The Young Australian's Guide to Employment & Pay

Your pay slip is a legal document your employer is required to provide within one working day of each pay. It's also one of the most misunderstood documents young workers receive — most people glance at the net amount and move on without checking whether they've actually been paid correctly.

Every pay slip must include your employer's name and ABN, your name, the pay period, your gross pay, all deductions, your net pay, and your super contributions. Understanding what each line means is the starting point for knowing if you're being paid correctly.

• Gross pay — your total earnings before anything is deducted. This includes your base rate, plus any penalty rates, overtime, allowances or bonuses for the period.
• PAYG withholding — the income tax your employer deducts and sends to the ATO on your behalf. The amount depends on your income, your tax file number declaration, and whether you claimed the tax-free threshold.
• Superannuation — your employer's 11.5% contribution (2024–25) is not deducted from your gross pay; it's paid on top of it. It should appear on your pay slip but won't reduce your net pay. Check your super fund account periodically to confirm contributions are actually landing — unpaid super is one of the most common forms of wage theft.
• Net pay — what hits your bank account after PAYG withholding and any salary sacrifice or other deductions are taken out.

Australia's workplace system has two layers of minimum pay: the National Minimum Wage (the floor for workers not covered by an award or enterprise agreement) and Modern Awards (industry or occupation-specific instruments that set higher minimum rates, penalty rates, and conditions for most workers).

Most workers in Australia are covered by a Modern Award — there are over 120 of them, covering everything from retail and hospitality to construction and aged care. Your award determines your minimum hourly rate, your overtime rates, your penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, and allowances for things like uniforms or tools.

To find your award: go to the Fair Work Commission website (fwc.gov.au) and use the Pay and Conditions Tool, or search the Award Finder. Enter your industry and job type. The result tells you your award, your classification level, and your minimum rate. Many employers default to underpaying casual or part-time workers by not applying the correct award rate — especially in hospitality, retail and cleaning.

• Penalty rates are additional payments for working at unsociable times. Under most awards: Saturday rates are 125–150% of ordinary pay, Sunday rates are 150–200%, and public holiday rates are 225–250%. Check your specific award.
• Overtime typically kicks in after 38 ordinary hours per week (or after a set daily threshold in some awards) and is paid at 150% for the first few hours, then 200%.
• If you think you're being underpaid, compare your pay slip against the Pay and Conditions Tool at fairwork.gov.au. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigates underpayment complaints and can recover unpaid wages on your behalf.