Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000072)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award covers employees working in oil refineries, petroleum product manufacturing plants, and related petrochemical operations across Australia. This includes process operators, plant technicians, laboratory analysts, maintenance fitters, boilermakers, electricians, instrument technicians, clerical staff, and other workers employed at oil refineries, lubricant blending plants, bitumen manufacturing facilities, and petrochemical plants.
Major employers covered by this award include operators of Australia's remaining oil refineries and petroleum product manufacturing sites. The award covers both non-clerical employees (process operators, tradespeople, laboratory staff) and clerical employees (admin, scheduling, purchasing) at these facilities.
The award does NOT cover employees of petrol stations or fuel distribution companies (covered by the Vehicle Repair Services and Retail Award or Road Transport Award), or offshore oil and gas platform workers (covered by separate enterprise agreements).
How classification levels work
The award has separate classification structures for non-clerical and clerical employees. Non-clerical employees are classified from Level 1 (general labouring, basic cleaning) through to higher levels covering qualified tradespeople, process operators, laboratory analysts, and senior technical specialists. Clerical employees follow a similar structure from basic data entry through to senior administrative roles.
What about part-time and casual workers?
Oil refineries operate 24/7, so shiftwork is the norm for most operational staff. Shiftworkers receive specific shift penalties. The award does not widely use casual employment for operational roles, but where casuals are engaged, they receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| Level | Typical Duties | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Clerical Level 1 | General labourer, yard hand, cleaner | $978.20 | $25.74 |
| Non-Clerical Level 2 | Process assistant, stores worker, trades assistant | $1,009.60 | $26.57 |
| Non-Clerical Level 3 | Qualified tradesperson, process operator | $1,058.60 | $27.86 |
| Non-Clerical Level 4 | Senior operator, instrument technician, lab analyst | $1,098.40 | $28.91 |
| Non-Clerical Level 5 | Leading hand, advanced tradesperson, senior analyst | $1,139.20 | $29.98 |
| Clerical Level 1 | Data entry, filing, mail handling | $978.20 | $25.74 |
| Clerical Level 2 | Admin officer, purchasing clerk, scheduling | $1,035.80 | $27.26 |
| Clerical Level 3 | Senior admin, accounts, HR admin | $1,073.20 | $28.24 |
| Clerical Level 4 | Office manager, senior specialist, PA to management | $1,127.00 | $29.66 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Non-Shiftworkers)
| When you work | Penalty | Non-Clerical L3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $27.86/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours | 150% | $41.79/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours | 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 | Non-Clerical L3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | Base rate (100%) | $27.86/hr |
| Afternoon and night shift | 115% | $32.04/hr |
| Permanent afternoon shift | 120% | $33.43/hr |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | $36.22/hr |
| Continuous shift worker -- Monday to Sunday | 125% | $34.83/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours OT | 150% | $41.79/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours OT | 200% | $55.72/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $55.72/hr |
| Public holiday | 300% | $83.58/hr |
Clerical Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | Clerical L2 example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | Base rate (100%) | $27.26/hr |
| Afternoon and night shift | 115% | $31.35/hr |
| Permanent night shift | 130% | $35.44/hr |
| Overtime -- first 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% | $40.89/hr |
| Overtime -- after 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% | $54.52/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for oil refinery workers?
For day workers, ordinary hours are 38 per week with a span of 6:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday. For shiftworkers (the majority of process operators), ordinary hours are 38 per week averaged over the roster cycle, which may span 4 to 12 weeks depending on the shift rotation. Most refineries operate on 12-hour rotating shifts (days and nights), covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. Do continuous shiftworkers get higher public holiday rates?
Yes. Continuous shiftworkers at oil refineries receive 300% of the base rate for public holidays, compared to 250% for day workers and non-continuous shiftworkers. This reflects the fact that continuous shiftworkers are regularly required to work on public holidays as part of their normal roster, rather than being called in for occasional holiday work.
3. What is the difference between non-clerical and clerical classifications?
Non-clerical employees are those engaged in operational, technical, or trades work at the refinery -- process operators, maintenance tradespeople, laboratory staff, and general operatives. Clerical employees are those performing administrative, scheduling, purchasing, and office-based work. The two streams have separate classification levels and, in some cases, slightly different overtime structures.
4. Are maintenance tradespeople at refineries classified the same as process operators?
Qualified maintenance tradespeople (fitters, electricians, boilermakers) and process operators are generally classified at the same level (Non-Clerical Level 3) if they hold equivalent qualifications. Senior operators and senior tradespeople may be classified at Level 4 or 5. The classification depends on qualifications, experience, and the complexity of work performed.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual refinery workers?
Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 4 consecutive hours per shift. At Non-Clerical Level 3 with the 25% casual loading ($34.83/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $139.32 gross. In practice, casual engagements at refineries are uncommon for operational roles due to safety and training requirements.
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 stream, level, and shift pattern.
Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including shift penalties, continuous shiftwork rates, and overtime. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.
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Home > Awards > Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award (MA000072)
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.