Manufacturing Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000010)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award is one of Australia's largest modern awards, covering employees in general manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing, vehicle parts manufacturing, printing, graphic arts, and related industries. If you work as a machine operator, process worker, tool maker, fitter, welder, boilermaker, vehicle assembler, spray painter, print machinist, or in any manufacturing production, maintenance, or warehouse role within a manufacturing operation, this award likely applies to you. It covers roughly 350,000 workers.
This award does NOT cover employees in food and beverage manufacturing (Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award, MA000073), pharmaceutical manufacturing (Pharmaceutical Industry Award, MA000069), textile manufacturing (Textile, Clothing, Footwear Award, MA000017), or employees who fall under an enterprise award. The key test is whether the employer's business involves manufacturing goods (other than in excluded sectors). See clause 4 for coverage terms.
How classification levels work
The award has an extensive classification structure with levels from C14 (entry-level) through C1 (principal technical officer), plus specific streams for vehicle manufacturing and printing (clause 15 and Schedule B). C14 covers employees with no relevant qualifications performing basic repetitive tasks. C10 is the key trade-level benchmark -- it covers a fully qualified tradesperson (e.g., a fitter with a Certificate III). Levels above C10 (C9 through C1) cover advanced tradespersons, technicians, and technical specialists. Vehicle manufacturing employees in the technical field have a separate casual loading of 17.5% instead of the standard 25%.
Vehicle manufacturing casual loading
One of the unique features of this award is the lower casual loading for certain vehicle manufacturing employees in the technical field. These employees receive a 17.5% casual loading instead of the standard 25% (clause 11.1(e) and clause 48.1). This applies specifically to employees covered by clause 4.8(a)(xi). All other manufacturing employees receive the standard 25% casual loading.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
General Manufacturing Employees
| Level | Typical Duties (Schedule B) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C14 | Entry-level, no qualifications, basic repetitive tasks | $882.80 | $23.23 | $29.04 |
| C13 | Process worker, basic machine operation, routine duties | $906.20 | $23.85 | $29.81 |
| C12 | Experienced process worker, basic trades assistant | $918.00 | $24.16 | $30.20 |
| C11 | Qualified operator, Certificate II equivalent | $937.80 | $24.68 | $30.85 |
| C10 (Trade level) | Fully qualified tradesperson (Cert III), fitter, welder, electrician | $969.20 | $25.51 | $31.89 |
| C9 | Experienced tradesperson, advanced skills | $1,008.90 | $26.55 | $33.19 |
| C8 | Advanced tradesperson, Certificate IV | $1,024.00 | $26.95 | $33.69 |
| C7 | Senior tradesperson, dual trade, team leader | $1,060.20 | $27.90 | $34.88 |
| C6 | Technical specialist, Diploma level | $1,102.80 | $29.02 | $36.28 |
| C5 | Advanced technical specialist | $1,142.60 | $30.07 | $37.59 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25. Vehicle manufacturing technical employees: casual rate = hourly rate x 1.175.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are expressed as a percentage of the base hourly rate (clause 40 and clause 43).
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees
| When you work | Penalty | C14 example | C10 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 100% | $23.23/hr | $25.51/hr |
| Afternoon shift loading | 115% (clause 40.2) | $26.71/hr | $29.34/hr |
| Night shift loading | 130% (clause 40.2) | $30.20/hr | $33.16/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours overtime | 150% (clause 43.1) | $34.85/hr | $38.27/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours overtime | 200% (clause 43.1) | $46.46/hr | $51.02/hr |
| Sunday | 200% (clause 43.2) | $46.46/hr | $51.02/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% (clause 43.3) | $58.08/hr | $63.78/hr |
Casual Employees (25% loading)
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | C14 example | C10 example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% | $29.04/hr | $31.89/hr |
| Afternoon shift | 137.5% (clause 40.4) | $31.94/hr | $35.08/hr |
| Night shift | 150% (clause 40.4) | $34.85/hr | $38.27/hr |
| Saturday | 175% (clause 40.5) | $40.65/hr | $44.64/hr |
| Sunday | 225% (clause 40.5) | $52.27/hr | $57.40/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% (clause 40.6) | $63.88/hr | $70.15/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Vehicle manufacturing technical employees have adjusted rates reflecting 17.5% loading. See clause 11.1(e).
