Public Holiday Pay
Australia Public Holiday Pay Calculator
Estimate public holiday pay for casual, part time, and full time workers. Select a holiday rate and enter your shift hours to see your estimated total pay.
150%
Half day premium
200%
Double time
250%
Double time and a half
Base hourly rate
A$0.00
Holiday rate per hour
A$0.00
Pay for holiday shift
A$0.00
Extra hours pay
A$0.00
Estimated total
A$0.00
How Australia public holiday pay works
Under the Fair Work system, public holiday pay depends on your award, agreement, or employment contract. Part time employees who normally work on the day of the public holiday may be entitled to pay at their base rate. Casuals and full time workers may receive higher rates depending on their specific coverage.
Working on a public holiday, or wondering what you’re owed for one you took off? This calculator estimates your public holiday pay based on your base hourly rate and the holiday penalty rate that applies under your award.
Public holiday pay: common questions
Do I get paid extra for working a public holiday?
Working a public holiday commonly attracts a penalty rate. Double time is a frequent figure across Australian awards, and some apply double time and a half. Others provide a substitute day off or an extra day of annual leave instead of a higher rate.
Do I get paid if I do not work the public holiday?
Full time and part time employees are generally entitled to be paid their base rate for the ordinary hours they would normally have worked that day. If the holiday falls on a day you were never rostered, there is usually nothing extra to pay. Casuals typically do not receive paid public holidays they do not work.
Can I refuse to work a public holiday?
Under the National Employment Standards an employee can generally refuse a request to work a public holiday if the request is unreasonable, or if the refusal is reasonable. It is a balancing test that considers the workplace, the notice given and your personal circumstances.
Which days count as public holidays?
There is a set of national public holidays, and each state and territory adds its own. Some regions also have local show days. Where a holiday falls on a weekend, some jurisdictions substitute the following Monday.
Is 200 percent always the public holiday rate?
No. Double time is common but it is not universal. Some awards apply double time and a half, some a lower loading, and some offer a substitute day off instead of a higher rate. Check the award or agreement that covers you.
How do I calculate public holiday pay?
Multiply your ordinary base hourly rate by the holiday multiplier from your award, then by the hours worked. At $25 an hour and double time, an eight hour shift is $50 an hour, or $400.