What must be shown on a casual worker payslip in Australia?

A casual worker payslip in Australia must include: employer full legal name and ABN, employee full name, employment basis (casual), pay period start and end dates, payment date, ordinary hours worked, base hourly rate, casual loading amount (minimum 25%, shown separately), total gross pay, PAYG tax withheld, net pay, superannuation fund name and contribution amount, and any allowances or deductions itemised separately. Critically, the casual loading must appear as its own line item — you cannot simply show a 'casual rate' that combines the base rate and loading without itemising both.

What is the 25% casual loading in Australia?

The 25% casual loading is a pay supplement that compensates casual employees for not receiving entitlements that permanent employees receive — specifically paid annual leave, paid personal/carer's leave, paid compassionate leave, and the additional security of ongoing employment. It is set out in the National Employment Standards (NES) under the Fair Work Act 2009 and applies to all national system employees. The loading is calculated as 25% of the base ordinary time hourly rate (not the total rate), so a $25.00/hr base rate gives a casual loading of $6.25/hr and a total casual rate of $31.25/hr.

Do casual employees get superannuation in Australia?

Yes. Casual employees are entitled to superannuation at the same rate as permanent employees — 11.5% of ordinary time earnings for FY2025–26, rising to 12% from 1 July 2026. The super is calculated on the base ordinary time earnings (including casual loading). Super must be shown on every payslip, including the fund name and contribution amount. From 1 July 2026 under the Payday Super reforms, super must be paid with the same frequency as wages — this will affect casual payroll significantly as it removes the quarterly payment option.

Can a casual employee get a home loan in Australia?

Yes, casual employees can apply for a home loan in Australia, but the documentation requirements are more extensive. Most major banks (CBA, ANZ, NAB, Westpac) require a minimum of 12 months of continuous casual employment with the same employer, plus 3–6 months of recent payslips, bank statements showing regular salary credits, and an employer letter confirming typical hours and ongoing engagement. Lenders average casual income across submitted payslips — so consistent hours and pay amounts strengthen your application. See our guide to payslips for home loans in Australia for bank-specific requirements.

How is casual loading calculated for hospitality workers?

For hospitality workers under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (HIGA), the casual loading is 25% on top of the base ordinary time rate. However, hospitality casuals also attract shift penalties that apply on top of the casual rate: Saturday penalty is 25% (casual base × 1.25 × 1.25), Sunday penalty is 75% on base (casual base × 1.25 × 1.75), and public holiday rate is 250% of base (casual base × 1.25 × 2.50). The casual loading and the shift penalty are applied multiplicatively — not added together as flat percentages. Payslips must itemise each component separately.

What happens if my casual payslip is missing the casual loading breakdown?

If your payslip shows a single 'casual rate' figure without itemising the base rate and 25% loading separately, it is technically non-compliant under Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Regulation 3.46). This matters for two reasons: (1) it makes it impossible to verify whether the correct loading has been applied, and (2) lenders assessing home loan applications require the base rate and loading to be shown separately to assess income. If you believe your employer is paying less than the correct casual rate, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman via fairwork.gov.au for a free wage dispute investigation.

OfficeDraft — Free Pay Stub & Salary Slip Generator

What Is a Casual Worker Payslip in Australia?

A casual worker payslip in Australia is a mandatory pay document that every employer must issue to casual employees within one working day of payment, under Fair Work Act 2009 Section 536. Unlike permanent employee payslips, a casual payslip must specifically show the 25% casual loading as a separate, itemised line — not blended into a single "casual rate" figure.

Casual employees make up approximately 25% of Australia's workforce — particularly concentrated in hospitality, retail, healthcare, and construction. Despite the scale of casual employment, the Fair Work Ombudsman consistently finds that casual payslip compliance is one of the most frequently violated payroll obligations in Australia, primarily because employers fail to separately itemise the casual loading.

25%

Minimum casual loading

On base ordinary time rate

1 day

Maximum issue delay

After each payment

11.5%

Super rate FY25-26

Same as permanent staff

Key point: A payslip that shows only a "casual rate" of $30.48/hr without showing the underlying base rate of $24.38/hr and the $6.10/hr loading separately is non-compliant under Fair Work Regulations 2009 — even if the maths is correct.

