Payslip Template for Tradies
Make payslips for carpenters, bricklayers, labourers, electricians, plumbers and apprentices, with overtime, allowances and rostered days off shown the way Fair Work requires.
PayStub Guru is NOT a bank, employer, government agency, or financial institution. We provide payslip generation tools for legitimate record-keeping purposes only. Generated documents are not official employer records and must not be used for fraudulent purposes. Read Legal FAQ
Trades payslips under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020
Enter the ordinary hours and the hourly rate, then add overtime and allowance lines. PAYG withholding, the Medicare levy and year-to-date totals are worked out, and super leaves out overtime, which the Super Guarantee doesn't apply to.
For builders, contractors and trade businesses with employees, in every state and territory.
Payslip Information
Tax rates last updated 26 October 2026. Sources: ATO.
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Award pay rates for 2026–27
| Classification | Typical roles | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| CW/ECW 1 (levels a to d) | Entry-level construction worker, rising with experience | $1,013.50 to $1,066.00 | $26.67 to $28.05 |
| CW/ECW 3 | Tradesperson (carpenter, bricklayer, plasterer, painter, tiler) | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| CW/ECW 4 | Advanced or specialist tradesperson | $1,154.40 | $30.38 |
Rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, before allowances. On top of these the award pays an industry allowance and, for tradespeople who supply tools, a tool allowance. Both are paid "for all purposes", so they become part of the ordinary hourly rate and overtime is worked out on the total. Check the Fair Work pay guide for the current allowance amounts.
Penalty rates and overtime
| When the work is done | Full-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime, Monday to Friday | 150% for the first 2 hours, then 200% | 175%, then 225% |
| Saturday | 150% for the first 2 hours, then 200% | 175%, then 225% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Percentages of the ordinary hourly rate, which includes the all-purpose allowances. Casual rates include the 25% casual loading (clauses 12.5 and 12.6).
What goes on a trades payslip
Every Australian payslip needs the items Fair Work lists, from the employer's ABN to the super fund (see the payslip template for the full list). Loadings, penalty rates and allowances must each be shown separately, so in this industry that means:
- Ordinary hours and RDO accrual: Ordinary hours are 38 a week, worked as 8-hour days, of which 7.6 hours are paid and 0.4 hours build up towards a rostered day off (clause 16). Show RDOs taken as paid ordinary hours.
- All-purpose allowances: The industry allowance and tool allowance, each on its own line, or built into the hourly rate with the payslip saying so.
- Overtime: Each band on its own line with the hours and the rate, such as "Overtime (150%): 2 × $67.50". Name it "Overtime" and the generator leaves it out of super.
- Other allowances: Fares and travel, meal allowance with overtime, multistorey work, first aid and leading hand, each on its own line.
- Apprentices: Apprentice rates are a percentage of the tradesperson rate, set by the year of the apprenticeship. Enter the apprentice's hourly rate the same way.
Sample trades payslip
Full-time carpenter on an agreed $45.00 an hour, paid fortnightly: 76 ordinary hours and 4 hours of weekday overtime (2 at 150%, 2 at 200%). Pay date 30 October 2026.
| Ordinary hours: 76 × $45.00 | $3,420.00 |
| Overtime (150%): 2 × $67.50 | $135.00 |
| Overtime (200%): 2 × $90.00 | $180.00 |
| Gross pay | $3,735.00 |
| PAYG withholding | −$755.88 |
| Medicare levy | −$74.70 |
| Net pay | $2,904.42 |
| Super paid by the employer (12% of $3,420.00) | $410.40 |
Super is 12% of the $3,420.00 for ordinary hours, not of the overtime: the ATO doesn't count overtime as ordinary time earnings. PAYG is worked out on the whole fortnight's pay, as payroll does when overtime is regular. Worked out by this generator on the 2026–27 tax rates, with the tax-free threshold claimed and no study loan; the ATO's withholding tables round differently, so payroll software can differ by a few dollars.
Paying trades staff: the rules
- Payslips go out within one working day of pay day, and records are kept for 7 years.
- Subcontractors who invoice with their own ABN aren't employees and don't get payslips. If you employ the worker, they do, even on a short job.
- A rate above the award (common in the trades) is fine as long as it covers everything the award would pay, including allowances and penalty rates.
Which award applies?
Most building trades on site are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award. Electricians usually fall under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025) and plumbers under the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020 (MA000036), each with its own rates and allowances. The payslip rules, and the way overtime and super work, are the same under all of them.
What the generator doesn't do
- The generator doesn't know the award, so it doesn't check rates or work out overtime bands for you. Enter each band as its own earnings line with the hours and the rate.
- Super leaves out lines with "overtime" in their name and is 12% of everything else, which suits award allowances. An allowance that only reimburses an expense may not attract super; check the ATO's list of ordinary time earnings.
- Leave and RDO balances aren't shown (they are optional), and it doesn't lodge Single Touch Payroll reports or pay super.
Trades payslip FAQ
What is the award rate for a carpenter in 2026?
A tradesperson (CW/ECW 3) under the Building and Construction General On-site Award gets at least $29.45 an hour ($1,119.10 a week) from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, plus the industry and tool allowances, which are paid for all purposes.
Is super paid on overtime?
No. The Super Guarantee applies to ordinary time earnings, and the ATO doesn't count overtime as ordinary time earnings. The generator leaves out any earnings line with "overtime" in its name, so a tradie on 76 hours at $45.00 plus 4 hours of overtime gets 12% of $3,420.00 in super.
How do I show an RDO on a payslip?
A rostered day off taken is paid as ordinary hours (7.6 hours on a standard day), so it goes in the ordinary hours like any other day. Showing the RDO balance is optional.
I'm a subcontractor with an ABN. Do I need payslips?
No. Contractors send invoices; payslips are for employees. If you employ an apprentice or a labourer, you give them a payslip within one working day of each pay day.
Do apprentices get payslips too?
Yes. Apprentices are employees and get a payslip like anyone else. Their hourly rate is a percentage of the tradesperson rate, set by the award for each year of the apprenticeship.
Important Legal Information
Please read these carefully before using our service. Misuse of generated documents is illegal and has serious consequences.
We Are NOT a Bank, Employer, or Government Agency
PayStub Guru is an independent software service. We are not affiliated with any: banks, employers, government agencies, tax authorities (IRS, HMRC, CRA, ATO, LHDN), financial institutions, or payroll companies. We do not verify employment or income. We provide software tools only.
Yes, it is completely legal to use a pay stub generator for legitimate purposes such as record-keeping, bookkeeping, or understanding payroll calculations. However, using generated pay stubs for fraudulent purposes (like misrepresenting income for loans or apartments) is illegal and constitutes fraud.
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