You stayed back late, worked a Saturday, or copped a public holiday shift — and now you’re staring at your payslip wondering if the extra hours got paid right. Overtime and penalty rates trip up plenty of apprentices. Here’s the plain-English version of how they work in 2026.
Short version: Overtime pays extra for hours beyond your ordinary hours; penalty rates pay extra for tough times like nights, weekends and public holidays. Both are set by your award, and the Fair Work PACT calculator gives you your exact figures.
Ordinary hours, overtime and penalties — the difference
Your award sets your ordinary hours — the standard hours you’re rostered to work, usually around full-time weekly hours spread across set days and times. Anything beyond or outside those ordinary hours is where extra pay kicks in.
- Overtime — extra hours worked beyond your ordinary hours, or outside the agreed span of hours. Paid at a higher rate than your normal rate.
- Penalty rates — a higher rate for working at less desirable times, like early mornings, nights, weekends and public holidays.
The same shift can attract both, and the exact multipliers depend on your award. As an apprentice, these are calculated off your apprenticeship-year rate — so as your base pay rises each year, so does your overtime and penalty pay.
How overtime works
Overtime usually applies when you work more than your ordinary daily or weekly hours, or outside the normal span of hours your award allows. Most awards pay overtime at a loading — commonly a rate-and-a-half for the first few hours and a higher rate after that. Some awards pay double time in certain situations.
A few things worth knowing as an apprentice:
- Time spent at TAFE or training is generally treated as time worked — you shouldn’t be worse off for going to your off-the-job training.
- You can’t usually be forced to work unreasonable overtime, though reasonable extra hours can be required.
- Overtime should show clearly on your payslip. If your late finishes just vanish into your normal pay, that’s worth questioning.
- There’s often a minimum break between finishing one shift and starting the next — if you’re called back too soon, overtime rates can keep applying until you get that break.
Overtime isn’t only about the money, either. Regularly working long hours affects your safety on site and your energy at TAFE, so a fair overtime system protects your wellbeing as much as your pay packet.
How penalty rates work
Penalty rates reward you for working times most people would rather not. Depending on your award, these can apply to:
- Saturdays and Sundays — often at a higher multiplier for Sunday than Saturday.
- Public holidays — usually the highest rate of all.
- Early starts, late finishes and night shifts — shift loadings for working outside daytime hours.
The exact percentages vary by award, which is why we don’t quote fixed numbers here — they change and they differ by trade. The reliable way to get yours is the calculator below.
Why this matters more than you’d think
On an apprentice wage, overtime and penalties can make a real difference to your take-home pay — and they’re the entitlements most likely to go missing. A late finish here, a Saturday there, a public holiday shift that got paid at your normal rate: on their own they seem small, but across a year they add up to serious money.
It’s also the area where “that’s just how we do it here” gets used to talk apprentices out of what they’re owed. Being new and not wanting to rock the boat is completely understandable — but your award rate isn’t a favour, it’s the law. Knowing roughly how overtime and penalties should work means you can spot when something’s off, even before you reach for the calculator.
One more thing worth knowing: your ordinary hours, overtime and penalties all flow from your correct apprenticeship-year classification. If your base rate is wrong, everything calculated off it is wrong too. So checking your base rate and your loadings go hand in hand.
How to check YOUR exact rates
Step 1: Find your award
Search the Fair Work Ombudsman site for the award that covers your trade. Your training contract or workplace agreement can confirm it.
Step 2: Use the PACT calculator
Go to calculate.fairwork.gov.au and enter your award, apprenticeship year, age and adult-apprentice status. PACT shows your base rate plus overtime and penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and shifts. This is the official, current source.
Step 3: Compare it to your payslip
Match the PACT figures against what you were actually paid for those hours. Note any gaps with dates. If something’s off, raise it — calmly and in writing.
What about time off instead of overtime pay?
Some awards and agreements allow “time off in lieu” — taking paid time off later instead of being paid overtime now. This has to be agreed properly and recorded. It’s your choice; you shouldn’t be pushed into swapping cash you’re owed for time off you didn’t want. Check your award for the rules.
If you do take time off in lieu, make sure it’s written down and that the amount of time off reflects the overtime rate — an hour of overtime worth rate-and-a-half generally shouldn’t be swapped for a single flat hour off unless your award allows it. And if you leave the job with lieu time still owing, it usually has to be paid out. Keep your own record of what’s banked so nothing goes missing.
FAQ
Do apprentices get overtime and penalty rates?
Yes. Apprentices are covered by awards that include overtime and penalty rates, calculated from your apprenticeship-year base rate.
Can my boss make me work overtime?
Employers can ask for reasonable additional hours, but you can refuse unreasonable overtime. What’s reasonable depends on things like notice, your role and your personal situation.
Is travel to a job site overtime?
Travel is usually handled through travel allowances rather than overtime, though some situations differ. Check your award, and see our allowances guide for the detail.
Do I get paid extra for public holidays?
Usually yes — public holidays typically attract the highest penalty rate. If you don’t work, you may still be entitled to pay for the day. Check PACT.
What if my overtime isn’t showing on my payslip?
All hours and rates should be itemised. If extra hours are missing, raise it with your employer and, if it isn’t fixed, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Where to confirm everything
- fairwork.gov.au — overtime, penalty rates and your award
- calculate.fairwork.gov.au — the PACT calculator for your exact rates
- fwc.gov.au — the Fair Work Commission, which sets and reviews awards
- apprenticeships.gov.au — apprenticeship pay and support
General information only — not financial, legal or industrial-relations advice. Check the official source and your state authority before acting.
Related guides
- Apprentice Wages Explained
- Apprentice Allowances Explained
- Payslips and Getting Paid Right
- Apprentice Rights on Site
- Underpaid? What to Do
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