Casual Employee Rights Under Fair Work

The Fair Work Act 2009 and National Employment Standards (NES) protect casual employees across several key areas. Understanding these rights is essential for both employees checking their payslips and employers ensuring compliance.

💰

25% casual loading

✓ Entitled

Minimum loading under the NES. Some awards or enterprise agreements provide higher rates. The loading compensates for lack of paid leave, job security, and other permanent entitlements.

🏛️

Superannuation at 11.5%

✓ Entitled

Casual employees receive superannuation at the same rate as permanent employees — 11.5% of ordinary time earnings for FY2025–26. Employers cannot withhold super from casuals.

🔄

Casual Conversion right

✓ Entitled

After 12 months of regular and systematic employment, casual employees have the right to request conversion to permanent employment under the NES. Employers must respond in writing within 21 days.

📄

Fair Work Information Statement

✓ Entitled

Every employer must give each new casual employee the Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS) before or as soon as practicable after engagement. This is in addition to the Fair Work Information Statement.

🏖️

Annual leave

✗ Not entitled

Casual employees do not accrue paid annual leave under the NES. The 25% loading compensates for this absence of entitlement.

🏥

Paid personal/carer's leave

✗ Not entitled

Casual employees do not accrue paid personal/carer's leave under the NES. The 25% loading compensates for this. Casuals are entitled to 2 days unpaid carer's leave per occasion.

2024 Casual Employment Changes: The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024 introduced a new definition of "regular casual employee" and updated conversion pathways. Employers who misclassify regular employees as casual face significant back-pay liability for leave entitlements not provided. Ensure employment contracts accurately reflect the employment arrangement.

What Must a Casual Employee Payslip Show?

Under Fair Work Regulations 2009 (Regulation 3.46), every casual worker payslip in Australia must contain the following fields. Fields marked mandatory apply to every casual payslip without exception.

REQ

1. Employer full legal name

As registered on ABN — not a trading name

REQ

2. Employer ABN

Must be active — verified at abr.business.gov.au

REQ

3. Employee full legal name

Exactly as on identification documents

REQ

4. Employment basis

Must state "Casual" — not "Contractor" or blank

REQ

5. Pay period (start date and end date)

Both dates required — just a payment date is insufficient

REQ

6. Payment date

Must match actual bank transfer date

REQ

7. Hours worked

Required for all casuals (always paid hourly)

REQ

8. Base hourly rate (before loading)

The underlying rate before 25% loading is applied

REQ

9. Casual loading amount (25% — separate line)

CANNOT be blended into a single "casual rate" — must be itemised

REQ

10. Gross pay

Total of base pay + casual loading + all allowances

REQ

11. PAYG tax withheld

Calculated per ATO tax tables for the pay frequency

REQ

12. Net pay

Must exactly equal the bank transfer amount

REQ

13. Superannuation fund name

Full registered fund name + contribution amount (11.5%)

OPT

14. Shift penalties itemised

Weekend, evening, public holiday penalty rates shown separately

OPT

15. Allowances (each itemised)

Meal allowance, travel allowance, uniform — each as separate line

OPT

16. YTD gross income

Not legally mandatory — but critical for home loan applications

The casual loading rule that trips up most employers: Many payslip systems default to showing a single "casual hourly rate" that already includes the loading. This is non-compliant. The payslip must show both the base rate (e.g. $24.38/hr) AND the loading as a separate dollar amount (e.g. $6.10 × 20 hrs = $122.00 casual loading). The total line is then gross pay.

Understanding the 25% Casual Loading in Australia

The 25% casual loading is a mandatory pay supplement under the National Employment Standards (NES). It is designed to compensate casual employees for the entitlements they forego compared to permanent staff — specifically paid annual leave (4 weeks), paid personal/carer's leave (10 days), paid compassionate leave, and the security of ongoing employment.

