CW1 Pay Rate 2026-27: Every NSW Construction & Warehouse Award Rate
CW1 pay rate from 1 July 2026: $26.67/hr (level a) to $28.05 (level d), plus industry allowance. What a CW1 labourer does, and every CW1-CW8 and Storeworker rate from Fair Work.
Sydney construction and warehouse workers sit under MA000020 and MA000084. Minimum hourly rates from 1 July 2026 (Fair Work Commission):
| Classification | Minimum hourly | Casual (+25%) |
|---|---|---|
| CW1 (level a) new entrant | $26.67 | $33.34 plus all-purpose allowances |
| CW2 | $28.62 | $35.78 plus all-purpose allowances |
| CW3 tradesperson | $29.45 | $36.81 plus all-purpose allowances |
| Storeworker Grade 1 (on commencement) | $27.08 | $33.85 |
- Construction allowances: add all-purpose allowances, including the industry allowance (clause 22)
- Super: 12% since 1 July 2025
- Wage theft: criminal offence since 1 January 2025
CW1 pay rate = the entry construction labourer minimum. Figures checked against the Fair Work Commission award text on 19 October 2026.
Award rates went up 4.75% on 1 July 2026. Plenty of quotes, payslips and spreadsheets still run on last year's numbers.
A rate that was lawful in June 2026 can be underpayment in July.And since 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment is not a billing dispute. It is a criminal offence with up to 10 years in prison.
This guide sets out what a Sydney labour hire worker must be paid under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020) and the Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 (MA000084). Every figure comes from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated award text, current to 1 July 2026.
Table of Contents
- CW1 pay rate explained
- Which two awards matter in Sydney?
- What are CW1 to CW8, and what does each pay?
- How is a casual construction rate built?
- What do weekends, overtime and public holidays pay?
- What are the warehouse rates under MA000084?
- Where do agencies underpay, and why do hosts get burned?
- Cash jobs: why the cheapest worker is the biggest risk
CW1 pay rate explained
CW1 means Construction Worker Level 1. It is the entry classification for labourers in MA000020, and the most common level on a Sydney site.
The CW1 pay rate from 1 July 2026 (clause 19.1(a)):
| CW1 step | When it applies | Minimum hourly | Casual (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level a | New entrant to the industry | $26.67 | $33.34 |
| Level b | After 3 months in the industry | $27.20 | $34.00 |
| Level c | After 12 months in the industry | $27.56 | $34.45 |
| Level d | CW1 competency standard met | $28.05 | $35.06 |
Every figure is plus all-purpose allowances. The industry allowance alone adds about $1.77/hr on general building, which takes a casual level a CW1 to about $35.55/hr.
What does a CW1 labourer do?
The award (Schedule A.2.1) says a CW1 works under general supervision. Its indicative tasks include:
- Basic material handling and store control
- Operating small plant and pneumatic machinery
- Using a range of hand tools
- Assisting one or more tradespersons
Roles folded into CW1 include general hand, builders' labourer group 4, demolition labourer, concrete gang worker, fencer and landscape labourer.
CW1 is the labourer's floor. Level a on day one, level d once the competency standard is met.Want to see what sits on top of CW1 in an agency's charge-out rate? The labour hire charge-out rate breakdown builds it line by line.
Which two awards matter in Sydney?
Most Sydney labour hire workers sit under one of two federal modern awards, both updated by the Fair Work Commission on 1 July 2026.
- MA000020, Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020: commercial, civil and residential site work. Labourers, concreters, formworkers, dogmen, scaffolders, steel fixers, leading hands.
- MA000084, Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020: third-party warehousing, freight handling, pick and pack, forklift work in distribution centres.
Both are federal awards under the Fair Work Act 2009. There is no NSW state version.
Behind a site fence, in hi-vis, under a SWMS: it's MA000020. Pick, pack and forklifts in a 3PL: it's MA000084.
What are CW1 to CW8, and what does each pay?
CW1 to CW8 are the construction worker classification levels in MA000020. CW1 is the entry level for labourers. CW3 is the first tradesperson level, and pay rises with skill from there to CW8.
These are the minimum classification rates from clause 19.1(a), operative from 1 July 2026:
| Level | Minimum weekly | Minimum hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW1 (level a) new entrant | $1,013.50 | $26.67 | $33.34 |
| CW1 (level b) after 3 months | $1,033.50 | $27.20 | $34.00 |
| CW1 (level c) after 12 months | $1,047.30 | $27.56 | $34.45 |
| CW1 (level d) competency met | $1,066.00 | $28.05 | $35.06 |
| CW2 | $1,087.50 | $28.62 | $35.78 |
| CW3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| CW4 | $1,154.40 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
| CW5 | $1,189.60 | $31.31 | $39.14 |
| CW6 | $1,221.30 | $32.14 | $40.18 |
| CW7 | $1,256.30 | $33.06 | $41.33 |
| CW8 | $1,286.70 | $33.86 | $42.33 |
Source: Fair Work Commission, MA000020 clause 19.1(a), consolidated to 1 July 2026. Casual hourly = minimum hourly x 1.25 (25% casual loading, clause 12.4). Every figure is plus all-purpose allowances (industry allowance, clause 22).
