Silviculture 2025 Pay Rates (MA000040)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Silviculture covers employees in silviculture (forestry planting and maintenance), including tree planters, forest nursery workers, thinning crews, and forestry maintenance workers. If you work planting, maintaining, or managing plantation forests, this award applies to you. It covers approximately 5,000 workers across Australia.

This award does NOT cover timber harvesting and sawmill workers (Timber Industry Award, MA000071), general nursery workers growing ornamental plants (Nursery Award, MA000033), or horticultural workers (Horticulture Award, MA000028). See clause 4.1 for the full coverage terms.

How classification levels work

Classifications cover roles from general forestry labourer through to experienced silviculture worker, machine operator, and supervisor. Shiftworkers and non-shiftworkers have different provisions.

Key features of this award

Silviculture work often involves remote locations, seasonal activity, and bushfire fighting duties. The award includes specific provisions for bushfire fighting, with separate penalty rates for casual and permanent employees engaged in bushfire response.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

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

Refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000040 for current dollar amounts for each classification level. Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25.

Penalty Rates

Penalty rate multipliers from the Fair Work Commission penalty rate schedule for MA000040. All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.

The award specifies penalty rates ranging from 100% to 275% depending on when and how you work.

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees

Casual Employees

Penalty rate categories in this award

The following penalty rate descriptions apply under MA000040:

• Afternoon and night
• Casual hourly rate
• Day
• Less than 5 successive shifts
• Monday to Friday - After 10 hours
• Monday to Friday - After 8 hours
• Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours
• Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours
• Ordinary hours
• Overtime
• Public holiday - All hours
• Public holiday - all day
• Public holiday - All hours
• Public holidays
• Public holidays - All hours
• Saturday
• Saturday - After 2 hours
• Saturday - First 2 hours
• Sunday
• Sunday - All hours
• Sunday - all day

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Refer to the specific award clauses for exact percentages applicable to each classification level and employment type.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Casual worker on a Sunday

A casual employee working a 4 hours-hour minimum shift on a Sunday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000040 pay guide
• Sunday casual rate: base rate x Sunday casual penalty percentage
• Minimum payment: Sunday casual rate x 4 hours hours
• Clause reference: refer to casual penalty rates clause

Example 2: Full-time worker on a public holiday

A full-time employee working an 8-hour public holiday shift.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000040 pay guide
• Public holiday rate: base rate x public holiday percentage (up to 275%)
• Total: public holiday rate x 8 hours
• Clause reference: refer to public holiday clause

Example 3: Part-time worker with overtime

A part-time employee who works 2 hours beyond their rostered hours on a weekday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000040 pay guide
• Overtime rate: base rate x overtime percentage
• Clause reference: refer to overtime clause

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I get paid extra for bushfire fighting?

Yes, the award includes specific provisions and penalty rates for employees engaged in bushfire fighting duties, with different rates for casual and permanent employees.

2. Is tree planting seasonal work?

Tree planting is often seasonal (winter/spring), but the award covers all silviculture work year-round. Casual employment is common for planting seasons.

3. What about work in remote locations?

The award may include provisions for allowances when working in remote locations, including living-away-from-home allowances.

4. What is the minimum shift length under this award?

The minimum engagement for casual and part-time employees is 4 hours per shift. Even if you are sent home early, you must be paid for the minimum shift length.

5. How do I check my exact pay rate?

Use our free calculator or refer to the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000040. You can also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for free advice.

Check Your Rate

Working in silviculture and forestry and want to know your exact pay rate? Use our free calculator to check.

Check your pay rate now

Select your classification level, shiftwork status, employment type, and the days and times you work.

Schema Markup Suggestions

FAQ Schema (FAQPage)

Apply FAQPage schema to the 5 FAQ questions and answers above.

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Do I get paid extra for bushfire fighting?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Yes, the award includes specific provisions and penalty rates for employees engaged in bushfire fighting duties, with different rates for casual and permanent employees."
      }
    }
  ]
}

Table Schema (Dataset)

• name: "Silviculture MA000040 Pay Rates July 2025"
• description: "Classification levels and penalty rates for forestry and tree planting workers under the Silviculture"
• temporalCoverage: "2025-07-01/.."
• creator: Fair Work Commission
• license: CC BY 4.0

Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Silviculture (MA000040)

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.