Australian Shift Calculator
Calculate your weekly earnings for night shifts, weekend work, and evening hours. Enter your shifts and see your total pay with all applicable loadings.
Your Details
Your Shifts
Tip: Add all your shifts for the week to see your total earnings. Include overnight shifts by setting the end time before the start time.
Total Hours
8.0
hours/week
Weekly Earnings
$200.00
before tax
Effective Rate
$25.00
per hour avg
Annual Estimate
$10,400
× 52 weeks
Daily Hours & Earnings
Earnings Breakdown
Earnings Breakdown
| Category | Loading | Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate Hours | 100% | $200.00 | 100.0% |
| Total Weekly Earnings | $200.00 | 100% |
Income Projections (Before Tax)
Weekly
$200.00
Fortnightly
$400.00
Monthly (avg)
$866.00
Annual (52 weeks)
$10,400
Note: These are gross earnings before tax. Your actual take-home pay will be less after PAYG withholding. Use our Income Tax Calculator to estimate your after-tax income.
Retail Award Loadings Reference
Early Morning
Before 6:00am
125%
Evening
6:00pm - 10:00pm
125%
Night Shift
After 10:00pm
125%
Saturday
All day
125%
Sunday
Full/Part-time
200%
Public Holiday
All hours
250%
Understanding Shift Loadings in Australia
Shift loadings are additional payments made to workers who work outside standard business hours. These loadings compensate for the inconvenience and health impacts of working at unsociable times, including early mornings, evenings, and overnight shifts.
Types of Shift Loadings
Early Morning Shifts
Work starting before 6:00am typically attracts loadings of 110-130% depending on your award. These shifts are common in bakeries, logistics, and healthcare.
Evening Shifts
Work between 6:00pm and 10:00pm on weekdays usually receives 110-125% loading. Common in retail, hospitality, and call centres.
Night Shifts
Work after 10:00pm or overnight shifts attract the highest loadings, typically 115-130%. Essential for security, healthcare, manufacturing, and transport workers.
Rotating Shifts
Workers on rotating rosters may receive additional loadings for disruption to sleep patterns. Some awards provide extra allowances for shift work overall.
Shift Loadings by Industry
| Award | Early Morning | Evening | Night Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Award | 125% | 125% | 125% |
| Hospitality Award | 115% | 115% | 125% |
| Healthcare Award | 121% | 115% | 121% |
| Fast Food Award | 110% | 110% | 115% |
| Warehouse Award | 130% | 115% | 130% |
| Security Award | 115% | 115% | 125% |
How Shift Loadings Are Calculated
Shift loadings are applied to your base hourly rate. For example, if you earn $25/hour base rate and work a night shift with a 125% loading:
Example Calculation
Base rate: $25.00/hour
Night shift loading: 125%
Loaded rate: $25.00 × 1.25 = $31.25/hour
8-hour shift earnings: $31.25 × 8 = $250.00
Shift Loadings vs Penalty Rates
Shift loadings and penalty rates are different:
- Shift loadings apply based on the time of day you work (morning, evening, night)
- Penalty rates apply based on the day you work (weekends, public holidays)
Important: These rates generally don't stack. If you work a night shift on a Sunday, you receive the higher rate, not both added together. Some awards may have specific provisions that vary from this rule.
Casual Loading and Shift Work
Casual workers receive a 25% loading on top of their base rate. When shift loadings apply, the calculation depends on your award. Generally:
Casual + Night Shift Example
Base rate: $25.00/hour
Night shift loading: 125% = $31.25
Casual loading: +25% = $31.25 × 1.25 = $39.06/hour
Health Impacts of Shift Work
Shift work, particularly night shifts, can impact your health. Research shows:
- Disrupted sleep patterns and circadian rhythms
- Increased risk of cardiovascular issues
- Impact on mental health and social relationships
- Digestive problems from irregular meal times
This is why shift loadings exist - to compensate workers for these impacts and to encourage employers to manage shift work responsibly.
Tips for Shift Workers
Sleep Management
- • Use blackout curtains for daytime sleep
- • Maintain consistent sleep schedules
- • Avoid caffeine 6 hours before sleep
Health & Nutrition
- • Eat lighter meals during night shifts
- • Stay hydrated throughout shifts
- • Take short exercise breaks when possible
Check Your Award
Shift loadings vary between awards and may have changed since this calculator was last updated. Always check your specific award at the Fair Work Ombudsman website for the most current rates.
Related Calculators
- Penalty Rate Calculator - Calculate weekend and public holiday pay
- Australian Income Tax Calculator - Estimate your tax on shift earnings
- Two Jobs Tax Calculator - Working shift work at multiple jobs
- Budget Calculator - Plan finances with variable shift income