Architects Award

The Architects Award 2020 (MA000079) is the modern award covering architects and architectural employees in private practice across Australia. It is an occupational award, so it applies based on the architectural work performed rather than the employer's industry. It typically covers graduates, experienced graduates, registered architects and architecture students, but excludes university and college staff and those under an enterprise or public-sector agreement.

Minimum rates are set by classification level and pay point, covering Graduate of Architecture, Experienced Graduate, Registered Architect and Student of Architecture. Employees progress through pay points within their level, and student rates are scaled from the graduate rate. The award publishes both weekly and hourly minimums. Because rates change every year, confirm the exact current figure for each classification on the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than relying on a previous number.

No, this award does not set the standard Saturday and Sunday penalty rates you see in awards like retail or hospitality. Ordinary hours are worked on weekdays within a set daily span, and work outside those hours, including weekends, is generally treated as overtime rather than attracting a fixed weekend penalty. This is a common point of confusion, so check the Fair Work source before applying any weekend rate.

Work performed outside ordinary hours or outside the permitted daily span is paid as overtime at the award's overtime rate. The same treatment applies to work on public holidays, which is deemed to be outside normal hours. Salaried staff are not automatically exempt, so their hours should be reconciled against the award. For the current overtime multiplier and how it is calculated, refer to the Fair Work source.

Casual employees are paid the relevant minimum hourly rate plus a casual loading, commonly 25%, in place of entitlements like paid leave. As a guide, that loading is applied to ordinary hours and is not paid on top of overtime. The award also commonly sets a minimum engagement period per shift. Always confirm the current loading percentage and minimum engagement on the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing casual pay.

Yes, students of architecture employed in architectural work are covered and paid on a scaled basis, set as a percentage of the entry graduate rate, with a minimum applying to older students. The correct percentage depends on the student's stage, so it is important to classify them accurately. Use the Fair Work source to confirm the current scaled rate that applies to a given student before setting their pay.

Ordinary hours under this award must not exceed 38 per week and are worked within a set daytime span on weekdays. Hours beyond 38 a week, or outside that daily span, fall into overtime. Part-time employees work fewer than 38 hours with pro-rata entitlements. For the exact daily span and any averaging or flexibility arrangements, check the current award text on the Fair Work source, as these provisions can be updated.

The award provides expense-related allowances rather than the broad work-related allowances of trade awards. These commonly include a per-kilometre vehicle allowance for using a private car for work, a travel or meal allowance connected to work travel, and reimbursement for required technical equipment or protective clothing. The dollar amounts are reviewed annually, so always take the current allowance figures from the Fair Work Pay Calculator before reimbursing or paying staff.

Yes, employees are generally entitled to annual leave loading, commonly 17.5%, on top of their base pay when they take annual leave. Note that leave loading typically does not apply to pro-rata or proportionate leave paid out on termination. Because the way loading interacts with rates and termination can be specific, confirm the current entitlement and any conditions on the Fair Work source before processing leave payments.

Being on an annual salary does not automatically remove award overtime obligations. The 38-hour ordinary-hours framework still applies, and hours worked beyond it can attract overtime unless a salary properly absorbs them and passes a reconciliation against the award. Many practices run an annual check to confirm the salary still covers all award entitlements. The current overtime rules are set out on the Fair Work source.

Modern award minimum rates are reviewed by the Fair Work Commission each year and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 Annual Wage Review increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. On top of the annual increase, individual employees may also move up pay points within their classification. Always apply the new rates from the correct pay period and confirm figures on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Classification turns on qualifications and registration: a Graduate of Architecture has completed the relevant qualification, an Experienced Graduate has additional experience, and a Registered Architect holds registration with the relevant board. Each level has its own minimum rate and pay points. Getting this right matters because it directly sets the wage floor. If you are unsure, check the classification definitions in the award text on the Fair Work source.

Valont provides outsourced, award-compliant payroll for Australian SMEs, including professional-services firms covered by MA000079. We map your staff to the correct classifications and pay points, apply the annual 1 July increases, and handle overtime, casual loading, leave loading and allowances against current Fair Work figures. That removes the guesswork and the back-pay risk so you can focus on running the practice rather than tracking award updates.