Wages and entitlements for school-based apprentices and trainees
Wages
As a school-based apprentice or trainee, you'll generally have different wages and entitlements to other apprentices and trainees.
Your wage is set out in the industrial award or agreement that applies to your employer's business.
Your hourly rate varies based on factors, such as your age, length of apprenticeship or traineeship, how much training you have completed, etc.
To find your specific wage and entitlements:
- use the Pay and Conditions Tool (P.A.C.T) online calculator
- phone the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
Entitlements
Apprentices and trainees get the same entitlements as other employees, which may include:
- annual leave
- sick leave
- public holidays
- superannuation
- workers' compensation
- breaks and overtime.
But the industrial award or agreement that applies to your employer's business may have specific rules for school-based apprentices and trainees. These may include whether you are paid for time spent training with your training organisation.
Learn more about:
Weekly and annual working hours
As a school-based apprentice or trainee, your employer must provide you with:
- paid work (but not necessarily paid for time spent training with your training organisation)
- at least 7.5 hours per week, averaged over every 3 months, for every 12 months of your training contract
- at least 375 hours/50 days of paid employment (or 600 hours/80 days in the electrotechnology industry) for every 12 months of your training contract.
Learn more about working hour requirements.
Being paid for training
The industrial award or agreement that applies to your employer will specify whether your employer is required to pay you for time spent training with your training organisation.
Phone the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for more information.
More information
- Read about employee rights, entitlements and pay.
- Learn about unfair treatment in the workplace.