Mining Industry Award pay rates from 1 July 2026: hourly, weekly and casual rates from entry level to Level 7, Sunday, public holiday, shift and overtime rates, and take-home pay in 2026–27.
An entry-level mine worker under the award gets $27.53 an hour ($34.41 casual), about $1,795 a fortnight after tax. A dual trade instrument technician gets $37.62. Open in the pay calculator.
Mining Award pay rates
| Level | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level (introductory) | $27.53 | $34.41 | $1,046.31 | $54,408 | $1,795 |
| Level 1 (basic) | $28.65 | $35.81 | $1,088.71 | $56,613 | $1,851 |
| Level 2 (intermediate) | $29.67 | $37.09 | $1,127.61 | $58,636 | $1,903 |
| Level 3 (competent) | $30.54 | $38.18 | $1,160.51 | $60,347 | $1,947 |
| Level 4 (advanced) | $32.51 | $40.64 | $1,235.31 | $64,236 | $2,046 |
| Level 5 (advanced specialist) | $34.56 | $43.20 | $1,313.21 | $68,287 | $2,151 |
| Level 6 (dual trade) | $36.20 | $45.25 | $1,375.51 | $71,527 | $2,235 |
| Level 7 (dual trade instrument technician) | $37.62 | $47.03 | $1,429.51 | $74,335 | $2,309 |
Adult rates, including the industry disability allowance. Full-time weekly rate for 38 hours; take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27. Electricians' licence allowance and the broken shift allowance for exploration cooks aren't included.
Which levels apply in each stream
| Stream | Levels |
|---|---|
| Services (labouring, plant operation, catering, cleaning, security on site, drilling and exploration) | Entry to Level 2 |
| Surface mining and haulage (open cut, mobile plant, rail and loading, drill and blast) | Entry to Level 4 |
| Processing (production, processing, smelting and refining plant) | Entry to Level 4 |
| Underground mine (underground mining, ventilation, ground control, shaft work) | Entry to Level 5 |
| Maintenance trades | Level 3 to Level 7 |
The rate for a level is the same in every stream. Full descriptions of each level are in Schedule A of the award.
Sunday and public holiday rates
| Level | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual Sunday | Casual public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level (introductory) | $55.06 | $68.83 | $68.82 | $86.03 |
| Level 1 (basic) | $57.30 | $71.63 | $71.62 | $89.53 |
| Level 2 (intermediate) | $59.34 | $74.18 | $74.18 | $92.73 |
| Level 3 (competent) | $61.08 | $76.35 | $76.36 | $95.45 |
| Level 4 (advanced) | $65.02 | $81.28 | $81.28 | $101.60 |
| Level 5 (advanced specialist) | $69.12 | $86.40 | $86.40 | $108.00 |
| Level 6 (dual trade) | $72.40 | $90.50 | $90.50 | $113.13 |
| Level 7 (dual trade instrument technician) | $75.24 | $94.05 | $94.06 | $117.58 |
Shift and overtime rates
| Level | Afternoon or night shift | Permanent night shift | Overtime Mon-Fri first 3 hours | Overtime after 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level (introductory) | $31.66 | $35.79 | $41.30 | $55.06 |
| Level 1 (basic) | $32.95 | $37.25 | $42.98 | $57.30 |
| Level 2 (intermediate) | $34.12 | $38.57 | $44.51 | $59.34 |
| Level 3 (competent) | $35.12 | $39.70 | $45.81 | $61.08 |
| Level 4 (advanced) | $37.39 | $42.26 | $48.77 | $65.02 |
| Level 5 (advanced specialist) | $39.74 | $44.93 | $51.84 | $69.12 |
| Level 6 (dual trade) | $41.63 | $47.06 | $54.30 | $72.40 |
| Level 7 (dual trade instrument technician) | $43.26 | $48.91 | $56.43 | $75.24 |
Full-time and part-time rates. Overtime shown for employees who aren't continuous shiftworkers; Saturday, continuous shiftwork and other rates are in the pay guide.
Who it doesn't cover
- Black coal mining (Black Coal Award)
- Brown coal, salt, aluminium, oil and gas
- Quarrying of stone, sand and gravel
- Head and town office staff, clerical and admin employees
- Professional engineers, geologists, scientists and IT professionals
How it works
- The Mining Industry Award covers metal, mineral, gemstone, mineral sands and uranium mining, including exploration, processing, smelting, refining and on-site haulage.
- Award rates are a minimum. Many mine sites pay under an enterprise agreement, which must leave employees better off overall.
- Casuals get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. Super is paid on top.
Common questions
What is the Mining Award pay rate?
From 1 July 2026, the entry level rate is $27.53 an hour ($1,046.31 a week), or $34.41 as a casual, up to $37.62 an hour at Level 7 (dual trade instrument technician).
How much does an entry-level mine worker earn?
At least $54,408 a year full-time under the award, about $1,795 a fortnight after tax. Many mine sites pay more under an enterprise agreement.
What is the Sunday rate in the Mining Award?
Double time ($55.06 at entry level). Public holidays are $68.83 and casuals get $68.82 on Sundays.
What are the night shift rates?
Afternoon and night shifts are paid at 115% ($31.66 at entry level) and permanent night shift at 130% ($35.79).
Does the award cover coal mining?
No. Black coal mining is under the Black Coal Mining Industry Award; brown coal, oil and gas and quarrying aren't covered either.
When do the rates go up?
Each year from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Next: 1 July 2027 (Annual Wage Review).
See also the penalty rates calculator, overtime calculator and Manufacturing Award.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide, award summary and award text, Mining Industry Award [MA000011], rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-22. General information only.