What sits where:
- CW1 is a labourer working under general supervision. A new entrant starts at level a, moves to level b after 3 months and level c after 12 months in the industry, and reaches level d once the CW1 competency standard is met.
- CW3 is the first trade level. The award calls it Engineering construction tradesperson level 1: someone who has finished a relevant trade apprenticeship or passed an equivalent skills test.
- CW4 is tradesperson level II, a more experienced trade with broader skills.
Weighing up a skilled labourer against a general hand? Our guide to skilled vs general labourers covers what changes on site.
How is a casual construction rate built?
A casual construction rate is a stack: the CW minimum hourly rate, plus all-purpose allowances, then the 25% casual loading. Under MA000020, the ordinary hourly rate is defined as the classification rate plus the industry allowance (and any other all-purpose allowance).
The industry allowance (clause 22.1, from 1 July 2026) is:
- $67.15 a week for general building, civil and metal and engineering construction, about $1.77 an hour over 38 ordinary hours
- $53.72 a week for residential building (single or dual occupancy, not multistorey), about $1.41 an hour
Clause 22.3 says it is paid for all purposes, so it is loaded, penalised and counted for overtime like the base rate.
Super sits on top. The Super Guarantee has been 12% since 1 July 2025, the final legislated rate (ATO).
What an agency adds on top of the award is a separate question. The labour hire hourly rate breakdown covers it.
The 25% casual loading is a swap, not a bonus. It replaces:
Construction workers in NSW also build up portable long service under the Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Act 1986 (NSW). Employers register eligible workers and report their service; the scheme is run by the Long Service Corporation.
What do weekends, overtime and public holidays pay?
Casuals under MA000020 do not get the casual loading stacked on top of a penalty. Clause 12.5 sets combined rates instead: where the permanent penalty is 150%, a casual gets 175%; where it is 200%, a casual gets 225%.
| Casual work under MA000020 | % of ordinary hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours, Monday to Friday | 125% |
| Weekday overtime, first 2 hours | 175% |
| Weekday overtime, after 2 hours | 225% |
| Saturday, first 2 hours | 175% |
| Saturday, after 2 hours or after 12 noon | 225% |
| Sunday | 225% |
| Public holiday | 275% |
Source: Fair Work Commission, MA000020 clauses 12.5, 12.6, 29.4 and 30.1, consolidated to 1 July 2026. The ordinary hourly rate includes the industry allowance.
Calculate a shift at award minimum
Pick the day type, enter the hours, and the calculator applies the MA000020 multipliers (150%, 200%, 250%). It's preloaded with the CW2 minimum of $28.62/hr from 1 July 2026. Swap in any level from the CW table above.
Worker penalty pay — what day is it?
Enter base rate and hours worked. Penalty multipliers from MA000020 apply automatically.
Illustrative award maths only, not Leap's charge-out rate or pricing. The calculator uses permanent multipliers: for a casual, add 25% of the base rate for every hour (that is how the award builds 175%, 225% and 275%). Figures are plus all-purpose allowances and super.
For a worker-side view of how those hours land on a payslip, see the Sydney labourer pay guide and take-home.
Allowances that only apply sometimes
Not every allowance is paid by default. These depend on the role or the site:
- Leading hand: a percentage of the weekly rate, from 2.4% for one person to 9.0% for more than 10 (clause 19.2)
- Multistorey: for work on a building of 5 or more storey levels when complete (clause 23.3)
- Tools: for tradespeople who supply their own tools (clause 21.1)
- Underground: for work underground (clause 23.2)
If an agency will not confirm in writing that every worker is paid per Fair Work or the applicable EBA, walk away. Ask for a sample payslip, workers comp and Public Liability certificates, and written confirmation of each worker's classification and day-type rates.
What are the warehouse rates under MA000084?
MA000084 uses Storeworker grades 1 to 4. Most labour hire warehouse workers sit at Grade 1 or 2. From 1 July 2026, the casual day-worker minimums are:
| Classification (casual, day worker) | Ordinary (125%) | Saturday (175%) | Sunday (225%) | Public holiday (275%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, on commencement | $33.85 | $47.39 | $60.93 | $74.47 |
| Grade 1, after 3 months | $34.26 | $47.97 | $61.67 | $75.38 |
| Grade 1, after 12 months | $34.65 | $48.51 | $62.37 | $76.23 |
| Grade 2 | $34.96 | $48.95 | $62.93 | $76.92 |
| Grade 3 | $35.96 | $50.35 | $64.73 | $79.12 |
| Grade 4 | $37.01 | $51.82 | $66.62 | $81.43 |
Source: Fair Work Commission, MA000084 clause 15.1 and Schedule B.2.1, consolidated to 1 July 2026.
