Joinery and Building Trades Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000029)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Joinery and Building Trades Award covers employees working in joinery, shopfitting, stonemasonry, glazing, and related building trades across Australia. This includes joiners, cabinetmakers, shopfitters, stonemasons, glaziers (both factory and on-site), wood machinists, furniture makers, and general hands working in joinery workshops, shopfitting operations, glass factories, and stonemasonry yards. If you work in a joinery shop, furniture factory, glass processing plant, or stone cutting facility, this award likely applies to you.
The award does NOT cover workers on building construction sites (covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award MA000020), or workers in manufacturing operations not related to joinery, shopfitting, glazing, or stonemasonry.
How classification levels work
Pay rates vary depending on two key factors: your classification level and the type of work you perform. Employees engaged on joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry, outside work, or non-factory glazing receive higher rates than those engaged on factory glazing or other non-trade work. Classification levels run from CW1 (general hand) through to CW5 (advanced tradesperson), with apprentice rates set as percentages of the tradesperson rate.
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. Shiftworkers (both casual and permanent) receive additional shift penalties.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Level | Typical Duties (Joinery/Shopfitting/Stone) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CW1 | General hand, labourer, factory cleaner | $978.20 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| CW2 | Experienced general hand, machine operator (basic) | $1,009.60 | $26.57 | $33.21 |
| CW3 | Qualified tradesperson -- joiner, cabinetmaker, glazier | $1,058.60 | $27.86 | $34.83 |
| CW4 | Advanced tradesperson, leading hand | $1,098.40 | $28.91 | $36.14 |
| CW5 | Senior tradesperson, specialist | $1,139.20 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
Rates shown are for employees engaged on joinery work, shopfitting, stonemasonry, outside work, or non-factory glazing. Employees engaged on factory glazing or other work may receive different rates. 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 | CW3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $27.86/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours | 150% | $41.79/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours or after 12 noon | 200% | $55.72/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $55.72/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $69.65/hr |
| Overtime -- first 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% | $41.79/hr |
| Overtime -- after 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% | $55.72/hr |
Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | CW3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous shiftwork -- day | 100% | $27.86/hr |
| Continuous shiftwork -- afternoon or night | 130% | $36.22/hr |
| Continuous shiftwork -- early morning or early afternoon | 115% | $32.04/hr |
| Non-continuous shiftwork overtime -- first 2 hours | 150% | $41.79/hr |
| Non-continuous shiftwork overtime -- after 2 hours | 200% | $55.72/hr |
| Public holiday (all shiftwork) | 250% | $69.65/hr |
| Stonemasons -- 2nd shift (3pm-11pm) | 130% | $36.22/hr |
| Stonemasons -- night shift (11pm-7am) | 150% | $41.79/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | CW3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% (casual loading) | $34.83/hr |
| Saturday | 175% | $48.76/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $62.69/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $76.62/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for joinery and building trades workers?
Ordinary hours are 38 per week, typically worked as 7.6 hours per day Monday to Friday. The standard spread of hours is 6:00am to 6:00pm. By agreement, ordinary hours may be averaged over a period of up to 4 weeks. Saturday work before noon may form part of ordinary hours by agreement, but Saturday afternoon work is always at penalty rates.
2. Do factory glaziers get paid the same as on-site glaziers?
No. The award distinguishes between factory glazing and non-factory glazing work. Employees engaged on factory glazing generally receive lower rates than those engaged on outside work or non-factory glazing. This reflects the different skills, working conditions, and allowances associated with on-site versus factory-based glazing work.
3. What penalty rates do stonemasons receive for shift work?
Stonemasons have specific shift penalties. The second shift (3:00pm to 11:00pm) attracts a 130% loading on the base rate. Night shift work (11:00pm to 7:00am) attracts 150%. These rates are higher than the standard shift penalties for other joinery and building trades employees, reflecting the demanding nature of shift-based stonemasonry work.
4. Are apprentice joiners and cabinetmakers covered?
Yes. Both adult apprentices (21 or over at commencement) and junior apprentices are covered. Apprentice pay rates differ depending on whether the apprenticeship is 3 years or 4 years duration, and whether the apprentice commenced before or after 1 January 2014. Adult apprentices receive higher rates than junior apprentices at the same year of training.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual joinery workers?
Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 4 consecutive hours per shift. At the CW3 casual rate ($34.83/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $139.32 gross. This minimum engagement applies to all casual employees under the award, regardless of classification level.
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, type of work, 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.
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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.