What is the minimum wage for a concreter under the award?

Concreters are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020. Minimum hourly rates from 1 July 2026 range from $26.67 (Level 1a) to $34.46 (Level 9). The exact classification depends on the work performed and the employee's skill level. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate.

How does the concreter salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). Most award-covered concreters earn above this, with the lowest award classification at $26.67. The ABS median full-time concreter earns $2,209 per week ($47 per hour), well above the national minimum.

Does the concreter salary include superannuation?

No. Superannuation is paid by the employer on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a concreter earning the award minimum of $1,066 per week (Level 1d), the employer must add $127.92 in super. The ABS median weekly earnings of $2,209 would attract $265.08 in super.

Concreter Salary Guide: Award Minimums, Median Earnings, and What You Take Home

The minimum concreter salary under the Building and Construction General On-site Award ranges from $26.67 to $34.46 per hour depending on classification, while the ABS reports a median full-time hourly rate of $47.

Understanding the concreter salary: award minimums, market rates, and your take-home pay

If you are looking for a concreter salary—whether you are an employee, employer, or job seeker—it helps to separate the legal minimum from what people actually earn. This guide uses the latest public figures from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to show you the floor, the median, and what ends up in your pocket after tax and super.

The legal minimum for concreters under the Building Award

Concreters are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). The Fair Work Commission sets the award rates, and the Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rates for classification levels are:

Level 1 (CW/ECW 1 level a): $26.67
Level 1 (level d): $28.05
Level 2: $28.62
Level 3: $29.45
Level 4: $30.38
Level 5: $31.31
Level 6: $32.14
Level 7: $33.06
Level 8: $33.86
Level 9: $34.46

A typical concreter is often classified at Level 4 or 5, meaning a minimum of $30.38 or $31.31 per hour. These are the bare legal minimums. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate, but never lower. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the ordinary hourly rate.

How the concreter salary compares with the national minimum

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). Because the award rates start at $26.67, even the lowest concreter classification sits above the national minimum. However, junior employees, apprentices, and trainees may be paid less under the award’s specific provisions.

What the ABS says about actual concreter earnings

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) provides a snapshot of what concreters actually earn. For full-time non-managerial adult employees:

Median weekly earnings: $2,209
Median hourly earnings: $47
Average full-time hours: 45 hours per week

These figures are survey averages, not legal minimums. They reflect the market rate for experienced concreters, often including overtime and allowances. The median is well above the award minimum, which is common in construction trades where skill shortages push up pay.

Breaking down the weekly packet: tax, Medicare, and super

Let’s take the ABS median weekly earnings of $2,209. Assuming no salary sacrifice or HELP debt, and using the 2026-27 tax rates with the full tax-free threshold:

Gross annual: $2,209 × 52 = $114,868
Estimated tax (resident rates): about $27,100
Medicare levy (2% on income over $30,000): about $2,297
Net annual: approximately $85,471
Net weekly: about $1,644

Superannuation is paid by the employer on top. At the 12% super guarantee rate (from 1 July 2026), that adds $265 per week or $13,780 per year into your super account. So the total employment cost for a concreter earning the median is about $2,474 per week.

For a concreter on the award minimum (say Level 4 at $30.38 per hour, 38 hours = $1,154.40 per week):

Gross annual: $60,029
Estimated tax: about $9,600
Medicare: $1,201
Net annual: approximately $49,228
Net weekly: about $947
Super on top: $138.53 per week ($7,203 per year)

Award rates vs. negotiated salaries

The award minimum is a safety net. Many concreters negotiate above-award rates, especially if they have specialised skills (e.g., decorative concrete, formwork) or work on large commercial projects. Enterprise agreements often set higher flat rates or include productivity bonuses. Always check your classification and any applicable agreement.

Where to find more information

Which minimum wage applies – determine if you are award-covered or award-free.
Rate tables – see current award and national minimum rates.
Guides – detailed explanations of penalty rates, allowances, and super.

Key takeaways

The legal minimum concreter salary under the Building Award ranges from $26.67 to $34.46 per hour (from 1 July 2026).
The ABS median full-time concreter earns $47 per hour ($2,209 per week).
Superannuation (12%) is paid on top of the salary.
Tax and Medicare reduce the gross amount; use the ATO’s tax tables for precise calculations.
Always verify your award classification and any enterprise agreement that may apply.