Sugar Industry Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000087)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Sugar Industry Award covers employees working in the Australian sugar industry, from growing and harvesting sugarcane through to milling, refining, and distributing sugar and related products. This includes field workers (cane cutters, irrigation workers, tractor operators), sugar mill employees (mill operators, boilermakers, fitters), distillery workers, refinery employees, maintenance workers, and bulk terminal operations staff. If you work in a sugar mill, cane field, sugar refinery, or ethanol distillery, this award likely applies to you.
The award is particularly significant in Queensland and northern New South Wales, where the vast majority of Australia's sugarcane is grown and processed. It covers seasonal workers during the crushing season as well as permanent employees who work year-round in maintenance and refinery operations.
How classification levels work
Your pay rate depends on your classification level and the sector you work in. The award has separate classification streams for field work employees, milling/distillery/refinery/maintenance employees, and bulk terminal operations employees. Within each stream, levels range from entry-level (general labouring, basic machine operation) through to qualified tradespeople, leading hands, and specialist operators.
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. During the crushing season, many employees are engaged on a seasonal basis with specific conditions around hours of work and overtime.
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 | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milling Level 1 | General mill labourer, yard hand | $940.00 | $24.74 | $30.93 |
| Milling Level 2 | Mill operator (basic), boiler attendant | $970.80 | $25.55 | $31.94 |
| Milling Level 3 | Qualified tradesperson, fitter, boilermaker | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| Milling Level 4 | Leading hand, advanced tradesperson | $1,058.60 | $27.86 | $34.83 |
| Field Level 1 | General field labourer, irrigation hand | $940.00 | $24.74 | $30.93 |
| Field Level 2 | Tractor/harvester operator, experienced field worker | $970.80 | $25.55 | $31.94 |
| Field Level 3 | Leading hand, cane haulage driver, senior operator | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| Bulk Terminal Level 1 | General terminal hand, equipment operator | $940.00 | $24.74 | $30.93 |
| Bulk Terminal Level 2 | Senior operator, leading hand | $970.80 | $25.55 | $31.94 |
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 | Milling Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $26.59/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $39.89/hr |
| Sunday (all day) | 200% | $53.18/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $66.48/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 150% | $39.89/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 200% | $53.18/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday (Mon-Sat or RDO) first 3 hours | 150% | $39.89/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday (Mon-Sat or RDO) after 3 hours | 200% | $53.18/hr |
Shiftworkers (Milling and Refinery)
| When you work | Penalty | Milling Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Day shift | Base rate (100%) | $26.59/hr |
| Afternoon shift | 115% | $30.58/hr |
| Night shift | 125% | $33.24/hr |
| Non-rotating shiftwork | 115% | $30.58/hr |
| Continuous shiftworkers -- weekend day shift | 150% | $39.89/hr |
| Continuous shiftworkers -- weekend rotating afternoon/night | 175% | $46.53/hr |
| 5-day roster final shift on Saturday -- rotating afternoon/night | 150% | $39.89/hr |
| 5-day roster final shift on Saturday -- non-rotating afternoon/night | 175% | $46.53/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% | $66.48/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Milling Level 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | 125% (casual loading) | $33.24/hr |
| Saturday | 175% | $46.53/hr |
| Sunday | 225% | $59.83/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% | $73.12/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours during the crushing season?
During the crushing season (typically June to November in Queensland), ordinary hours may be extended by agreement to accommodate continuous mill operations. Sugar mills typically operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during crushing. Ordinary hours are 38 per week or an average of 38 per week over the roster cycle. Shiftworkers in sugar mills are rostered across all days and all hours, with shift penalties applying to afternoon, night, and weekend shifts.
2. Do sugar mill shiftworkers get different weekend rates?
Yes. Continuous shiftworkers in sugar mills have specific weekend penalty rates. Weekend day shifts attract 150% of the base rate. Weekend rotating afternoon or night shifts attract 175%. The award also has specific penalties for the 5-day roster where the final shift falls on a Saturday morning, recognising the different impact on workers depending on shift rotation patterns.
3. Are field workers entitled to overtime during harvest?
Yes. Field workers are entitled to overtime rates for all hours worked beyond ordinary hours, even during the busy harvest and crushing season. Overtime for field workers is calculated differently depending on whether work is performed Monday to Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Sunday overtime during harvest season has specific provisions -- the first 5 hours within the first 8 hours of overtime attract 150%, with higher rates after that.
4. What allowances are available for sugar industry workers?
The award provides several allowances including a tool allowance for tradespeople, a first aid allowance, a leading hand allowance, and various industry-specific allowances for working in particular conditions (such as confined spaces or at heights). Seasonal workers may also receive travel and accommodation allowances. Check the award for the full list of applicable allowances for your role.
5. What is the minimum engagement for casual sugar industry workers?
Casual employees must be engaged for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per shift. At Milling Level 3 casual rate ($33.24/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $99.72 gross. During the crushing season, most casual engagements are for longer shifts of 8 to 12 hours.
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 level, employment stream, 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.
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": "What are the ordinary hours during the crushing season under the Sugar Industry Award?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "During the crushing season, ordinary hours may be extended by agreement to accommodate continuous mill operations. Ordinary hours are 38 per week or an average of 38 per week over the roster cycle."
}
}
]
}
Breadcrumb Schema
Home > Awards > Sugar Industry Award (MA000087)
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.