How do I find the correct electrical apprentice pay rate?

Step 1: find what covers the apprentice

Confirm the employer and employee are covered by the national Fair Work system. If they fall outside it, use the relevant state system rather than assuming the national award calculation applies.

Fair Work says that if a registered agreement covers the apprentice, you check the rates in the agreement, and pay guides do not apply where an enterprise agreement covers the employee. Awards state who they cover. The Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award [MA000025] applies by its coverage clause, which depends on the employer and the work, so confirm coverage rather than assuming it.

Sources[1][2][3][6]

Step 2: confirm the apprenticeship is formal

Fair Work says an employee can only be paid apprentice rates if they have a formal training contract with their employer, registered and recognised by a state or territory training authority. The award also deals with training: the employer provides training and access without loss of pay, and required training or school time is paid, subject to the award's conditions.

Sources[1][2]

Step 3: gather the inputs

Apprentice pay depends on how long the apprenticeship is and how much training has been done. Fair Work says an adult apprentice is 21 or older when they start their apprenticeship, and the award defines adult by age on entering the training contract. That is age at the start, not a birthday later. Junior rates depend on the commencement date, the year or stage, and Year 12 completion, while adult apprentices have separate rates and protections for existing employees.

Progression is either time-based or competency-based depending on the award, and after completion the person is paid the tradesperson's rate.

Sources[1][2]

Step 4: use PACT for the pay date

Use the relevant pay date in PACT and check the current award or agreement. Record which all-purpose allowances are already included in the ordinary rate, then calculate only the applicable additional allowances, overtime, penalties, training and travel amounts. Keep the calculation and source date with the pay run so those items are not counted twice.

Sources[4][1]

Pay-run lookup record you can copy

Keep one record per apprentice. It is our recommended workflow, not a form the award requires.

APPRENTICE PAY LOOKUP
Apprentice: [name]
Covered by: [award MA000025 / enterprise agreement name / other, with coverage check saved at]
Training contract registered with: [state or territory authority], start date [DD/MM/YYYY]
Age when apprenticeship started: [years]   Adult apprentice (21 or older at start): [yes / no]
Year 12 completed: [yes / no / school-based]
Year or stage now: [text]   Progression basis: [time / competency]
Lookup date (pay date): [DD/MM/YYYY]
PACT result: ordinary hourly rate $[rate], allowances [list], saved at [file]
Overtime, penalties and training time: [calculated separately, notes]
Next review trigger: [next stage date / award or pay guide update]

Sources[4][2][1]

Set a review trigger

Re-run the lookup when the apprentice moves to the next year or stage, when the award or pay guide is updated, and when the apprentice's classification or training dates change. Keep each result with its pay date.

Sources[4][3]

Common questions

How much does a first year apprentice earn?

It depends on the covering award or agreement, the apprentice's age when they started, the start date, the year or stage and whether they completed Year 12. Enter those details into Fair Work's Pay and Conditions Tool for the pay date, and check any enterprise agreement first.[2][4]