Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020
MA000002 — a plain-English compliance guide for employers. General information only, not advice.
MA000002
What the Clerks Award covers
The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 is the modern award most Australian businesses meet first: it covers clerical and administrative employees in private-sector workplaces that aren't covered by an industry-specific award. If your team includes reception, accounts, data entry, payroll or general office administration, this is very likely the award that sets their minimum pay and conditions.
Who it covers
- Clerical and administrative staff — reception, accounts, data entry, office administration
- Private-sector employers not otherwise covered by an industry award
- Often the 'default' award for the back-office roles inside businesses run under another award
How pay is structured
Minimum rates are set by classification level (Level 1 to Level 5), which reflect the skill, responsibility and experience of the role rather than the job title. Adult, junior and apprentice rates differ, and a part-time or casual loading applies on top of the base where relevant. Minimum rates under this award are reviewed by the Fair Work Commission every year and rise from the first full pay period on or after 1 July — the 2026 review lifted modern award minimum wages by 4.75%. Because the exact dollar figure changes each year, confirm the current rate for the relevant classification on the Fair Work Pay Calculator before you set pay.
Penalties & loadings
On top of the ordinary rate, the award sets overtime, weekend and public-holiday penalties, plus allowances and a casual loading. The exact percentages depend on classification, the hours worked and whether the employee is full-time, part-time or casual — the Fair Work source sets them out in full.
For the exact current figures — rates, allowances and penalty percentages by classification — use the official source: Fair Work Ombudsman — Clerks — Private Sector Award summary and pay guide. We deliberately don’t republish dollar figures here because they change each 1 July; the Fair Work source is always current.
Where employers get caught
Common Clerks Award compliance traps
Treating it as 'just the office award'
Misclassifying a senior administrator at Level 1 because the title sounds junior is a common underpayment. Classify on the actual duties and responsibility, not the label.
Missing the part-time agreed-hours rule
Part-time clerks must have their regular pattern of hours agreed in writing; hours worked outside that agreement can attract overtime. Vague arrangements create back-pay exposure.
Forgetting the annual 1 July increase
Rates that were correct last financial year are understated from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Payroll has to be re-checked every July.
The 'award-free' assumption
Many employers assume salaried office staff are award-free. Unless a role genuinely sits above the award (e.g. a true managerial/professional exemption), the Clerks Award minimums and conditions still apply.
FAQ
Common questions about the Clerks Award
Yes, in most cases. The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 (MA000002) covers employees doing clerical and administrative work — reception, data entry, accounts, payroll and general office admin — in private-sector businesses not otherwise covered by an industry award. Because it's the common default for back-office roles, it often applies even when your business sits in another sector. If you're unsure, check the award's coverage clause on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Pay rates under the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 are set by classification level (Levels 1 to 5), based on the employee's duties, skill and responsibility rather than their job title. Each level has a minimum hourly and weekly rate. These minimums rise from the first full pay period on or after 1 July each year; the 2026 Annual Wage Review lifted modern award minimums by 4.75%. Always confirm the current rate for the classification on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Yes, but the salary must leave the employee better off overall than the award would. The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 includes an annualised wage provision, and the law applies the 'better off overall' test: your salary has to cover what they'd have earned under the award including overtime, penalties and loadings. Keep records reconciling salary against award entitlements, and review it whenever rates increase on 1 July or hours change.
The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 has five classification levels (Level 1 to Level 5). An employee's level is determined by the actual duties, skill and judgement their role requires — for example, a junior on basic data entry sits lower than someone running accounts or supervising others. You classify by what the person genuinely does, not the title. The level descriptors are set out in the award's classification schedule on the Fair Work website.
Yes. The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 provides overtime for hours worked beyond the ordinary hours, with penalty rates that increase after a set number of overtime hours. Casuals are also entitled to overtime in defined circumstances. Overtime exists alongside the casual loading and any applicable penalties — they're separate entitlements. The exact overtime percentages and the ordinary-hours thresholds are in the award, so confirm them at the Fair Work source for your situation.
Yes. The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 applies penalty rates for ordinary hours worked on weekends and outside the standard span of hours, and higher rates on public holidays. As a guide, Saturday and Sunday penalties are commonly around 25% and 50%, with public holidays able to reach 150%, but the precise figures vary by award and employment type. Always confirm the exact penalty for your employee's classification on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Casual employees under the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 receive a casual loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, commonly 25%, to compensate for no paid leave and less security. This loading is paid in addition to any penalty rates and overtime that apply. The percentage is a structural feature of the award rather than a dollar figure, but confirm the exact current loading for the classification at Fair Work before you run payroll.
Under the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020, part-time employees must have their guaranteed minimum hours and the pattern of work (days and start/finish times) agreed in writing at the outset. Hours worked outside that agreed arrangement can attract overtime rates. This matters because informal 'we'll see how it goes' arrangements often breach the award. Any change should be re-agreed in writing. Check the part-time clause on the Fair Work Ombudsman website for the specifics.
Yes. The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 sets junior rates, expressed as a percentage of the relevant adult classification rate, that step up with the employee's age until they reach the adult rate. This is a standard award feature, not a discretionary discount. The percentages and the age at which the adult rate applies are defined in the award, and the resulting dollar amounts change each 1 July, so confirm them on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
Generally yes. Under the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020, full-time and part-time employees accrue paid annual leave and are commonly entitled to annual-leave loading of 17.5% on top of their base rate when they take leave. The loading recognises the income they'd otherwise earn through penalties or overtime. The exact application can depend on the employee's circumstances, so confirm the current annual-leave loading rule for the award at the Fair Work source.
The Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 includes several allowances, such as a first-aid allowance, a meal allowance for qualifying overtime, and higher-duties payments when an employee temporarily performs work at a higher classification. These are paid in addition to the base rate when the conditions are met. Allowance amounts are reviewed and typically rise each 1 July, so never rely on an old figure — check the current allowance values on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
You'll generally have to back-pay the shortfall in full, and the Fair Work Ombudsman can investigate, issue compliance notices, and pursue penalties for breaches — serious or deliberate underpayment can attract significant fines. Underpayments under the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 often stem from misclassification or missed penalties and overtime rather than bad intent. Keeping accurate records and correct classifications is the best protection. If you find an error, rectify and back-pay it promptly.
Stay compliant by classifying each employee correctly, applying the right minimum rate, overtime, penalties and allowances, updating rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July, and keeping accurate payslips and time records. The mechanics are fiddly and change yearly, which is where errors creep in. Valont's People Hub runs award-compliant payroll under instruments like the Clerks — Private Sector Award 2020 so the classifications, rates and increases are handled for you.
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