Cleaning Services Award pay rates 2026
Minimum rates for the Cleaning Services Award (MA000022) from 1 July 2026: 3 classifications on 3 distinct hourly rates, with casual, weekend and junior rates.
This page sets out the minimum pay rates under the Cleaning Services Award, listed by classification. For each role you will find the base hourly and weekly minimum, the casual rate, and the penalty and overtime rates that apply to cleaning work.
The Cleaning Services Award covers employees whose main work is cleaning, whether they clean offices, shopping centres, schools, hospitals, industrial sites or public spaces under a cleaning contract or directly for a business. It applies to general cleaners, window cleaners, waste and recycling collectors, and the leading hands and supervisors who oversee cleaning teams. The classifications are graded by the tasks, equipment and responsibility involved, from routine general cleaning through to specialised work and the supervision of others. Cleaning that forms part of another job, such as hospitality or building work, is usually covered by that industry's own award.
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly | Annual | Casual/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning services employee level 1 | $27.08 | $1,028.90 | $53,647 | $33.85 |
| Cleaning services employee level 2 | $27.97 | $1,062.90 | $55,420 | $34.96 |
| Cleaning services employee level 3 | $29.45 | $1,119.10 | $58,350 | $36.81 |
How the pay scale works
Adult rates in the Cleaning Services Award run from $27.08 an hour (Cleaning services employee level 1) to $29.45 (Cleaning services employee level 3), a spread of $2.37 an hour or 8.8%, $90.20 a week full-time.
The award’s 3 classifications in this dataset share 3 distinct hourly rates.
A casual Cleaning services employee level 1 is paid $33.85 an hour, 25% above the full-time hourly rate, in place of paid leave.
What changed on 1 July 2026
For the entry classification, Cleaning services employee level 1:
The hourly rate rose $1.23 (4.8%) from $25.85 on 30 June 2026 to $27.08, and the full-time weekly rate rose $46.70.
Penalty rates
| Day | Cleaning | Median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 150% | 2 of 19 |
| Sunday | 200% | 187.5% | 1 of 20 |
| Public holiday | 250% | 250% | 1 of 22 |
The Sunday rate of 200% is higher than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 1st.
Every Cleaning Services Award penalty rate, by classification
Compared with related awards
| Award | Entry classification | Hourly | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Services Industry Award | Security Officer Level 1 | $28.42 | 200% |
The Cleaning Services Award entry rate is $1.34 an hour lower than the Security Services Industry Award entry rate of $28.42.
Allowances
The pay database lists 14 wage-related allowances and 3 expense-related allowances for this award. All-purpose allowances count towards penalty rates, overtime and leave.
| Allowance | Amount | Paid | All-purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broken shift allowance—per day | $4.71 | per day | no |
| Broken shift allowance—maximum per week | $23.56 | per week | no |
| Cold work allowance | $0.69 | per hour | no |
| Hot work allowance—46°C to 54°C | $0.69 | per hour | no |
| Hot work allowance—over 54°C | $0.83 | per hour | no |
| Height allowance—up to and including 22nd floor | $1.11 | per hour or part thereof | no |
| Height allowance—above 22nd floor | $2.27 | per hour or part thereof | no |
| First aid allowance | $16.87 | per week | no |
| Leading hand in charge of—1 to 10 employees | $61.73 | per week | no |
| Leading hand in charge of—11 to 20 employees | $79.43 | per week | no |
| Leading hand in charge of—more than 20 employees | $97.13 | per week | no |
| Refuse collection allowance | $4.69 | per shift | no |
| Toilet cleaning allowance—per shift | $3.69 | per shift | no |
| Toilet cleaning allowance—per week | $18.17 | per week | no |
| Meal allowance | $17.53 | per occasion | no |
| Vehicle allowance—Motor vehicle | $1.01 | per km | no |
| Vehicle allowance—Motorcycle | $0.34 | per km | no |
Look up a rate
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022), checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.