Finding the right pay rate

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EmployerEmployee / worker

This page helps employers and employees in the state industrial relations system find the legal minimum rates of pay for a particular job.

Watch our video on this topic

The Finding the right pay rates – a guide for state system employers and employees video helps employers and employees in the state industrial relations system find the legal minimum rates of pay for a particular job.

 

Are you in the state system?

Two systems of employment law operate for the private sector in Western Australia, the state industrial relations system and the national fair work system.

If you are not sure if you are in the state or national system, the first step is to watch Wageline’s video titled Which system of employment law applies on the Which system of employment law applies page.

Wageline provides information on pay rates to employers and employees in the state system. If you are in the national fair work system, please visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website for pay rate information.

Finding the right pay rate

For state system employers and employees, it is important to check whether or not a WA award applies to the particular job. 

WA awards are legal documents issued by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that set the minimum pay rates and other working arrangement for employees in a particular industry or occupation. For example, a hairdresser will be covered by the Hairdressers Award, and a chef in a café will be covered by the Restaurant, Tearoom and Catering Workers Award.

If an employee is covered by a WA award, the pay rates, leave entitlements, allowances and penalty rates outlined in the WA award must be provided to the employee as a minimum. Different rates of pay often apply to employees depending on the classification and type of work being performed. Separate rates of pay also commonly apply to junior employees, apprentices and trainees.

You can learn more about WA awards by watching our Understanding WA awards video available on the Understanding WA awards page.  

You can check whether a WA award applies by visiting the WA award coverage for common jobs page, or by calling Wageline on 1300 655 266.

Employees who work for a larger business or organisation, should also check whether an industrial agreement applies, which can be done by checking with the human resources or payroll area where you are employed.

Once you know if a WA award or agreement applies, you will be able to locate the minimum rate of pay for the job.

If a WA award applies, minimum pay rates will be listed in the award. These are commonly found under the heading wages, rates of pay, or salaries.

Wageline has WA award summaries for the most widely used awards, which provide details of minimum pay rates and other key entitlements.

Full copies of WA awards and industrial agreements are available on the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission website.

If there is no WA award or industrial agreement that applies to a job, there is still a legal minimum rate of pay. 

Different minimum rates apply for adult employees, employees under 21 year of age apprentices and trainees. The Minimum pay rates for award free employees page lists the current minimum rates.

For help with finding the right pay rates, you can call Wageline on 1300 655 266.

 

 

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