What award covers a recruitment consultant?

Coverage depends on the employer. If the employer is in the labour market assistance industry (government-funded job placement), the Labour Market Assistance Award may apply. Otherwise, the Clerks Award or Miscellaneous Award might cover the role if the duties are clerical or non-professional. Many recruitment consultants working for a private agency are award-free and rely on the national minimum wage.

Does the national minimum wage apply to all recruitment consultants?

Only if the consultant is award-free and not covered by an enterprise agreement. A modern award or enterprise agreement can set a higher rate. Junior, apprentice, or trainee rates may be lower than the adult minimum.

Is superannuation included in the quoted hourly rate?

No. The super guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings. For example, a rate of $26.44 per hour means the employer must also contribute $3.17 per hour to super.

Recruitment Consultant Salary: Legal Minimums and Award Coverage in Australia

The legal minimum for an award-free adult recruitment consultant is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, plus 12% superannuation.

Recruitment Consultant Salary: What the Law Requires

When researching a recruitment consultant salary, the first thing to know is the legal pay floor. For award-free adult employees, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on a 38‑hour ordinary week). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour.

These figures come from the Fair Work Commission, which sets the national minimum wage each year. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces the rules. Importantly, the employer must also pay the superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. So the total employment cost for an award‑free adult consultant is at least $29.61 per hour (including super).

Award Coverage for Recruitment Consultants

Not all recruitment consultants are award‑free. The Fair Work Ombudsman outlines several scenarios:

Labour Market Assistance Award – applies if the employer is contracted by the government to provide job‑placement services in the welfare sector.
Clerks Award – may cover consultants whose primary duties are clerical or administrative.
Miscellaneous Award – can cover consultants who are not clerical employees and not professional employees (a professional role usually requires a degree, such as a bachelor’s in human resources).
Award‑free – many consultants working for private recruitment agencies have no award coverage. They are entitled only to the national minimum wage and the National Employment Standards.

If a modern award applies, the minimum rate for the relevant classification will be higher than the national minimum. For example, the Labour Market Assistance Award has its own pay levels. Always check the specific award or enterprise agreement.

No Published Median Salary

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) provides occupation profiles, but for 6‑digit ANZSCO occupations like Recruitment Consultant (223112), median weekly earnings are not published due to statistical reliability. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours also does not produce figures for this detailed occupation. Therefore, any claim of an “average recruitment consultant salary” you see elsewhere is not backed by official Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The only reliable benchmarks are the legal minimums.

How the Weekly Pay Packet Looks

For an award‑free adult consultant working 38 hours at $26.44 per hour:

Gross weekly pay: $1,004.90
Super (12% on top): $120.59
Estimated tax (2026‑27 rates, using full tax‑free threshold, no HELP or LITO): approximately $160 per week (including 2% Medicare levy once earnings exceed $30,000).
Net take‑home pay: roughly $845 per week.

These are rough estimates. Actual tax depends on individual circumstances. For more detail, see our How the figures work guide.

Junior and Introductory Rates

If you are under 21 and award‑free, the national minimum wage is reduced by a percentage based on age. For example, a 17‑year‑old receives 57.8% of the adult rate: $15.29 per hour ($19.11 casual). Apprentices and trainees follow the Miscellaneous Award rates, not the junior percentages.

Modern awards may also have an introductory rate for the first six months of employment. From 1 July 2026, the introductory rate cannot fall below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

What About Enterprise Agreements?

Some recruitment agencies have enterprise agreements that set higher pay rates or different conditions. An agreement must pass the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) to ensure employees are not worse off than the relevant award or the national minimum. Always check your employment contract and any applicable agreement.

For more information, visit our Which minimum wage applies page or browse the Rate tables for current award rates.

Key Takeaways

The legal minimum for an award‑free adult recruitment consultant is $26.44 per hour (plus 12% super).
Award coverage varies; many consultants are award‑free.
No official median salary exists for the 6‑digit occupation.
Always confirm your classification and any applicable award or agreement.

This guide is for orientation only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.