How the 25% casual loading is calculated

Step 1

Start with the base award rate

Hospitality Level 1: $24.38/hr

Step 2

Multiply by 25% to get loading amount

$24.38 × 0.25 = $6.10/hr loading

Step 3

Add loading to base for total casual rate

$24.38 + $6.10 = $30.48/hr casual rate

Step 4

Show BOTH on payslip as separate lines

Base: $24.38 × hrs | Loading: $6.10 × hrs

What the 25% loading compensates for

4 weeks paid annual leave~7.69% of annual wageEquivalent loading component

10 days personal/carer's leave~3.85%Equivalent loading component

Employment security / notice period~5–10%Compensates for lack of notice entitlement

Redundancy/severance rightsVariableCasuals not entitled to redundancy pay

Award vs NES loading: The 25% loading is the minimum under the NES. Some modern awards, enterprise agreements, or employment contracts specify higher loadings. Always check the applicable Modern Award for your industry — the Fair Work Ombudsman award finder will tell you the correct rate for your classification.

Casual Payslip Examples — Café, Restaurant & Retail

The following three examples show compliant casual employee payslips for different industries. Each example demonstrates how the 25% casual loading must be itemised separately — and how the payslip differs from what most payroll systems generate by default.

Café / Coffee Shop

Barista / Food & Beverage Attendant

Example Payslip

Blue Door Café Pty Ltd

ABN: 51 234 567 891

TAX INVOICE / PAYSLIP

19 May 2026

Employee

Zoe Tran

Employment Basis

Casual

Pay Period

12 May – 18 May 2026

Payment Date

19 May 2026

Earnings Breakdown

Ordinary hours: 18 hrs @ $24.38/hr (base)$438.84

Casual loading: 25% × 18 hrs × $24.38$109.71

GROSS PAY$548.55

Deductions

PAYG tax withheld−$37.72

NET PAY (deposited)$510.83

Superannuation

Australian Super — SGC 11.5% on OTE$63.08

Paid quarterly to fund. Required on payslip from 1 July 2026: paid each pay run.

Fair Work Compliance Note

Casual loading of $109.71 replaces annual leave, personal leave, and redundancy entitlements. Rate: 25% on base ordinary time earnings. — Fair Work Act 2009 NES

Casual Loading Calculator

Enter your base hourly rate, hours worked, and award type to calculate your correct casual pay — broken down into base pay, 25% loading, weekend/public holiday penalties, super, and estimated net pay.

Casual Loading Calculator

25% loading · Weekend penalties · Super · PAYG estimate

Award / Industry

Base hourly rate ($)

Casual rate: $30.47/hr

Weekday hours

Weekend hours

Rate: $53.33/hr

Public holiday hrs

Rate: $76.19/hr

Free tool

Generate a Compliant Casual Payslip in 60 Seconds

OfficeDraft's casual payslip generator automatically applies the 25% casual loading as a separate line item, calculates PAYG tax, super at 11.5%, and produces a lender-ready PDF with all 16 required fields. No setup, no subscription.

Generate Casual Payslip Free →Hospitality Payslip Generator →

✓ 25% loading auto-applied✓ Loading shown separately✓ Weekday/weekend/PH rates✓ Super at 11.5%✓ PAYG tax calculated✓ PDF ready for lenders

Casual vs Permanent Pay Comparator

This tool shows how casual loading compares to permanent employee entitlements — and when casual workers come out ahead (or behind) a permanent employee on the same base rate.

⚖️

Casual vs Permanent Pay Comparator

See how casual loading compares to permanent employee entitlements

Base hourly rate ($)

Hours per week

Casual vs Permanent Employee Payslip Differences

Here is a side-by-side comparison of what a casual employee payslip must show versus a permanent employee payslip — highlighting the unique fields required on casual payslips:

FieldCasual PayslipPermanent PayslipRequired

Employment basis shown✓ "Casual"✓ "Full-time" / "Part-time"REQ

Base hourly rate✓ Required (shown before loading)✓ Or annual salary ÷ frequencyREQ

25% casual loading✓ MANDATORY — separate line✗ Not applicableREQ

Hours worked✓ Always required⚠️ Required if paid hourly; optional for salaryREQ

Shift penalties itemised✓ Each penalty shown separately✓ Each penalty shown separatelyOPT

