Building and Construction Award pay rates 2026, from 1 July 2026

19.1 General

(a) An employee within a level specified in the following table will be paid not less than the rate assigned to the appropriate classification, as defined in Schedule A: Classification Definitions, in which the employee is working:

Clause 19.1 of the award. Applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.

(b) The rates in clause 19.1(a) prescribe minimum classification rates only. The payment of additional allowances is required by other clauses of this award in respect of both weekly and hourly payments. The ordinary hourly rate for an employee’s classification is set out in clause 2: Definitions.

(c) CW refers to construction workers in the general building and construction and civil construction sectors. ECW refers to engineering construction workers in the metal and engineering construction sector.

(b) For daily hire employees, the hourly rate payable is calculated by multiplying the amount prescribed in clause 19.2(a) by 52 over 50.4 (52/50.4) and dividing by 38 and the said amount will apply for all purposes of this award (provided that in the case of a carpenter-diver the divisor will be 31).

(B) Three year apprenticeship (nominal term)

(ii) Apprentices who commence a contract of training on or after 1 January 2014 (apprentices covered by the Electrotechnology Training Package)

(iii) Apprentices who commenced a contract of training before 1 January 2014:

(c) In addition to the above rates apprentices will be paid amounts prescribed in:

 clause 21.1: Tools and protective or other clothing or equipment;

 clause 22: Industry allowances;

and, where applicable,

 clause 23.2: Underground allowance

as part of the ordinary weekly rate for all purposes.

(d) Notwithstanding the nominal period, the apprenticeship (excluding apprentices covered by the Electrotechnology Training Package) is completed in a shorter period when:

(i) the qualification specified in the contract of training is successfully completed; and

(ii) the apprentice has the necessary practical experience to achieve competency in the skills covered by the contract of training, provided that the determination as to whether this condition has been met must be by agreement between the registered training organisation, the employer and the apprentice and where there is a disagreement concerning this matter the matter may be referred to the relevant State/Territory apprenticeship authority for determination; and

(iii) the requirements of the relevant State/Territory training authority and any requirements of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee with respect to demonstration of competency and any minimum necessary work experience requirements are met; and

(iv) with respect to trades where there are additional licensing or regulatory requirements under State legislation, when these requirements are met.

19.8 Adult apprenticeship

(a) Where a person was employed by an employer immediately prior to becoming an adult apprentice with that employer, such person will not suffer a reduction in the ordinary hourly rate of pay by virtue of entering into the contract of training.

(b) Provided that for employees engaged in the general building and construction, and civil construction sectors, the provision in 19.8(a) will only apply to employees who have been employed by the employer for at least 6 months as a full-time weekly or daily hire employee, or 12 months as a part-time or regular casual employee immediately prior to commencing the apprenticeship.

(c) For the purpose of fixing a rate of pay only, the adult apprentice will continue to receive the ordinary hourly rate of pay that is applicable to the classification or class of work specified in clause 19.1, and in which the adult apprentice was engaged immediately prior to entering into the contract of training.

(d) Subject to clauses 19.8(a) and 19.8(c), the rate of pay of an adult apprentice will be the ordinary hourly rate prescribed for the lowest paid classification in clause 19.1 or the ordinary hourly rate prescribed by clause 19.7 for the relevant year of apprenticeship, whichever is the greater.

19.9 School-based apprentices

For employees undertaking an apprenticeship while also undertaking a course of secondary education, see Schedule C––School-based Apprentices.

19.10 Higher duties

An employee engaged for more than 2 hours, during one day on duties carrying a higher rate than the employee’s ordinary classification, must be paid the higher rate for the whole day. Otherwise the employee must be paid the higher rate for the time worked at the higher classification.