Private sector employers and employees
Telephone: 1300 655 266
Mailing address
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
This information is only relevant to employers and employees in the WA state industrial relations system – sole traders, unincorporated partnerships, unincorporated trusts and some incorporated or not for profit organisations. Find out more on the Guide to who is in the WA state system page.
If you operate or are employed by a Pty Ltd business – you can find information on this topic on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
The 2022 State Wage Order issued by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission in June 2022 granted an increase in minimum pay rates effective from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2022.
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 | $390.10 | $10.27 | ||
21 or over | $696.50 | $18.33 | ||||
2nd year | 7-18 months | 1st year | 1st year | Under 21 | $510.80 | 13.44 |
21 or over | $696.50 | $18.33 | ||||
3rd year | 19-30 months | 2nd year | 2nd year | All ages | $696.50 | $18.33 |
4th year | 31-42 months | 3rd year | All Ages | $817.30 | $21.51 |
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