Cleaning Services Award 2020 · Casual loading included · Commercial & domestic · 2026 rates
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Whether you run a commercial cleaning company, manage a team of domestic cleaners, or work casually for a cleaning business — a compliant cleaner payslip in Australia is a legal requirement under the Fair Work Act 2009. Every cleaning employee must receive a payslip within one business day of payday, showing their hours, pay rate, casual loading, superannuation, and tax withheld. Getting any of these fields wrong — or missing the casual loading that most cleaning workers are entitled to — can result in Fair Work penalties of up to $16,500 per contravention.
This guide covers everything a cleaning employer or worker needs to know about the Cleaning Services Award 2026 rates, what must appear on every cleaning payslip, how to calculate casual loading correctly, and how to generate a compliant payslip for free using OfficeDraft.
Cleaning payroll made easy
Generate a Cleaner Payslip in Minutes
OfficeDraft generates Cleaning Award compliant payslips with casual loading, overtime, superannuation, and ABN — every field Fair Work requires. Free preview. PDF from $4.99. No signup.
✓ Casual loading at 25%✓ Overtime separated✓ Super at 11.5%✓ Commercial & domestic rates
How a Cleaner Payslip Works in Australia
Most cleaning workers in Australia are covered by the Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022), which sets minimum pay rates by classification level (Level 1 general cleaner through Level 3 supervisor), casual loading entitlements, overtime rules, and penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work. Domestic cleaners working through a cleaning company are also covered by MA000022. Cleaners engaged directly by a private household as independent contractors may operate under a different arrangement.
Casual employment is the dominant arrangement in the cleaning industry. The majority of cleaning workers — particularly in commercial and office cleaning — are employed casually, meaning they attract a 25% casual loading on their base rate in lieu of paid leave entitlements. This loading must appear as a separate, named line item on every payslip.
25%
Casual loading
On top of base ordinary rate — shown separately
1 business day
Payslip deadline
After payday — Fair Work Act s536
11.5%
Super rate 2024–25
Rising to 12% from 1 July 2025
Super rate change from 1 July 2025: The SGC rate increases to 12%. Payslips for pay periods from July 2025 onwards must reflect the updated rate. OfficeDraft automatically applies the correct SGC rate based on the pay period dates you enter.
What Must Be Included on a Cleaner Payslip
Under the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (regulation 3.46), every employee payslip in Australia — including cleaning employee payslips — must contain the following information. Missing any required field is a compliance breach that can be detected during a Fair Work Ombudsman audit or workplace inspection.
FieldRequiredCleaning payroll note
Employee full nameRequiredMust match the name on the employee's Tax File Declaration. Discrepancies can cause issues during ATO identity matching and Fair Work audits.
Employer name and ABNRequiredFull legal business name as registered with the ATO. ABN is publicly verifiable at abr.business.gov.au. Missing ABN is the most common payslip compliance failure in the cleaning industry.
Pay period datesRequiredStart and end date of the pay period. Cleaning workers may be paid weekly or fortnightly. The exact dates allow cross-referencing against hours records.
Ordinary hours workedRequiredHours worked at the base rate. For full-time cleaners this is typically 38 hours per week under the Cleaning Services Award.
Casual loading (if applicable)RequiredThe 25% casual loading must be shown as a separate line on the payslip — not absorbed into the hourly rate. Must show the loading amount for the period.
Overtime hoursRequiredOvertime at 1.5× and 2× must be listed as separate line items. Cannot be blended with ordinary hours without a written annualised salary arrangement.
Gross payRequiredTotal before tax — includes ordinary pay, casual loading, overtime, and allowances that form part of OTE.
PAYG tax withheldRequiredAmount withheld under PAYG and remitted to the ATO. Based on ATO tax tables and the employee's TFN declaration and tax-free threshold status.
Net payRequiredTake-home amount after PAYG withholding and any authorised deductions.
