Quick answer: Working holiday makers have the same pay rights as Australians. You are entitled to at least the award minimum for your job, a casual loading if you are casual, penalty rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays, a payslip within one working day of being paid, and superannuation on top. Rates change every July, so check the Fair Work Ombudsman rather than a forum. If you are underpaid, Fair Work will help you for free, whatever your visa.
Australia has some of the strongest worker protections in the world, and they apply to you. The problem is not the law; it is that some employers assume backpackers do not know it. This guide fixes that.
Minimum wage and awards
There is a national minimum wage, reviewed every year by the Fair Work Commission and usually changing on 1 July. On top of that, most industries have an award, a legal document that sets the minimum pay and conditions for that type of work. The awards you are most likely to meet are the Hospitality, Restaurant, Retail, General Retail, Building and Construction, and Horticulture awards.
The award rate is almost always higher than the national minimum. Your employer must pay whichever applies to your classification. Find both figures using the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay Calculator; do not rely on what a manager tells you, or on this page, because the numbers move.
Casual loading
Most backpacker jobs are casual. Casual workers get no paid annual leave, sick leave or notice of termination, so the award adds a loading, a percentage on top of the base hourly rate. If your payslip shows the bare base rate with no loading and you are casual, you are probably being underpaid. The exact percentage is in your award.
Penalty rates and overtime
Awards pay extra for unsociable hours:
| Situation | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| Evenings and late nights | A higher rate after a set hour |
| Saturdays and Sundays | Weekend penalty rates |
| Public holidays | The highest penalty rate |
| Overtime | Extra after a set number of hours per day or week |
| Split shifts, short notice, uniforms, tools | Allowances in some awards |
Hospitality and retail weekend penalties are the ones that make the difference between a good week and a poor one. Ask which award you are under and read it.
Payslips and superannuation
Your employer must give you a payslip within one working day of paying you, on paper or electronically. It must show the employer’s name and ABN, your pay rate, hours, gross and net pay, tax withheld and superannuation contributions.
Superannuation is paid by the employer on top of your wages into a fund, at a percentage set by law. It is not a deduction from your pay. Check that the amount on the payslip actually lands in your fund; you can see this in ATO online services. Learn how to get that super back when you leave in tax back and superannuation refund.
Underpayment red flags
- Flat hourly rate for all hours, including Sundays and nights.
- No payslip, or a payslip with no ABN.
- “Trial” or “training” shifts that are unpaid. Short skills tests can be unpaid; a full unpaid shift is not.
- Rent, uniforms or “admin fees” deducted without your written agreement.
- Being told casuals “don’t get penalties”.
- Pay in cash with no tax withheld and no super.
- Being asked to get an ABN and invoice as a “contractor” for ordinary bar or labouring work (sham contracting).
- Piece rates on a farm with no hourly guarantee shown. See farm work.
What to do if you are underpaid
- Keep records. Photograph your roster, note start and finish times in your phone, keep every payslip and bank statement.
- Raise it calmly. Many underpayments are ignorance, not malice. Show the award rate.
- Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. It is free, it has interpreters, and it helps visa holders. It has publicly committed that it will not report you to the Department of Home Affairs for a visa breach related to work if you seek help about your workplace rights, under an arrangement between the two agencies. Check the current terms on the Fair Work website.
- Ask for back pay. Underpayment claims can be made after you have left the job, and even after you have left the country.
If something feels wrong, it probably is. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s website has an anonymous report tool, a pay calculator and a “record my hours” app.
Your other rights
You are entitled to a safe workplace, to refuse unsafe work, to breaks under your award, and to be free from discrimination and harassment. A first aid certificate and a White Card are part of the safety culture, not a substitute for an employer’s duty to keep you safe.
What to do next
- Find your award and current rates with the Fair Work Pay Calculator before your first shift.
- Start a simple log of hours and keep every payslip.
- Check your super is actually being paid through ATO online services.
- If numbers do not add up, talk to your employer, then to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
- Read how to find a job for the certificates that get you into better-paid roles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Australia?
There is a national minimum wage, reviewed every year, and most jobs are covered by an award that sets a higher minimum for that industry. Check the current figures on the Fair Work Ombudsman website; they change each July.
Do backpackers get the same pay as Australians?
Yes. Visa status does not change your entitlements. A working holiday maker must be paid at least the same award rate, loadings and penalties as an Australian doing the same job.
What is casual loading?
Casual employees do not get paid annual leave or sick leave, so they receive a percentage loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate. The percentage is set by the award; check the current figure with Fair Work.
Can I be paid in cash?
Cash is legal, but the employer must still give you a payslip, withhold tax, pay superannuation and pay at least the award rate. 'Cash in hand' that skips those steps is illegal and leaves you without protection or proof of work.
