Warehouse worker pay under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award from 1 July 2026: storeworker grades 1 to 4 with casual, shift, weekend and public holiday rates, and take-home pay in 2026–27.
A new warehouse worker earns at least $27.08 an hour ($33.85 casual). A licensed forklift operator (grade 2) earns at least $27.97. Full time on grade 1 that's $1,772 a fortnight after tax. Open in the pay calculator.
Storeworker pay rates
| Grade | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, on commencement | $27.08 | $33.85 | $1,029.10 | $53,513 | $1,772 |
| Grade 1, after 3 months | $27.41 | $34.26 | $1,041.60 | $54,163 | $1,788 |
| Grade 1, after 12 months | $27.72 | $34.65 | $1,053.50 | $54,782 | $1,804 |
| Grade 2 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $1,062.80 | $55,266 | $1,817 |
| Grade 3 | $28.77 | $35.96 | $1,093.10 | $56,841 | $1,857 |
| Grade 4 | $29.61 | $37.01 | $1,125.30 | $58,516 | $1,900 |
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, without a study loan.
Which grade am I?
- Grade 1: New employees: storing and packing goods, receiving and preparing paperwork, picking goods from warehouse areas, basic computer terminal use, stock checks.
- Grade 2: Licensed operation of materials handling equipment such as forklifts, basic non-trade maintenance, more advanced computer use.
- Grade 3: Licensed operation of all materials handling equipment, maintaining storage systems on computer, developing the store layout.
- Grade 4: Liaising with management, suppliers and customers, coordinating other storeworkers as leading hand for more than 10, inventory control.
Summaries of the indicative tasks in Schedule A of the award.
Shift rates
Early morning shift starts between 2am and 7am; afternoon shift finishes after 6pm and at or before midnight; night shift finishes after midnight and at or before 8.30am.
| Grade | Early morning (112.5%) | Afternoon (115%) | Night (130%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, on commencement | $30.47 | $31.14 | $35.20 |
| Grade 1, after 3 months | $30.84 | $31.52 | $35.63 |
| Grade 1, after 12 months | $31.19 | $31.88 | $36.04 |
| Grade 2 | $31.47 | $32.17 | $36.36 |
| Grade 3 | $32.37 | $33.09 | $37.40 |
| Grade 4 | $33.31 | $34.05 | $38.49 |
Weekend and public holiday rates
| Grade | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday | Casual public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, on commencement | $40.62 | $54.16 | $67.70 | $47.39 | $60.93 | $74.47 |
| Grade 1, after 3 months | $41.12 | $54.82 | $68.53 | $47.97 | $61.67 | $75.38 |
| Grade 1, after 12 months | $41.58 | $55.44 | $69.30 | $48.51 | $62.37 | $76.23 |
| Grade 2 | $41.96 | $55.94 | $69.93 | $48.95 | $62.93 | $76.92 |
| Grade 3 | $43.16 | $57.54 | $71.93 | $50.35 | $64.73 | $79.12 |
| Grade 4 | $44.42 | $59.22 | $74.03 | $51.82 | $66.62 | $81.43 |
Saturday rates are for ordinary hours worked by agreement. Overtime Monday to Saturday is time and a half for the first 2 hours, then double time.
How it works
- The Storage Services and Wholesale Award covers storage and warehousing businesses and wholesalers. Warehouses run by big retailers and logistics companies often have their own enterprise agreements that pay more.
- Casuals get a 25% loading instead of paid leave.
- Super is paid on top of these rates.
Common questions
How much does a warehouse worker get paid in Australia?
A new storeworker (grade 1) gets at least $27.08 an hour ($33.85 casual) from 1 July 2026 under the Storage Services and Wholesale Award, rising after 3 and 12 months. Full time that's $1,029.10 a week, about $53,513 a year.
How much does a forklift driver get paid?
Licensed operation of materials handling equipment such as forklifts is a grade 2 task: at least $27.97 an hour, or $34.96 as a casual.
What are warehouse night shift rates?
Night shift (finishing after midnight and at or before 8.30am) is paid at 130%: $35.20 an hour for a new grade 1 storeworker. Afternoon shift is 115% ($31.14) and early morning shift 112.5% ($30.47).
What do warehouse workers get on weekends?
Saturday ordinary hours (by agreement) are paid at 150% and Sundays at 200%: $40.62 and $54.16 at grade 1. Casuals get $47.39 and $60.93.
How much does a warehouse worker take home?
On $53,513 a year, about $1,772 a fortnight after tax in 2026–27, before shift and overtime pay.
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, the overtime calculator and pay at big employers.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide and award text, Storage Services and Wholesale Award [MA000084], 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.