Who sits where, per the award's classification definitions (Schedule A):
- Grade 1: new employees; picking, packing, stock checks and non-licensed materials handling equipment
- Grade 2: licensed operation of materials handling equipment, such as forklifts
- Grade 3: operation of all MHE under licence, store layout, and supervising up to 10 employees
- Grade 4: responsible for a warehouse or a large section of one
Shift workers get loadings on the minimum hourly rate: 115% for afternoon shift and 130% for night shift (clause 20.4). Cold-temperature allowances apply in freezer conditions.
The classification trap
Warehouses underpay through misclassification more often than through flat-out wage theft. A worker driving a forklift under licence belongs at Grade 2 at least, not Grade 1.
The gap between a Grade 1 casual on commencement and a Grade 2 casual is $1.11 an hour from 1 July 2026. Across a 38-hour week, that is $42.18 per worker.
Multiply that by a crew and a season, and it is a Fair Work investigation waiting to happen.
Where do agencies underpay, and why do hosts get burned?
Five underpayment patterns come up again and again. None of them shows on a quote.
Under section 550 of the Fair Work Act 2009, a person knowingly involved in a contravention can be held liable as an accessory. That can include a host.
"I didn't ask" is a weak defence when the warning signs were on your own site.Since 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment is also a federal crime with up to 10 years in prison (Fair Work Ombudsman, criminalising wage underpayments).
For the full compliance checklist, read compliant labour hire in Sydney.
Cash jobs: why the cheapest worker is the biggest risk
A worker paid cash, with no payslip and no super, is a liability you are carrying for someone else.
- Illegal under Fair Work and ATO rules
- No workers comp: if they are injured, the host's WHS exposure is on the table
- Sham contracting carries civil penalties per breach, plus ATO penalties for the worker and the engager
The test for any quote is qualitative: does it fund the award, super, workers comp and payroll tax? If an agency cannot show that, assume it cannot.
How Leap pays
We pay workers at or above the applicable award or EBA, with casual loading, all-purpose allowances, super at 12% and portable long service where it applies.
Classification is set at onboarding against the worker's tickets and trade evidence, and checked again when the job changes. Our systems flag a mismatch; a person fixes it.
Award rates moved on 1 July 2026. Make sure your agency's payroll moved with them.
Get a quote built on current award rates
Need crews on current rates? Check labour hire rates in Sydney →
Need flexible casuals across construction and warehouse? See how casual labour hire in Sydney works.
Want the full cost picture? Read the labour hire cost breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CW1 in the construction award?+
CW1 is the entry classification in the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020). It covers labourers working under general supervision and has four steps: level a for new entrants, level b after 3 months in the industry, level c after 12 months, and level d once the CW1 competency requirements are met.
What is CW1 pay rate?+
CW1 pay rate is the minimum wage for a Construction Worker Level 1, the entry labourer classification in the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020). From 1 July 2026 it is $26.67 an hour ($1,013.50 a week) at level a, rising to $28.05 an hour ($1,066.00 a week) at level d. The industry allowance (about $1.77 an hour on general building) is added for all purposes, and a casual gets a 25% loading on top, about $35.55 an hour at level a.
What does a CW1 labourer do?+
A CW1 works under general supervision. The award's indicative tasks include basic material handling, operating small plant and pneumatic machinery, using hand tools, and assisting one or more tradespersons. Classifications folded into CW1 include general hand, builders' labourer group 4, demolition labourer, concrete gang worker, fencer and landscape labourer.
What is the casual hourly rate for a general labourer under MA000020 in 2026?+
A casual CW1 (level a) gets the $26.67 minimum hourly rate plus all-purpose allowances (industry allowance, clause 22), with a 25% casual loading on top. On the minimum rate alone the loading takes it to $33.34 an hour, and the industry allowance adds to that. Super at 12% is paid on top.
Does the casual loading replace annual leave and personal leave?+
Yes. Under MA000020 clause 12.4, the 25% casual loading compensates for annual leave, personal/carer's leave, community service leave, notice of termination, redundancy and public holidays not worked. It does not replace super, which is still owed at 12%.
What award covers warehouse pickers and forklift drivers in Sydney?+
The Storage Services and Wholesale Award (MA000084) covers most third-party logistics warehouses. From 1 July 2026, a Storeworker Grade 1 casual on commencement earns at least $33.85 an hour; licensed materials handling work such as forklift driving sits from Grade 2, at $34.96 an hour casual.
Who is legally liable if a labour hire worker is underpaid on my Sydney site?+
The labour hire agency, as employer, carries primary liability. Under section 550 of the Fair Work Act 2009, a host who was knowingly involved in a contravention can also be liable. Since 1 January 2025, intentional underpayment is a criminal offence with up to 10 years in prison.
How often do award rates change?+
Once a year, after the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The 2025-26 review lifted modern award minimums by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Super Guarantee has been 12% since 1 July 2025.
Sources
- Fair Work Commission, Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020), consolidated to 1 July 2026 (rates and Schedule A checked 19 October 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, MA000020 pay guide
- Fair Work Commission, Storage Services and Wholesale Award 2020 (MA000084), consolidated to 1 July 2026
- ATO, Super Guarantee rates and thresholds
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Criminalising wage underpayments
