Scaffolding doesn’t work like a typical four-year trade apprenticeship — most people start as a general construction employee and build up through licences. So the pay question looks a bit different. Here’s the plain-English version for 2026.
Which award covers you?
Most scaffolders are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (award code MA000020), which sets minimum pay and conditions across on-site construction roles, including scaffolders. A Modern Award is the legal floor on your wage regardless of employer; a registered enterprise agreement (EBA) would take precedence if your employer has one.
How pay is tied to your tickets, not apprentice years
Rather than climbing a set apprentice percentage scale over four years, most scaffolders start as a labourer or rigger’s offsider and increase their pay by adding High Risk Work Licence classes — Basic, then Intermediate, then Advanced Scaffolding. The award even includes a specific Scaffold or Rigging Certificate Allowance that applies once you hold the relevant ticket, on top of your base classification rate. In practice, this means your pay jumps each time you complete the next level of ticket, rather than on a fixed annual schedule.
What else you get paid
- Scaffold or Rigging Certificate Allowance once you hold the relevant High Risk Work Licence
- Height and site allowances depending on the job and conditions
- Penalty rates for overtime, weekends and public holidays — common on construction sites
- Superannuation on top of your wage
Where an electrical-style apprenticeship does apply
Some employers, particularly larger scaffolding and access companies, do run formal traineeships that combine paid work with structured training toward your tickets. If you’re in one of these, you may also see a stepped pay scale similar to a standard apprenticeship — confirm which arrangement applies to you before you start.
How to check your correct rate
Don’t rely on a mate’s guess or a random figure (including this one). Use the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Calculator at fairwork.gov.au — enter your award and classification and it returns the current legal minimum, including the certificate allowance where it applies. If your pay doesn’t add up, Fair Work has a free helpline and can look into underpayment.
The bottom line
Scaffolder pay is less about “year one, year two” and more about which tickets you hold. Each level — Basic, Intermediate, Advanced — unlocks higher pay through the award’s certificate allowance, so your income can grow faster than a traditional apprenticeship if you push through your tickets. Know your classification and check it against the award so you’re paid correctly at every stage.
General information only — not financial or legal advice. Check the Fair Work Ombudsman and your award for exact rates.
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