Higher Education General Staff Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000007)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Higher Education Industry -- General Staff -- Award covers non-academic employees working at Australian universities and higher education institutions. If you work as an administrative officer, IT support, library assistant, laboratory technician, student services officer, facilities worker, or any other general (non-teaching) role at a university, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 120,000 workers nationally.

This award does NOT cover academic staff (lecturers, professors, tutors) -- they fall under the Higher Education Industry -- Academic Staff -- Award (MA000006). It also does not cover employees whose work is primarily research-only or employees covered by an enterprise agreement, which many universities have. See clause 4 for coverage details.

How HEW levels work

The award uses a Higher Education Worker (HEW) classification structure with 10 levels, each with multiple pay points (Schedule A). HEW Level 1 covers entry-level roles like mail room staff and basic data entry. HEW Level 5 covers experienced professionals like senior administrative officers and technical specialists. HEW Level 10 covers senior managers and directors. You progress through pay points within your level based on satisfactory performance and length of service.

PACCT staff vs other general staff

The award distinguishes between PACCT staff (Professional, Administrative, Clerical, Computing, and Technical) and other general staff such as trades and maintenance workers. PACCT staff have different overtime thresholds -- they may be required to work reasonable additional hours before overtime rates apply. This distinction matters for calculating your correct entitlements.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

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

Hourly rate = annual salary / 52.17857 / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1). Each HEW level has multiple pay points -- only Pay Point 1 shown above.

Penalty Rates

All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 23 and clause 26).

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Other Than PACCT Staff)

Full-Time and Part-Time PACCT Staff

Shift Penalties (Shiftworkers)

Casual Employees

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Saturday casual = base x 1.75 (not base x 1.25 x 1.50).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between PACCT staff and other general staff?

PACCT stands for Professional, Administrative, Clerical, Computing, and Technical staff. The key practical difference is overtime calculation. For non-PACCT general staff (trades, maintenance, grounds), overtime kicks in after 2 hours and escalates to 200%. For PACCT staff, overtime is calculated after 3 hours before the rate increases. Both groups share the same base pay rates at the same HEW level, but the overtime thresholds differ. See clause 26.

2. How do I move between pay points within my HEW level?

You progress through pay points within your HEW level based on satisfactory performance and length of service at that level (Schedule A). Most universities have annual pay point progression. Your employer cannot hold you at a lower pay point without a documented performance management process. If you believe you have been incorrectly classified, raise it with your HR department and reference the classification descriptors in Schedule A.

3. Do university general staff get shift penalties?

Yes, if you are classified as a shiftworker. Rotating afternoon and night shifts attract a 15% loading. Permanent (non-rotating) night shift attracts a 30% loading. These apply on top of the base rate for your HEW level. Weekend work during a shift roster also attracts the standard Saturday (150%) and Sunday (200%) penalty rates.

4. What is the minimum engagement for casual university staff?

Casual general staff employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours per engagement (clause 11.3). At HEW Level 1 casual rate ($32.50/hr), the minimum payment for any casual engagement is $97.50 gross.

5. Does this award apply if my university has an enterprise agreement?

Many Australian universities have enterprise agreements that override this award. However, the enterprise agreement cannot provide conditions that are less favourable than the award overall (this is the "better off overall test" or BOOT). If your university has an enterprise agreement, check that document first. Where the enterprise agreement is silent on an entitlement, the award may still apply as a safety net.

Check Your Rate

Working at a university in a non-academic role? Use our free calculator to check your exact rate based on your HEW level, pay point, and work pattern.

Check your pay rate now

Select your HEW level and pay point, tell us your employment type and shift pattern, and get a breakdown showing your exact rate -- including shift loadings and overtime that apply to your role.

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Home > Awards > Higher Education General Staff Award (MA000007)

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.