Water Industry 2025 Pay Rates (MA000113)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Water Industry covers employees in the water industry, including water treatment plant operators, sewerage workers, pipeline maintenance workers, meter readers, and water utility administrative staff. If you work for a water or sewerage utility, this award applies to you. It covers approximately 30,000 workers across Australia.

This award does NOT cover local government employees performing general duties (Local Government Industry Award, MA000112), plumbers (Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award, MA000036), or environmental scientists (Professional Employees Award, MA000065). See clause 4.1 for the full coverage terms.

How classification levels work

Classifications cover roles from general worker through to plant operator, trades worker, and supervisor. Day workers and shiftworkers have different provisions.

Key features of this award

Water and sewerage services operate 24/7, with shiftwork common at treatment plants. The award includes afternoon, night, and day shift penalties for shiftworkers.

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 MA000113 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 MA000113. 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 MA000113:

• Afternoon shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Saturday - after 2 hours
• Monday to Saturday - first 2 hours
• Night shift
• Ordinary hours
• Public holiday
• Sunday

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 3 hours-hour minimum shift on a Sunday.

• Base hourly rate: refer to your classification level in the MA000113 pay guide
• Sunday casual rate: base rate x Sunday casual penalty percentage
• Minimum payment: Sunday casual rate x 3 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 MA000113 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 MA000113 pay guide
• Overtime rate: base rate x overtime percentage
• Clause reference: refer to overtime clause

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do water treatment plant operators work shifts?

Yes, many water treatment plants require 24/7 operation. Shiftworkers at treatment plants receive shift penalties for afternoon and night shifts.

2. Are meter readers covered?

Yes, water meter readers employed by water utilities are covered by this award.

3. What about emergency call-outs for burst mains?

Emergency work outside ordinary hours attracts overtime rates. The specific rate depends on the day and time of the call-out.

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

The minimum engagement for casual and part-time employees is 3 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 MA000113. You can also contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for free advice.

Check Your Rate

Working in water supply and sewerage and want to know your exact pay rate? Use our free calculator to check.

Check your pay rate now

Select your classification, day worker or shiftworker, employment type, and the days and times you work.

Schema Markup Suggestions

FAQ Schema (FAQPage)

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Table Schema (Dataset)

• name: "Water Industry MA000113 Pay Rates July 2025"
• description: "Classification levels and penalty rates for water and sewerage utility employees under the Water Industry"
• temporalCoverage: "2025-07-01/.."
• creator: Fair Work Commission
• license: CC BY 4.0

Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Water Industry (MA000113)

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.