SuperannuationRequiredEmployer SGC contribution — 11.5% of OTE in 2024–25, rising to 12% from 1 July 2025. Must show the amount contributed and the employee's nominated super fund name.
Allowances (if applicable)RequiredEach allowance must be listed separately — vehicle allowance, laundry/uniform allowance, or any other entitlement. A single lump sum labelled "allowances" is not compliant.
Fair Work audit focus: The cleaning industry is one of the most frequently audited sectors by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The two most common compliance failures are casual loading not shown separately and superannuation calculated on the wrong base (base rate only, instead of base rate plus casual loading). Both are detectable immediately from the payslip.
Cleaning Award 2026 Pay Rates — Cleaning Services Award (MA000022)
The following cleaner wages in Australia are based on the Cleaning Services Award 2020 minimum rates, updated following the Fair Work Commission's most recent Annual Wage Review. These are minimum rates — enterprise agreements on large commercial cleaning contracts or government facility contracts frequently pay above these levels.
ClassificationTypeHourly rateOT 1.5×/hrSuper/week
Level 1 — General Cleaner (Full Time)Most common classification. Routine cleaning of commercial premises.
Full time$26.67$40.01$116.55
Level 1 — General Cleaner (Casual)Most commonBase rate $26.67 + 25% casual loading = $33.34/hr. Super calculated on casually loaded rate.
Level 3 — Cleaning SupervisorSupervisors responsible for directing other cleaners, quality checks, and client liaison.
Full time$29.18$43.77$127.52
Domestic Cleaner (Housekeeping Award)Domestic cleaners engaged by a cleaning company fall under MA000022. Direct household employment may have different arrangements.
Full time / Casual$26.67+As per awardVaries
Disclaimer: These rates reflect Cleaning Services Award 2020 minimums following the most recent Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review. Always verify current rates at the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Calculator for your specific classification before processing payroll.
Casual Cleaner Payslip Example — 2026
The example below shows a compliant payslip for a casual cleaner under the Cleaning Services Award 2020, Level 1. This is the most common payslip format in the Australian casual cleaning industry. Note how casual loading and overtime appear as separate, named line items.
CleanCo Services Pty Ltd
ABN 51 234 567 890
Payslip
19 May 2026 – 25 May 2026
Employee
Jordan Smith
Classification
Level 1 Casual Cleaner
Ordinary hours (18 hrs × $26.67)
Base rate
$480.06
Casual loading (25% × $480.06)
Fair Work entitlement — must show separately
$120.02
Overtime 1.5× (2 hrs × $50.01)
Applied to casually loaded rate
$100.02
Gross pay
Before tax
$700.10
PAYG tax withheld
Estimated — based on no tax-free threshold
–$105.00
Net pay
Paid to employee
$595.10
Superannuation (11.5% of OTE)
Employer contribution — paid to super fund
$80.51
Superannuation is calculated on ordinary time earnings including casual loading ($600.08 × 11.5% = $69.01) plus overtime OTE component. Fund: Australian Super. This example is illustrative — actual PAYG tax depends on the employee's TFN declaration, tax-free threshold status, and any HELP debt.
Casual loading on super: Superannuation must be calculated on the casually loaded rate — not the base rate. A common payroll error is calculating 11.5% on $26.67 (base) instead of $33.34 (base + 25% loading). This results in systematic super underpayment that compounds over time and creates significant liability on Fair Work audit.
Self-Employed Cleaner vs Employee Cleaner: Key Differences
The cleaning industry has a high rate of misclassification — many workers treated as independent ABN contractors are legally employees under Australian law. The ATO and Fair Work Ombudsman both use a multi-factor test to determine the true nature of a working arrangement. Penalties for sham contracting reach $82,500 per contravention for corporations, making correct classification a high-stakes business decision.
