Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000036)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award covers employees working in plumbing, mechanical services, irrigation installation, and fire sprinkler fitting across Australia. If you work as a plumber, gasfitter, drainer, mechanical services worker, irrigation installer, or sprinkler fitter, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 60,000 workers in the plumbing and fire protection industries.
This award does NOT cover employees whose work falls under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020), except where the plumbing work is the primary function of the employer's business. It also has separate provisions for sprinkler fitting employees versus plumbing and mechanical services employees. See clause 4 for the full coverage rules.
How classification works
The award has two main streams: Plumbing and Mechanical Services Employees (including irrigation installers) and Sprinkler Fitting Employees. Each stream has levels from Level 1(a) (new entrant) through to higher levels reflecting qualifications and experience. Licensed plumbers with registration attract higher rates. Apprentices have separate rate schedules based on whether they commenced before or after 1 January 2014, and whether they are adult or junior apprentices.
Weekly hire vs daily hire
A distinctive feature of this award is the distinction between weekly hire and daily hire employees. Weekly hire employees get slightly lower base rates but have greater job security with termination notice requirements. Daily hire employees receive a higher hourly rate but can be terminated with one day's notice. Most plumbing businesses use weekly hire, but daily hire is common on construction projects.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
Plumbing and Mechanical Services Employees (Weekly Hire)
| Classification | Typical Roles | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1(a) -- New entrant | New to the industry, basic labouring | $26.71 | $33.39 |
| Level 1(b) -- Experienced | Basic plumbing tasks with some experience | $27.55 | $34.44 |
| Level 2 -- Qualified | Licensed plumber, gasfitter, drainer | $29.38 | $36.73 |
| Level 3 -- Advanced | Specialist plumber, mechanical services installer | $30.76 | $38.45 |
| Level 4 -- Senior | Leading hand, site supervisor | $32.14 | $40.18 |
Sprinkler Fitting Employees (Weekly Hire)
| Classification | Typical Roles | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1(a) -- New entrant | New to sprinkler fitting | $28.30 | $35.38 |
| Level 2 -- Qualified | Licensed sprinkler fitter | $31.18 | $38.98 |
| Level 3 -- Advanced | Senior sprinkler fitter, design work | $32.56 | $40.70 |
Daily Hire Employees (Plumbing)
| Classification | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Level 1(a) -- New entrant | $27.55 |
| Level 2 -- Qualified | $30.22 |
Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1). Daily hire rates are higher than weekly hire to compensate for reduced job security.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 26 and clause 33).
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Weekly Hire)
| When you work | Penalty | Level 2 Plumber example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 100% | $29.38/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours | 150% | $44.07/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours | 200% | $58.76/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $58.76/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $73.45/hr |
| Overtime -- first 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% (clause 33.1) | $44.07/hr |
| Overtime -- after 2 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% (clause 33.1) | $58.76/hr |
Shiftwork Penalties
| Shift type | Penalty | Level 2 example |
|---|---|---|
| 5+ consecutive shifts with 48hrs notice (Mon-Fri) | 133% (clause 35.2) | $39.08/hr |
| Non-consecutive shift -- first 2 hours | 150% (clause 35.3) | $44.07/hr |
| Non-consecutive shift -- after 2 hours | 200% (clause 35.3) | $58.76/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Level 2 Plumber example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% | $36.73/hr |
| Saturday -- first 2 hours | 175% | $51.42/hr |
| Saturday -- after 2 hours | 225% | $66.11/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $66.11/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $80.80/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. The loading is built into the multiplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between weekly hire and daily hire rates?
Daily hire employees receive a higher hourly rate (roughly 3% more) to compensate for the reduced job security -- a daily hire employee can be terminated with one day's notice, while weekly hire employees get at least one week. Daily hire is common on construction projects where the work is short-term. If you are employed on an ongoing basis by a plumbing business, you should be on weekly hire. See clause 9 for the distinction.
2. Do apprentice plumbers get penalty rates?
Yes. Apprentice plumbers are entitled to the same penalty rate multipliers (150% Saturday, 200% Sunday, etc.) as qualified workers, but applied to their apprentice base rate. Apprentice base rates are a percentage of the qualified Level 2 rate and increase each year of the apprenticeship. The exact percentage depends on whether the apprenticeship commenced before or after 1 January 2014, and whether the apprentice is an adult or junior.
3. What are the ordinary hours for plumbers?
Ordinary hours are 38 per week, typically worked between 7:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday (clause 13.1). The daily maximum is 8 hours unless a different arrangement is agreed under a roster (up to 10 hours per day). Any hours outside these spans attract penalty rates or overtime. Saturday work before 12 noon can be ordinary hours in some circumstances for shiftworkers.
4. Is there a site allowance or tool allowance?
The award provides for several allowances including a tool allowance for employees required to supply their own tools, a plumbing registration allowance for employees holding a current registration, and various on-site allowances. These are paid in addition to your base rate and are not affected by penalty rate calculations. Check clause 17 for the current allowance amounts.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual plumbers?
Casual plumbing employees must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 4 hours per engagement (clause 11.3). At Level 1(a) casual rate ($33.39/hr), the minimum payment for any casual engagement is $133.56 gross. This reflects the practical reality that plumbing work typically involves travel to a worksite and setup time.
Check Your Rate
Working as a plumber, sprinkler fitter, or mechanical services worker? Use our free calculator to check your exact rate based on your classification, hire type, and work pattern.
Select your stream (plumbing, sprinkler fitting, or irrigation), enter your level and hire type (weekly or daily), and get a breakdown of your exact pay -- including overtime, weekend penalties, and the shift loadings specific to this award.
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Home > Awards > Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award (MA000036)
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.