Annual leave accrual✗ No entitlement✓ Shown (10 days PA)OPT

Personal/carer's leave balance✗ No entitlement✓ Shown (10 days PA)OPT

Superannuation✓ 11.5% on OTE✓ 11.5% on OTEREQ

YTD income✓ Recommended (lenders require it)✓ Standard inclusionOPT

Common Casual Payroll Mistakes Employers Make

The Fair Work Ombudsman's casual employment audit outcomes reveal recurring payroll errors across hospitality, retail, and construction. Here are the most common mistakes — with their compliance and financial impact:

📊

Blending casual rate — not showing loading separately

Most common

Showing '$30.48/hr casual rate' on the payslip without breaking it into '$24.38/hr base + $6.10/hr casual loading' is non-compliant. Most off-the-shelf payroll systems default to this. It must be reconfigured.

✓ Fix

Add two separate earnings lines in your payroll system: (1) 'Ordinary hours [rate × hrs]' and (2) 'Casual loading 25% [$rate × hrs × 0.25]'. Both must appear on the payslip.

⚠ Risk

Fair Work breach per payslip

⏱️

Not paying 25% loading on overtime and penalty rates

Common

Many employers apply the 25% casual loading only to ordinary hours, then calculate overtime or weekend penalties without the loading component. Under most Modern Awards, the penalty applies to the base rate — but the casual loading must still be factored into the calculation base.

✓ Fix

Review your award to confirm the penalty base. For most HIGA and retail award workers, weekend/PH penalties multiply the base ordinary rate, and the casual loading is calculated on top of that base — not the penalised rate.

⚠ Risk

Back-pay liability for underpaid casual loading

🏛️

Superannuation calculated on wrong base

Common

Super must be calculated on 'Ordinary Time Earnings' (OTE). For casuals, the 25% loading is included in OTE — so super is 11.5% of (base pay + casual loading). Some employers incorrectly calculate super on base pay only, underpaying by about 2.9% of the casual loading amount.

✓ Fix

Configure your payroll system to calculate super at 11.5% of (ordinary hours × base rate × 1.25). The loading is part of OTE under ATO Superannuation Guarantee Ruling SGR 2009/2.

⚠ Risk

Super shortfall + ATO SG charge (interest + penalties)

📈

No YTD income shown (lender applications)

Moderate

YTD income is not legally mandatory under Fair Work Regulations — but it is critical for casual employees applying for home loans or rental properties. All major banks require YTD gross income on payslips for serviceability assessment.

✓ Fix

Enable YTD tracking in your payroll system. If using manual payslips, maintain a running YTD total and add it as a separate line: 'Year-to-date gross: $X,XXX.XX'.

⚠ Risk

Employees home loan application rejected or delayed

🔄

Wrong super fund name or outdated fund details

Moderate

Several major funds have merged or rebranded (e.g. First State Super became Aware Super; MTAA Super became Spirit Super). Payslips showing outdated fund names create confusion for the ATO's MySuper records and can cause contribution matching failures.

✓ Fix

Use the current registered fund name from the ATO's fund lookup tool. When employees change funds, update your payroll records immediately and confirm the stapled super fund via the ATO employer portal.

⚠ Risk

Super contribution matching failures; ATO queries

Hospitality & Retail Award Rates for Casual Employees (2025–26)

Award rates below are effective from 1 July 2025, following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 and General Retail Industry Award 2020 are the two most common casual employment awards in Australia.

Note: Rates are indicative based on published award data. Always confirm current rates via the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT).

Award / LevelBase/hrCasual/hrSaturdayPublic Holiday

Level 1 — Food & Beverage Attendant

Hospitality Industry (General)

$24.38$30.48$38.09$85.33

Level 2 — Cook Grade 1

Hospitality Industry (General)

$25.19$31.49$39.36$88.17

Grade 1 — Retail Employee

General Retail Industry

$24.38$30.48$33.52$79.24

Grade 3 — Senior Retail Employee

General Retail Industry

$25.70$32.13$35.34$83.53

Level 1 — Team Member

Fast Food Industry

$24.38$30.48$36.57$85.33

Level 2 — Personal Care Worker

Aged Care

$26.41$33.01$41.27$92.44

Saturday rate calculation (Hospitality): Casual hourly rate × Saturday penalty (125% on base) = $30.48 × 1.25 = $38.09/hr. Each component must appear separately on the payslip: base pay line, casual loading line, Saturday penalty line.

