Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000101)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Gardening and Landscaping Services Award covers employees working in gardening, landscaping, lawn mowing, tree surgery (arboriculture), turf laying, irrigation installation, garden maintenance, and related horticultural services for commercial clients and domestic customers. If you work as a gardener, landscaper, lawn care operator, arborist, irrigation technician, or nursery maintenance worker for a gardening or landscaping business, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 25,000 workers across Australia.

This award does NOT cover employees in nursery production or wholesale plant growing (Horticulture Award, MA000028), employees in silviculture and forestry (Silviculture Award, MA000040), employees in local government parks and gardens (Local Government Industry Award, MA000112), or employees working in agricultural farming (Pastoral Award, MA000035). The key test is whether your employer's primary business is providing gardening or landscaping services to clients. See clause 4.1 for coverage terms.

How classification levels work

The award has five classification levels from Level 1 through Level 5 (clause 14 and Schedule A). Level 1 covers entry-level employees performing basic garden maintenance under direct supervision, such as mowing, edging, and general labouring. Level 2 covers employees who have developed skills in plant identification and basic landscape construction. Level 3 covers qualified horticulturalists (Certificate III) or experienced workers performing skilled duties. Level 4 covers senior horticulturalists, team leaders, and arborists. Level 5 covers supervisors and specialist consultants with advanced qualifications.

Water restriction provisions

A distinctive feature of this award is the provision for employers subject to water restrictions. When an employer is subject to local water restrictions that require work outside normal hours (for example, irrigating gardens before 6am), specific penalty rates apply for the early morning and evening hours required by the restrictions. These rates are lower than standard overtime rates, recognising that the unusual hours are driven by government regulation rather than employer choice (clause 22.4).

Classification Levels and Base Rates

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

Adult Employees

Junior Employees (percentage of adult rate)

Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38 (clause 13.1). Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1). Junior rates = adult rate x age percentage (clause 15).

Penalty Rates

All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 22 and clause 23).

Full-Time and Part-Time Adult Employees

Casual Adult Employees

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. See clause 22.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Casual gardener on a standard weekday

Jess is a casual Level 1 gardener who works a 6-hour Tuesday shift mowing lawns.

• Base rate: $24.73/hr
• Weekday casual rate: 125% = $24.73 x 1.25 = $30.91/hr
• Total for 6 hours: $185.46 gross
• Clause reference: clause 11.1

Example 2: Full-time arborist on a public holiday

Dan is a permanent Level 4 arborist called in for emergency storm damage on a public holiday, working 8 hours.

• Base rate: $27.90/hr
• Public holiday rate: 250% = $27.90 x 2.50 = $69.75/hr
• Total for 8 hours: $558.00 gross
• Clause reference: clause 22.2

Example 3: Irrigator working under water restriction hours

Sam is a permanent Level 2 gardener whose employer is subject to water restrictions. He works 4am to 12pm on a Wednesday to complete irrigation before the restricted period begins.

• Base rate: $25.49/hr
• 4am to 6am (water restriction outside normal hours): 120% = $25.49 x 1.20 = $30.59/hr x 2 = $61.18
• 6am to 12pm (ordinary hours): 100% = $25.49/hr x 6 = $152.94
• Total for 8 hours: $214.12 gross
• Without the water restriction clause, these early hours would be overtime at 150%, costing $76.47 instead of $61.18.
• Clause reference: clause 22.4

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the minimum shift length for gardening and landscaping workers?

Casual and part-time employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours per shift (clause 11.2). Even if a lawn mowing job takes only 30 minutes, you must be paid for the full 3 hours. At the Level 1 casual rate ($30.91/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $92.73 gross.

2. Do I get a tool and equipment allowance?

Yes. Employees who are required to supply their own tools are entitled to a tool allowance (clause 19). For gardeners and landscapers who supply their own power tools (such as chainsaws, brush cutters, or hedge trimmers), additional allowances may apply. The specific amounts are set out in the award and updated annually.

3. What are the water restriction penalty rates and when do they apply?

When your employer is subject to local government water restrictions that require gardening work (particularly irrigation) to be performed outside normal business hours, specific penalty rates apply. Monday to Friday outside 6am-6pm attracts 120% for permanent employees (145% for casuals). Saturday before 6am attracts 150% (175% for casuals). These rates are lower than standard overtime because the unusual hours are driven by government regulation, not employer choice. See clause 22.4.

4. I am a 17-year-old who does lawn mowing on weekends. What should I be paid?

As a 17-year-old casual Level 1 employee, your base rate is 57.8% of the adult rate: $24.73 x 0.578 = $14.29/hr. With casual loading, your weekday rate is $14.29 x 1.25 = $17.86/hr. If you work on a public holiday, you receive 275%: $14.29 x 2.75 = $39.30/hr. All penalty multipliers apply to the junior base rate, not the adult rate.

5. Can my employer make me use my own vehicle to travel between job sites?

If your employer requires you to use your own vehicle for work purposes (such as travelling between client properties), you are entitled to a vehicle allowance covering fuel, wear, and insurance costs (clause 19). The rate is aligned with the ATO cents-per-kilometre method. Travel time between job sites during a shift is also paid at your applicable hourly rate.

Check Your Rate

Working as a gardener, landscaper, or arborist? Use our free calculator to check your exact pay rate.

Check your pay rate now

Enter your classification level, employment type, age (for junior rates), and the day and time you work. The calculator handles water restriction rates, weekend penalties, junior percentages, and overtime -- all with clause references so you can verify every number.

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• name: "Gardening and Landscaping Services Award MA000101 Pay Rates July 2025"
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Home > Awards > Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101)

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.