, receive specific penalty rates reflecting the unsociable hours of this essential work.

2. Are embalmers classified differently?

Yes, embalmers are classified at a level reflecting their specialised qualifications and skills.

3. What about weekend funerals?

Sunday funerals attract penalty rates. Public holiday funerals also attract penalty rates.

4. What is the minimum shift length under this award?

The minimum engagement for casual and part-time employees is 3 hours per shift. Even if you are sent home early, you must be paid for the minimum shift length.

5. How do I check my exact pay rate?

Use our free calculator or refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000105. You can also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for free advice.

Check Your Rate

Working in funeral services and want to know your exact pay rate? Use our free calculator to check.

Check your pay rate now

Select your classification, shiftwork status, whether you undertake removals, employment type, and the days and times you work.

Schema Markup Suggestions

FAQ Schema (FAQPage)

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Table Schema (Dataset)

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• description: "Classification levels and penalty rates for funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral home staff under the Funeral Industry"
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• creator: Fair Work Commission
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Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Funeral Industry (MA000105)

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.