Worked Examples
Example 1: Casual process worker on a Sunday
Anh is a casual C13 process worker who works a 6-hour Sunday shift in a plastics factory.
- Base rate: $23.85/hr
- Sunday casual rate: 225% = $23.85 x 2.25 = $53.66/hr
- Total for 6 hours: $321.96 gross
- Clause reference: clause 40.5
Example 2: Full-time tradesperson on afternoon shift
Mark is a permanent C10 fitter working a regular afternoon shift (2pm to 10pm) Monday to Friday.
- Base rate: $25.51/hr
- Afternoon shift loading: 115% = $25.51 x 1.15 = $29.34/hr
- Total for 8 hours: $234.72 gross
- Compared to day shift ($25.51 x 8 = $204.08), Mark earns an extra $30.64 per shift for working afternoons.
- Clause reference: clause 40.2
Example 3: Vehicle manufacturing casual on weekday
Steph is a casual vehicle manufacturing technical employee (C11) working ordinary weekday hours.
- Base rate: $24.68/hr
- Vehicle manufacturing casual loading: 117.5% = $24.68 x 1.175 = $29.00/hr
- Standard casual C11 rate would be: $24.68 x 1.25 = $30.85/hr
- Steph earns $1.85/hr less than a standard manufacturing casual due to the lower loading.
- Clause reference: clause 11.1(e), clause 48.1
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the C10 benchmark and why does it matter?
C10 is the trade-level classification in the Manufacturing Award. It represents a fully qualified tradesperson holding a Certificate III (e.g., a fitter, electrician, or boilermaker). The C10 rate is used as the benchmark for many industrial negotiations and for calculating other award rates. If you hold a trade qualification and perform trade-level work, you should be classified at C10 or above. See Schedule B.
2. Why do some vehicle manufacturing casuals get a lower loading?
Certain vehicle manufacturing employees in the technical field covered by clause 4.8(a)(xi) receive a 17.5% casual loading instead of the standard 25%. This was a transitional arrangement carried over from pre-modern awards. It applies to a specific subset of employees and does not affect the majority of manufacturing casuals. See clause 11.1(e) and clause 48.1.
3. What is the minimum shift length for manufacturing workers?
Casual and part-time employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours per shift (clause 11.2). For continuous shiftworkers, the minimum engagement may differ. At the C14 casual rate ($29.04/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $87.12 gross.
4. I am a welder in a small workshop. Am I under the Manufacturing Award?
If your employer's business is primarily manufacturing (fabricating, assembling, or processing goods), then yes, you are likely under the Manufacturing Award. The award covers a wide range of manufacturing activities including metal fabrication, plastics, rubber, glass, and general manufacturing. If your employer is primarily a construction company, you may be under the Building and Construction Award (MA000020) instead. The test is the employer's principal business activity.
5. Do shiftwork loadings apply on top of overtime rates?
No. Shiftwork loadings and overtime rates do not compound. When you work overtime, you receive the overtime rate, not the shift loading plus the overtime rate. The overtime rates under clause 43 are calculated on the ordinary base rate, not on the shift-loaded rate. You receive whichever is higher -- the shift loading or the overtime rate. See clause 43.5.
Check Your Rate
Working in a factory, workshop, or manufacturing plant? Use our free calculator to check your exact pay rate.
Enter your classification level (C14 through C1), employment type, shift pattern, and the day you work. The calculator handles the vehicle manufacturing casual loading, shiftwork penalties, and overtime -- all with clause references so you can verify every number.
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Home > Awards > Manufacturing Award (MA000010)
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.