What is the minimum wage for a site manager in Australia?

There is no single minimum wage for all site managers. If covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award, the minimum depends on the classification level. For example, Level 6 (a common level for site managers) pays at least $32.14 per hour or $1,221.30 per week from 1 July 2026. If the award does not apply, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) is the floor. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate.

Does a site manager get paid overtime?

Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award, daily hire employees receive overtime rates for work outside ordinary hours. Monday to Friday, the first 2 overtime hours are paid at time-and-a-half, and after 2 hours at double time. Saturday rates vary depending on the time of day. These penalty rates apply on top of the minimum hourly rate. Casual employees also receive a 25% loading for ordinary hours instead of paid leave.

How does superannuation affect a site manager's total pay?

Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a site manager earning the Level 6 award rate of $1,221.30 per week, the employer must add at least $146.56 per week in super. This is not deducted from the employee's pay; it is an additional payment into a super fund.

Site manager salary: award minimums and legal pay floors in Australia

The legal minimum for a site manager covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award ranges from $28.05 to $34.46 per hour depending on classification level, with the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour as a backstop.

What is a site manager salary?

A site manager salary in Australia is not a single figure. It depends on the industry award that covers the workplace, any enterprise agreement, or an individual contract. Most site managers in commercial and residential construction are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020). This award sets minimum rates for a range of classifications, from labourer to supervisor. A site manager typically falls into a higher classification, such as Level 6, Level 7, or above, depending on the complexity of the work and the level of responsibility.

Legal minimums: the national minimum wage and award rates

Every national system employee in Australia is entitled to at least the national minimum wage. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, that rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. However, modern awards almost always set higher minimums than the national minimum. The award rate is the legal minimum for that classification.

For the Building and Construction General On-site Award, the Fair Work Commission publishes minimum weekly and hourly rates for each level. The award also includes industry allowance, tool allowance, and other loadings that become part of the ordinary hourly rate for daily hire employees. The rates from 1 July 2026 are available in the Modern Awards Pay Database and the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide.

Award rates for site managers

Under the award, classification levels range from Level 1 (entry-level labourer) to Level 9 (highly skilled trades or supervisory). A site manager is often classified at Level 6 or Level 7. The minimum rates for these levels from 1 July 2026 are:

Level 6: $32.14 per hour, $1,221.30 per week
Level 7: $33.06 per hour, $1,256.30 per week
Level 8: $33.86 per hour, $1,286.70 per week
Level 9: $34.46 per hour, $1,309.50 per week

These rates already include the industry allowance and, where applicable, the tool allowance. The full classification definitions are in Schedule A of the award, available from . A site manager whose duties match a higher level must be paid at least that level's rate.

How super fits in

Superannuation is an employer contribution on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a site manager on the Level 6 award rate of $1,221.30 per week, the employer must add at least $146.56 per week into a super fund. This is not deducted from the employee's pay; it is an additional payment. The total remuneration package therefore includes the salary plus super.

Negotiated salaries vs minimums

The award rate is a floor, not a ceiling. Many site managers earn more than the minimum through enterprise agreements or individual contracts. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that full-time adult average weekly ordinary-time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026, but that figure covers all occupations. A site manager with experience and qualifications may negotiate a salary well above the award minimum. However, if no agreement or award applies, the national minimum wage is the backstop.

Casual loading and penalties

Casual site managers receive a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate in lieu of paid leave. For a Level 6 casual, that loading brings the minimum to $40.18 per hour. Overtime and penalty rates also apply under the award. For daily hire employees, Monday to Friday overtime is paid at time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours and double time thereafter. Saturday rates vary depending on the time of day. These penalties are calculated on the ordinary hourly rate, not the casual rate.

How the figures work

All rates in this guide are minimums. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage and modern award rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces them. For more detail on how minimum wages are calculated and which one applies to you, see our How the figures work page. You can also browse Rate tables for other awards and classifications.

Important notes

The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week. Casual employees get $33.05 per hour.
Award-free juniors have percentage-based minimums (e.g., under 16: $9.73 per hour).
Apprentices and trainees have separate rates under the Miscellaneous Award or their training contract.
State public sector employees in some states may be covered by state awards, not the national system.
This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice.