Casual Loading Calculator Australia
Turn a base hourly rate into a casual rate or work back from a casual rate, then compare casual and permanent pay over a year.
The permanent rate for your level, before any loading. Starts at the National Minimum Wage.
25% is the usual figure. Your award or agreement sets yours.
Before tax and super. Assumes the permanent employee uses all paid annual and sick leave and the casual takes the same time off unpaid. Public holidays and leave loading are left out.
Using the result
The yearly comparison assumes the same hours and the same time away from work. A casual who works every week earns more than this comparison shows, and a casual offered fewer shifts earns less.
Casual status depends on whether there is a firm advance commitment to ongoing work, and a regular pattern of work does not settle that on its own. Read the Fair Work casual employees page for the factors and the pathway to permanent employment.
Casual loading questions
What is casual loading?
It is a higher pay rate for being a casual employee. Casuals are paid a casual loading or a specific casual pay rate, and they don't get most types of paid leave, notice of termination or redundancy pay.
How much is casual loading in Australia?
Modern awards commonly set 25%, and the National Minimum Wage Order sets 25% for award and agreement free employees. Your award, registered agreement or contract sets your own rate, so check it.
How do I work out a casual rate?
Multiply the base rate by 1 plus the loading. On the 2026-27 National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour, a 25% loading adds $6.61, for $33.05 an hour.
Is casual loading worth more than paid leave?
On the same hours and the same time off, usually yes, before counting job security. A permanent employee gets 6 weeks of paid annual and sick leave a year if they use it all. On 38 hours a week at the minimum wage, a casual working the other weeks earns $5,525.96 more. The comparison leaves out public holidays, leave loading and unused leave, and casuals have no firm commitment to ongoing work.
What leave do casual employees get?
Under the National Employment Standards, casuals get 2 days of unpaid carer's leave per occasion, 2 days of unpaid compassionate leave per occasion, 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave per year and unpaid community service leave. In some states and territories long serving casuals can get long service leave.
Are weekend rates higher for casuals?
Usually, but how the loading combines with penalty rates depends on your award. See the rate tables for retail and hospitality, or use the penalty rates calculator.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
Reviewed: 5 November 2026 · Tax year: 2026-27
Calculates a casual rate from the loading you enter and a simple yearly comparison before tax and super. It does not tell you your award rate or whether you are a casual. This is general information, not advice about your job.