CriteriaEmployee cleanerABN contractor
ABN requiredNo — employed under TFNYes — operates under ABN as sole trader or company
Payslip requiredYes — within 1 business day of payday under Fair Work ActNo — issues tax invoice for cleaning services
PAYG tax withholdingEmployer withholds and remits PAYG to ATO via BASSelf-manages tax — lodges quarterly PAYG instalments or annual return
SuperannuationEmployer pays 11.5% SGC on OTE — no opt outResponsible for own super — no employer obligation in genuine contracting (unless deemed employee under SGC rules)
Casual loadingEntitled to 25% casual loading under Cleaning Services AwardNo award entitlements — rate negotiated in contract
Leave entitlementsAnnual leave (4 weeks), personal/carer's leave, public holidaysNone — rate is expected to factor in absence of entitlements
Workers compensationEmployer must hold workers comp policyMust hold own personal accident and public liability insurance
EquipmentEmployer typically provides cleaning equipment and suppliesUsually provides own equipment — factor into rate
Misclassification riskN/AHigh in cleaning industry — labour hire and cleaning franchise models frequently scrutinised. Sham contracting penalties up to $82,500 per contravention.
Cleaning industry sham contracting: Labour hire and cleaning franchise models are regularly investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The most common pattern is cleaners issued with ABNs and treated as contractors but working exclusively for one business, using the business's equipment, under direct supervision. Under the recent High Court decisions in CFMMEU v Personnel Contracting and ZG Operations v Jamsek, these arrangements are likely to be deemed employment, not contracting.
Genuine ABN cleaning contractors need income records rather than payslips. OfficeDraft's Sole Trader Payslip Generator and Contractor Payslip Generator produce ABN income records for self-employed cleaners who need to demonstrate income for tax purposes, home loan applications, or rental applications.
Generate a Cleaner Payslip Online Using OfficeDraft
OfficeDraft's free casual employee payslip generator is designed for Australian cleaning businesses and workers. It includes all fields required by the Fair Work Act — including itemised casual loading, separated overtime tiers, and SGC superannuation calculated on the correct base.
01
Enter employer name, ABN, and contact details
Use your full legal business name as registered with the ATO. Include the employer phone number — Fair Work inspectors and super funds use this to verify employment. Missing ABN is the single most common rejection trigger when payslips are checked.
02
Select employment type: casual or full time
If the cleaner is casual, select casual — the tool will automatically apply the 25% loading to your base rate and display it as a separate line item. This is a non-negotiable Fair Work requirement for all casual cleaning employees.
03
Enter ordinary hours and overtime separately
Enter the hours worked at the ordinary rate first, then any overtime hours in the overtime fields. Overtime at 1.5× and 2× must show separately — combining them with ordinary hours is a payslip compliance breach under the Cleaning Services Award.
04
Confirm superannuation base and fund
For casual cleaners, ensure super is calculated on the casually loaded rate — not the base rate. Enter the employee's nominated super fund name. Both the contribution amount and fund name must appear on the payslip.
05
Add any allowances as separate line items
If the employee receives a laundry or uniform allowance, vehicle allowance, or any other entitlement, add these as individual named lines. Grouping allowances into a single unlabelled amount is not Fair Work compliant.
06
Preview free — download PDF from $4.99
Preview the complete payslip at no cost. Download the final PDF from $4.99 — no account required. Issue to the cleaning employee within one business day of their pay date to remain compliant with Fair Work Act obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions — Cleaner Payslip Australia
What award covers cleaners in Australia?
Most cleaners in Australia are covered by the Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022), published by the Fair Work Commission. This award covers employees engaged in commercial cleaning, office cleaning, industrial cleaning, and contract cleaning services. Domestic cleaners working directly for a household (rather than through a cleaning company) may fall under the Housekeeping Industry Award 2020 (MA000022) or be engaged as independent contractors under an ABN arrangement, depending on the nature of the engagement. School cleaners employed by a state government school may fall under a state government enterprise agreement rather than the national award. Always verify which award applies using the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool at fairwork.gov.au before processing payroll.
What is the casual loading rate for cleaners in Australia?
