Junior pay rates

Changes to junior rates in the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards

The Fair Work Commission has announced upcoming changes to junior wages under the:

  • Retail Award
  • Fast Food Award
  • Pharmacy Award.

For more information, visit Junior wage changes to Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards.

Learn about junior pay rates and when they apply.

Calculate junior pay rates using our Pay and Conditions Tool.

On this page:

About junior pay rates

Junior pay rates are specific rates paid to employees under 21 years old. They’re different from adult pay rates.

AwardsAn award is a legal document that outlines the wages and conditions of employment for employees that are covered by it within a particular industry or occupation. Other known term: modern award. and enterprise agreementsAn enterprise agreement sets out minimum employment conditions and can apply to one business or a group of businesses. can set these pay rates for junior employees.

Junior pay rates are different to apprentice rates, which can apply in some awards for apprentices that start their apprenticeship before they turn 21. For more information, visit Apprentice and trainee pay rates.

Example: Junior pay rate increases

Elise is 16 years old and works as a hair salon assistant. She’s entitled to 50% of the adult pay rate for a Level 1 employee under the Hair and Beauty Award.

Elise turns 17 on 22 March. From 22 March, she’s entitled to 75% of the adult pay rate.

When junior pay rates apply

If an award or enterprise agreement includes junior pay rates, then junior employees can get paid a percentage of the relevant adult pay rate. The percentages that apply are usually based on the employee’s age.

Common awards that include junior pay rates include the:

  • Fast Food Award
  • Health Services Award
  • Hospitality Award
  • Pharmacy Award
  • Retail Award
  • Restaurant Award.

This isn’t a full list. Not all awards include junior pay rates, so it’s important to check the award to see if junior pay rates apply.

Tip: Use our Pay and Conditions Tool

You can check junior pay rates under your award using our Pay and Conditions Tool. There’s more information in the tool about these pay rates and how they’re calculated.

If you’re not sure which award applies, search by occupation or industry using the Pay and Conditions Tool.

If a junior employee isn’t covered by an award or enterprise agreement, they are award and agreement freeEmployees no award or registered agreement applies to.. This means they get paid a percentage of the National Minimum WageA pay rate that applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Certain award or agreement free employees may have different pay entitlements depending on whether they have a reduced work capacity because of disability, if they're under the age of 21 or if they are an apprentice or trainee. . For more information, visit Award and agreement free wages and conditions.

When junior pay rates don’t apply

If there are no junior pay rates in the award or enterprise agreement, then junior pay rates don’t apply. Junior employees are paid the same as adult employees for their classification.

Common awards that don’t have junior pay rates include the:

  • Building and Construction Award
  • Electrical Award
  • Plumbing Award
  • Security Award
  • Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Award.

This isn’t a full list, so it’s important to check your award. To do this, go to List of awards.

How to calculate junior pay rates

To calculate minimum junior pay rates under an award, use our Pay and Conditions Tool.

Employees covered by an enterprise agreement should read it for information on junior pay rates. For help finding the right agreement, visit Finding an agreement.

Example: Junior covered by the Health Services Award

Liam is a 19‑year‑old university student. He’s just started as a part‑time receptionist at a dental clinic.

Before Liam receives his first pay slip, he wants to double-check his pay rates. He remembers that his manager, Sue, told him that he’s covered by the Health Services Award and is a ‘level 3’ employee. Sue also mentioned that because he’s 19 and a junior, he’ll get a lower pay rate than what adult employees get paid.

Liam first goes to fairwork.gov.au and reads more about junior pay rates. He then goes to our Pay and Conditions Tool and enters his:

  • award (Health Services Award)
  • job role (support services employee – level 3)
  • employment type (part‑time)
  • age (19).

The tool calculates Liam’s pay rates and explains that it’s a percentage of the relevant adult pay rate.

Liam saves his result for future reference.

Special award rates for juniors working around alcohol

There are 2 common awards that give junior employees the right to be paid special rates for selling and serving alcohol:

Juniors covered by these awards who sell or serve alcohol, including as a part of their general waiting duties, must be paid the adult rate for their classification regardless of their age.

Examples of when special rates may apply include when a junior employee:

  • sells alcohol to customers in a casino
  • serves alcohol to a seated customer in a restaurant
  • pours alcoholic drinks for service
  • takes an order for alcohol from a customer
  • delivers alcohol (poured by bar staff) to a customer
  • hands an alcoholic beverage to a customer at the register.

To calculate minimum junior pay rates under these awards, use our Pay and Conditions Tool.

Pay rates and other entitlements under the Restaurant Award are also available in our Restaurant Award interactive graphic.

Example: Junior covered by Restaurant Award

Sofia is a 17‑year‑old casual employee who has recently started work at a small restaurant.

Sofia’s role includes taking orders, clearing tables and serving alcohol. She’s covered by the Restaurant Award.

Sofia knows that because she’s 17 years old, she’s considered a junior employee. This means her pay rates are usually based on a percentage of the adult rate.

However, because Sofia serves alcohol, she thinks she’s entitled to a higher pay rate.

After a few weekend shifts, Sofia notices her hourly rate on her pay slip seems lower than she expected. When she asks the owner, Bruce, about it, he tells her that she doesn’t get any extra pay for serving alcohol.

Sofia feels unsure about this and wants to check her entitlements. After a shift, she goes to fairwork.gov.au and reads more about junior pay rates. Sofia reads that juniors covered by the Restaurant Award who sell or serve alcohol (including as a part of their general waiting duties) must be paid the adult rate for their classification regardless of their age.

To see what specific rate would apply, Sofia then goes to our Pay and Conditions Tool and enters her:

  • award (Restaurant Award)
  • job role (level 2 food and beverage attendant serving alcohol)
  • employment type (casual)
  • age (17)
  • duties (confirming she mixes and serves alcohol).

The tool shows a higher pay rate than the one she’s getting. Later, she also checks other entitlements, like breaks, using our Restaurant Award summary tool.

Sofia is nervous to talk to Bruce about this issue but also wants to be paid correctly. As a first step, she completes our free Difficult conversations in the workplace – employee course. It gives her tips and tools to help discuss this issue with Bruce, including downloadable resources.

Before her next shift starts, Sofia asks for time to chat with Bruce. She gives him a printout with the information on this page and the pay result information from our calculator. She explains that because she’s serving alcohol as a junior, she’s entitled to a higher pay rate.

At the end of their conversation, Bruce agrees to increase her pay rate and correct the past underpayment in the next pay cycle.

Age restrictions and training required for serving alcohol

Each state and territory sets rules about the training required for responsible service of alcohol. For information and advice, contact the liquor licensing authority in your state or territory:

Minimum working age

The minimum age for working depends on the state or territory you’re working in. Learn who to contact for advice and assistance at Minimum working age.

Source reference for page: Fair Work Act 2009 section 139 and 4 yearly review of awards [2018] FWCFB 7263

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Visit Workplace problems.