Cleaning Award Pay Rates 2025–26
Last updated: March 2026 · Rates effective 1 July 2025 · MA000022
Cleaning workers — particularly those paid cash — are among the most underpaid in Australia. The Cleaning Services Award sets minimum rates, penalty rates, and allowances that apply regardless of how your employer pays you. If you’re a cleaner getting a flat rate with no payslip, no super, and no penalty rates, multiple laws are being broken.
If you clean offices, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, or residential buildings for a cleaning company — this award applies to you.
Real example
Scenario: Cleaner paid $22/hr cash, no payslip. Works 5am–9am Monday to Friday and 6 hours on Saturday. No super, no penalty rates.
What should have happened (Level 1 casual):
- Weekday early morning rate (before 6am): higher than the standard casual rate
- Standard weekday casual rate: ~$32.31/hr (base + 25% loading)
- Saturday casual rate: penalty rate on top of casual base
- Superannuation: 12% on top of gross pay
Estimated underpayment: $300–$400 per week, or $15,000–$20,000 per year — before accounting for missing super.
Why it happens: Cash-in-hand cleaning is widespread. The worker often has limited English, limited knowledge of their rights, and fears losing the job. The employer counts on this.
Who the Cleaning Award covers
The Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022) covers employees performing cleaning work in the contract cleaning industry.
✓ Covered
- Commercial cleaners (offices, shopping centres)
- School and hospital cleaners employed by cleaning companies
- Window cleaners
- Carpet cleaners
- Janitors employed by cleaning contractors
✗ Not typically covered
- Cleaners employed directly by a hotel → Hospitality Award
- Cleaners employed directly by a school or hospital (not through a contractor) → may fall under a different award
Cleaning Award classification levels
| Level | Typical duties | Approx. base rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | General cleaning: vacuuming, mopping, wiping, bins | $25.85/hr |
| Level 2 | Experienced cleaner, specialist equipment, limited supervision | $26.70/hr |
| Level 3 | Supervisor, team leader, trade-qualified | $28.12/hr |
Rates approximate, based on the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000022, effective 1 July 2025.
What are you entitled to under the Cleaning Award?
- Casual loading: 25% on top of base rate — does not replace penalty rates
- Saturday rates: Penalty rate for all Saturday work
- Sunday rates: Higher penalty rate — commonly missed
- Public holiday rates: Double time or double time and a half
- Early morning/late night loadings: Additional loading for unsociable hours
- Broken shift allowance: If your shift is split into two or more periods
- Overtime: After 38 hours per week or after 7.6 hours in a day
- Minimum engagement: Casuals must be paid for minimum hours per shift
- Superannuation: 12% on top of gross pay — regardless of payment method
Common underpayments under the Cleaning Award
Cash-in-hand with no payslips
If you are paid cash with no payslip, your employer is already breaking the law. You are almost certainly not receiving correct penalty rates, super, or leave entitlements.
Flat rate regardless of hours or day
Early morning, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work all attract higher rates. A flat rate that never changes is a red flag.
Sham contracting
If your employer calls you a contractor but you work set hours, use their equipment, and cannot sub-contract the work, you are likely an employee entitled to full award rates.
No superannuation
Super must be paid at 12% on top of your gross wages. Cash-in-hand employers almost never pay super, which costs you thousands per year in retirement savings.
No broken shift allowance
If you clean one building in the morning and another in the evening with an unpaid gap, you are owed a broken shift allowance.
Not sure if your Cleaning Award pay is right?
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Pay rates by role
See pay rates specific to your job:
Think something's wrong with your pay?
Start with the issue that sounds most like your situation:
- Am I being underpaid? — the signs and what to do
- Paid cash in hand? — your rights still apply
- No penalty rates paid? — weekends and early mornings
- Called a contractor? — you might actually be an employee
Common scenarios
Answers to specific situations cleaning workers ask about:
Frequently asked questions
What level am I under the Cleaning Award?
Level 1 covers general cleaning duties: vacuuming, mopping, emptying bins, surface wiping. Level 2 covers experienced cleaners who work with limited supervision or operate specialist equipment. Level 3 covers supervisors or employees with trade qualifications in cleaning. Your employer must classify you based on your actual duties.
I get paid cash — does the award still apply?
Yes. The Cleaning Award applies regardless of how you are paid. Cash-in-hand payment does not remove your entitlements. If you are paid cash and your employer is not paying superannuation, tax, penalty rates, or leave, multiple laws are being broken simultaneously.
Does casual loading replace penalty rates for cleaners?
No. The 25% casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave. It does not replace weekend, public holiday, or early morning penalty rates. Both apply on top of each other.
I clean an office building at 5am — do I get extra pay?
Yes. The Cleaning Award provides penalty rates for early morning work (before 6am on weekdays). If your shift starts before 6am and your hourly rate does not change, your employer is not applying the early morning loading.
How far back can I claim underpaid wages?
Six years. Under the Fair Work Act, you can recover underpayments going back up to 6 years. For cleaning workers paid cash without proper records, the Fair Work Ombudsman can use your testimony and bank records to build a claim.
My employer says I am a contractor, not an employee. Is that true?
Often not. Many cleaning businesses classify workers as contractors to avoid paying award rates, super, and leave. If you work set hours, use your employer’s equipment, wear their uniform, and cannot delegate work to someone else, you are likely an employee regardless of what your contract says. The Fair Work Ombudsman can assess your situation.
Don’t guess — small underpayments add up fast.
Enter your shifts and see exactly what you should have been paid — including overtime, penalty rates, and allowances. It takes 2 minutes.
Check my pay nowBased on official pay rates from the Fair Work Commission (MA000022).
Rates sourced from the Fair Work Commission pay guide for the Cleaning Services Award 2020 (MA000022), effective 1 July 2025. General information only — not legal advice. Verify rates at fairwork.gov.au.