Under the Cleaning Services Award 2020, casual employees are entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of the base ordinary hourly rate. This loading compensates for the absence of paid leave entitlements (annual leave, personal/carer's leave, and public holiday entitlements) that permanent employees receive. The casual loading must be shown as a separate line item on the payslip — it cannot be absorbed into a flat hourly rate without a specific written casual conversion arrangement. For a Level 1 casual cleaner earning $26.67 base rate in 2026, the casual rate with loading is $33.34 per hour. The casual loading is included in ordinary time earnings (OTE), meaning superannuation must be calculated on the casually loaded rate.
Does a self-employed cleaner need to issue payslips?
A genuine self-employed cleaner operating under an ABN as a sole trader or contractor is not an employee and is therefore not entitled to receive payslips under the Fair Work Act. Instead of a payslip, they issue a tax invoice to their clients for cleaning services rendered. However, the distinction between an employee cleaner and an independent contractor is determined by the actual nature of the working arrangement — not simply whether an ABN is used. If a cleaning business engages a cleaner who works exclusively for them, follows set work instructions, uses the business's equipment, and cannot subcontract work, that arrangement may legally constitute employment regardless of the ABN. The ATO's employee vs contractor decision tool at ato.gov.au can help determine the correct classification. Self-employed cleaners should maintain income records that can be used for tax purposes, loan applications, and tenancy applications.
How is overtime calculated on a cleaner payslip in Australia?
Under the Cleaning Services Award 2020, overtime for a full-time cleaner is calculated as: the first two hours of overtime on any weekday at 1.5× the ordinary hourly rate, all subsequent overtime on a weekday at 2× the ordinary hourly rate, Saturday work at 1.5× for the first two hours and 2× thereafter, and Sunday work at 2× for all hours. Public holiday work is compensated at 2.5× the ordinary rate in addition to the public holiday entitlement. Casual cleaners are entitled to the same overtime multipliers applied on top of their casually loaded rate — not the base rate. Overtime must be shown as a separate line item on the payslip. Rolling overtime into a flat hourly rate is only permissible under a compliant annualised salary arrangement, which must be agreed in writing.
What superannuation rate applies to cleaning employees in 2026?
The Superannuation Guarantee rate for 2024–25 is 11.5% of ordinary time earnings (OTE). From 1 July 2025, the rate increases to 12% — this is legislated under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 and applies to all Australian employees including cleaners. For casual cleaners, OTE includes the casually loaded hourly rate. Superannuation is not required for employees earning less than $450 per month from a single employer, however this threshold was removed as of 1 July 2022 — all cleaning employees now attract SGC obligations regardless of earnings. The employer's superannuation contribution and the employee's nominated super fund must both appear on the payslip.
Cleaning Payroll Tools on OfficeDraft
Different cleaning work arrangements require different payslip formats. Use the correct generator for your situation.
Generate Your Cleaner Payslip Today — Free Preview
OfficeDraft's cleaner payslip generator for Australia is built for the cleaning industry — casual loading, overtime tiers, Cleaning Award classifications, and super all supported. Free to preview. PDF from $4.99. No signup required. Fair Work compliant in minutes.
Free preview · PDF from $4.99 · No signup · Fair Work compliant
Methodology: Pay rates on this page are based on the Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022), published by the Fair Work Commission, updated following the most recent Annual Wage Review. Payslip field requirements reflect the Fair Work Regulations 2009 (regulation 3.46), as documented by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Superannuation rates sourced from the Australian Taxation Office. Employer ABN verification via the ABN Lookup register. Contractor/employee classification guidance based on High Court decisions in CFMMEU v Personnel Contracting [2022] HCA 1 and ZG Operations v Jamsek [2022] HCA 2. Content reviewed by the OfficeDraft Payroll Research Team as of May 2026.
Disclaimer: This content is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or payroll advice. Pay rates are minimums only and may be superseded by enterprise agreements or subsequent Fair Work Commission determinations. Confirm current rates with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay Calculator before processing payroll.
Last updated: May 2026 · Reviewed by: OfficeDraft Payroll Research Team