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Pay rates for apprentices
This information is only relevant to employers and employees in the WA state industrial relations system.
About this page
- This page outlines how to find the correct pay rates for state system employees who are undertaking an apprenticeship registered with the Apprenticeship Office at the Department of Training and Workforce Development.
- If the employee is undertaking a registered traineeship, please visit the Pay rates for trainees page.
About apprenticeships
Apprenticeships can be undertaken on a full time or part time basis. Casual workers are not eligible to enter into a training contract for an apprenticeship.
An employer is required to pay an apprentice for time spent at TAFE (or other off the job training) as normal working hours. An employer is not required to pay TAFE fees on behalf of the apprentice.
The Apprenticeship Office at the Department of Training and Workforce Development can provide information about:
- assessment and registration of a training contract
- obligations under a training contract
- completion of a training contract
- variations to a training contract (including cancellation, suspension or termination of the contract)
The pay rate for an apprentice will depend on the term (length) of the apprenticeship and which year of the apprenticeship the apprentice is currently undertaking.
An adult apprentice (21 years of age or older) must be paid the minimum pay rate for adult apprentices, or the apprentice pay rate for the relevant year of their apprenticeship, whichever is higher.
Arrangements in WA awards for apprentices
In the state industrial relations system, WA awards cover many industries and occupations. Wageline has WA award summaries of the most common WA awards.
The pay rate for an apprentice will depend on the term (length) of the apprenticeship and which year of the apprenticeship the apprentice is currently undertaking.
An adult apprentice (21 years of age or older) must be paid the minimum pay rate for adult apprentices, or the apprentice pay rate for the relevant year of their apprenticeship, whichever is higher.
WA awards that contain apprentice pay rates
Most WA awards that cover industries or occupations in which apprenticeships have been a traditional method of obtaining a trade qualification include a specific job classification and pay rates for apprentices.
When an apprentice is covered by a WA award that has an apprentice job classification, the apprentice is entitled to the apprentice pay rates and the other provisions in the WA award, including working hours, penalty rates, allowances and leave entitlements, as appropriate.
Many of these WA awards require an employer to provide a tool allowance, travel allowance or other allowances to apprentices. Apprentices working in regional areas may also be entitled to location allowance. View the relevant WA award summary on the WA award summaries page.
Key WA awards that contain apprenticeship pay rates and provisions are:
- Bakers (Metropolitan) Award
- Building Trades Award
- Building Trades (Construction) Award
- Club Workers Award
- Dental Technicians and Attendant / Receptionists Award
- Electrical Contracting Industry Award
- Furniture Trades Industry Award
- Hairdressers Award
- Hotel and Tavern Workers Award
- Landscape Gardening Industry Award
- Meat Industry Award
- Metal Trades (General) Award
- Motel, Hostel, Service Flats and Boarding House Workers Award
- Pastrycooks Award
- Restaurant Tearoom and Catering Workers Award
- Vehicle Builders Award
WA awards that have no apprentice pay rates
Some WA awards have no job classification that is relevant to the work done by an apprentice, and therefore a registered apprentice in this industry or occupation is not covered by the WA award and is award free.
Award free apprentices are entitled to the minimum rates for relevant adult or junior award free apprentices (as outlined below), and are entitled to annual leave, sick and carer’s leave and other leave and employment entitlements that apply to award free employees. The Award free employees minimum pay rates and entitlements summary provides an overview of employment conditions for award free employees.
Award free apprentices
If an apprentice is award free, they are to be paid the minimum rate of pay for an award free apprentice. The minimum rate will vary depending on the term (length) of the apprenticeship and which year the apprentice is currently undertaking. The minimum rates for apprentices are outlined below.
Award free apprentices are entitled to annual leave, sick and carer’s leave and other leave and employment entitlements that apply to award free employees. The Award free employees minimum pay rates and entitlements summary provides an overview of employment conditions for award free employees.
Minimum rates of pay for award free apprentices
On 16 June 2023 the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) issued the 2023 State Wage Case decision increasing the minimum rates of pay from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023. The details of the decision are on the State Wage Case decision page and the rates on this page have been updated to reflect the new rates.
The award free apprentice pay rates for 4 year, 3.5 year, 3 year and 2 year apprenticeships are outlined below.
An apprentice (21 years of age or older) must be paid the adult apprentice rate or the appropriate rate for the year of the apprenticeship if that is higher.
| 4 year term | 3.5 year term | 3 year term | 2 year term | Age | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 0-6 months | Under 21 | $410.70 | $10.81 | ||
| 21 or over | $733.40 | $19.30 | ||||
| 2nd year | 7-18 months | 1st year | 1st year | Under 21 | $537.80 | $14.15 |
| 21 or over | $733.40 | $19.30 | ||||
| 3rd year | 19-30 months | 2nd year | 2nd year | All ages | $733.40 | $19.30 |
| 4th year | 31-42 months | 3rd year | All ages | $860.60 | $22.65 |
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