Pay rates · MA000025 · FY2025–26

Electrical Apprentice Pay Rates Australia 2025–26

Electrical apprentices in Australia are covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 (MA000025). These are the legally enforceable minimum rates — your employer cannot pay you below these figures. The rates below are effective 1 July 2025.

Year	Junior ($/hr)	Adult ($/hr)	Note
Year 1	$14.43	$24.10	NMW floor applies to adult
Year 2	$17.14	$24.10	NMW floor applies to adult
Year 3	$20.56	$24.10	NMW floor applies to adult
Year 4	$24.10	$24.10

The gap most apprentices don't know about

A Year 1 junior electrical apprentice earns $14.43/hr. A Year 1 adult apprentice (21+) doing exactly the same work on the same site earns $24.10/hr — a difference of $9.67 per hour, or roughly $18,000 per year. Both rates are set by law. Neither is optional.

Junior vs adult rates — what determines yours

Your rate depends on two things: your year of apprenticeship and whether you were 21 or over when you commenced your apprenticeship.

Junior rates apply if you had not completed Year 12 or were under 21 at commencement. The rate increases each year of your apprenticeship.

Adult rates apply if you were 21+ when you started. Adult apprentices are protected by the National Minimum Wage (NMW) floor of $24.10/hr for FY2025–26. This means even in Year 1, an adult electrical apprentice cannot earn below $24.10/hr.

Allowances on top of your base rate

MA000025 includes several allowances that may apply to your work. These are paid in addition to your hourly rate:

Industry allowance — for working in the electrical contracting industry
Tool allowance — contribution towards the cost of your hand tools
Fares and travel allowance — if you travel to different sites
Overtime and penalty rates — for work outside standard hours, weekends, and public holidays
Leading hand allowance — if you're supervising other workers

When your rate should increase

Your award rate increases at the start of each new year of your apprenticeship — not on your birthday or at the start of a calendar year. It's tied to your training contract anniversary. Many apprentices miss a pay rise because their employer doesn't update it automatically. If you've moved into a new year of training, your rate should change.

The Fair Work Commission also reviews award rates annually. The FY2025–26 rates above became effective on 1 July 2025. Check Apprentice Register or the Fair Work website each July for updated figures.

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