How to Generate a Compliant Casual Worker Payslip

Generating a compliant casual employee payslip requires either a properly configured payroll system or a purpose-built payslip generator. OfficeDraft's generator handles all the compliance complexity automatically:

📋

Enter employee and employer details

Full legal name, ABN (validated live), employment basis (casual), pay period dates and payment date.

⏰

Enter hours and base hourly rate

OfficeDraft automatically separates weekday, weekend, and public holiday hours and applies the correct penalty rates for your award.

💰

Loading applied automatically

The 25% casual loading is calculated and shown as a separate line item — exactly as Fair Work Regulations require. No manual calculation needed.

🧮

Tax, super, and net pay calculated

PAYG tax calculated per ATO tax tables. Super at 11.5% of OTE (including loading). Net pay shown and matched for bank deposit reference.

📄

Download a lender-ready PDF

Professional PDF format accepted by CBA, ANZ, NAB, and Westpac for home loan applications. YTD income tracking included.

📧

Issue to employee within 1 working day

Email directly or download for printing. Both formats comply with Fair Work Act electronic payslip requirements.

⏱️

Casual Employee Payslip GeneratorMost popular

25% loading auto-applied, all Fair Work fields

🍽️

Hospitality Payslip Generator

HIGA award rates, weekend/PH penalties

🕐

Part-Time Payslip Generator

Contracted hours, no casual loading

🏠

Payslip for Home Loan — Casual Rules

Bank-specific casual income requirements

📋

Full Payslip Requirements Guide

11-point compliance checklist + penalty calculator

🇦🇺

Australian Payslip Generator

All employment types — PAYG, ABN, casual

Frequently Asked Questions — Casual Worker Payslips Australia

About This Guide — Methodology & Sources

Authors: Written by Priya Nair (Senior Payroll Compliance Specialist, OfficeDraft) and reviewed by Marcus Webb (Fair Work Ombudsman-Accredited HR Consultant, 16 years casual employment and award compliance). Both authors have direct professional experience with casual payroll audits, Fair Work enforcement proceedings, and Modern Award interpretation.

Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman — Pay Slips; Fair Work Act 2009; Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020; General Retail Industry Award 2020; ATO SGR 2009/2 (Ordinary Time Earnings for super).

Update schedule: Reviewed quarterly. Award rates updated each 1 July following Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review. Last reviewed: 30 May 2026.

Disclaimer: General information only. Not legal or payroll advice. Award rates and entitlements vary by classification and agreement. Consult a payroll professional or employment lawyer for advice specific to your situation.

Casual Worker Payslip Australia: What Must Be Included in 2026?

What Is a Casual Worker Payslip in Australia?

Casual Employee Rights Under Fair Work

25% casual loading

Superannuation at 11.5%

Casual Conversion right

Fair Work Information Statement

Annual leave

Paid personal/carer's leave

What Must a Casual Employee Payslip Show?

Understanding the 25% Casual Loading in Australia

Casual Payslip Examples — Café, Restaurant & Retail

Casual Loading Calculator

Casual Loading Calculator

Generate a Compliant Casual Payslip in 60 Seconds

Casual vs Permanent Pay Comparator

Casual vs Permanent Pay Comparator

Casual vs Permanent Employee Payslip Differences

Common Casual Payroll Mistakes Employers Make

Blending casual rate — not showing loading separately

Not paying 25% loading on overtime and penalty rates

Superannuation calculated on wrong base

No YTD income shown (lender applications)

Wrong super fund name or outdated fund details

Hospitality & Retail Award Rates for Casual Employees (2025–26)

How to Generate a Compliant Casual Worker Payslip

Enter employee and employer details

Enter hours and base hourly rate

Loading applied automatically

Tax, super, and net pay calculated

Download a lender-ready PDF

Issue to employee within 1 working day

Frequently Asked Questions — Casual Worker Payslips Australia

About This Guide — Methodology & Sources