Cleaning Supervisor Pay Rates 2025–26
Last updated: April 2026 · Rates effective 1 July 2025 · MA000022
Cleaning supervisors are classified at Level 3 under the Cleaning Services Award. If you manage a team of cleaners, allocate work across a site, train new staff, or are responsible for quality on a building — you're a supervisor. Many cleaning companies promote workers to supervisory roles without adjusting their pay, which is a classification-based underpayment.
If you direct other cleaners' work, you are Level 3. Level 1 or Level 2 pay for supervisory duties is underpayment.
Supervisor classification — Level 3
Level 3 applies when your duties include any of the following:
- Directing and coordinating the work of other cleaning employees
- Allocating tasks and managing workflows across a site
- Training and inducting new cleaners
- Inspecting and signing off on completed work
- Managing cleaning supplies, equipment, and inventory for a site
- Being the primary point of contact for clients on site
Supervisor pay rates
- Full-time/part-time base: ~$28.12/hr
- Casual (incl. 25% loading): ~$35.15/hr
- Saturday: ~$42.18/hr (1.5×) permanent / ~$49.21/hr casual
- Sunday: ~$56.24/hr (2×) permanent
- Public holiday: ~$70.30/hr (2.5×) permanent
Common underpayment patterns for supervisors
- Paid as Level 1: Still on general cleaner rates despite managing a team — ~$1.90/hr gap, $3,754/year
- Unpaid coordination time: Time spent on phone calls, emails, and admin before/after shifts not recorded
- No overtime: Supervisors often start early and finish late to manage teams, but extra hours go unpaid
- Flat salary: A weekly salary that doesn't cover overtime, penalties, or the Level 3 rate
Worked example
Scenario: Cleaning supervisor, manages 6 cleaners across 3 sites. Works 42 hours/week (Mon–Fri plus Saturday morning). Employer pays Level 1 rate for all hours, no overtime.
What they pay: 42 × $24.73 = $1,038.66 (using Level 1 rate)
Correct calculation: 38 weekday hours × $28.12 = $1,068.56. Plus 2 hours OT × $42.18 (1.5×) = $84.36. Plus 2 Saturday hours × $42.18 (1.5×) = $84.36.
Should be: $1,237.28. Getting $1,038.66. Underpaid $198.62/week — $10,328.24/year.
Frequently asked questions
When does a cleaner become a supervisor under the award?
You're a cleaning supervisor (Level 3) when you direct, coordinate, or oversee the work of other cleaning employees. This includes allocating tasks, checking work quality, managing rosters for your team, training new cleaners, and being responsible for a building or site. If other cleaners report to you, you're a supervisor.
I supervise cleaners but I'm still paid Level 1 rates — can I claim back pay?
Yes. If you've been performing Level 3 supervisory duties while paid at Level 1 or Level 2, you can claim the difference going back up to 6 years. The gap between levels can add up to thousands per year in underpayment.
Do cleaning supervisors get overtime?
Yes. Supervisors are entitled to overtime on the same basis as other cleaners — after 7.6 hours/day or 38 hours/week. The first 2 hours at 1.5x, then double time. Supervisors often work extra hours coordinating teams and handling issues, and these hours must be paid as overtime.
If you manage other cleaners, make sure your pay reflects it.
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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 at fairwork.gov.au.