How to Use Fair Work's Pay and Conditions Tool

What Is the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool?

The Pay and Conditions Tool (sometimes called PACT) is a free, official online tool operated by the Fair Work Ombudsman. It is designed to help employees and employers find accurate pay rates, penalty rates, and allowances based on a specific Modern Award or registered agreement.

Unlike a general calculator, the Fair Work tool draws on the actual provisions of your specific award or agreement — giving results that reflect the legal entitlements that apply to your employment, not a generic estimate based on common defaults.

It can calculate pay for ordinary hours, overtime, penalty rates, allowances, and leave entitlements, depending on the information you provide.

What You Need Before You Start

To get an accurate result from the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool, gather the following before you begin:

• Your Modern Award name — for example, "General Retail Industry Award 2020" or "Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020". If you don't know yours, see How to Find Your Award in Australia.
• Your classification level — awards typically have multiple levels (e.g. Level 1, Grade 2) with different pay rates. This is usually in your employment contract or your payslip.
• Your employment type — full-time, part-time, or casual
• Your state or territory — relevant for public holiday calculations, as public holidays vary by jurisdiction
• The hours you worked — including which days, which times, and total hours per day or week
• Any other relevant details — such as whether you are an apprentice, a junior employee, or covered by a specific enterprise agreement rather than the award

Step-by-Step: Using the Tool

1. Go to the Pay and Conditions Tool:
   Visit fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/pay-calculator
2. Select your award or agreement:
   You can search by industry, job type, or award name. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement rather than a Modern Award, select that option and follow the prompts.
3. Enter your classification:
   Choose your classification level from the list. If you are unsure of your level, check your employment contract or ask your payroll team.
4. Enter your employment details:
   Select your employment type (full-time, part-time, casual) and state or territory.
5. Enter the hours you worked:
   Add the days, start times, finish times, and any breaks. The tool will calculate ordinary pay, penalty rates, overtime, and allowances based on the award provisions.
6. Review the result:
   The tool shows a pay breakdown with a reference to the applicable award clause for each component. Save or print this as a reference.

Important Warnings Before Using the Tool

• Award vs enterprise agreement: If your workplace has a registered enterprise agreement, the award may not be the correct instrument. Use the enterprise agreement search option if this applies to you.
• Classification accuracy: The tool's result is only as accurate as the classification you enter. If you select the wrong level, the pay rates will be incorrect.
• Set-off and annualised salary arrangements: If your contract includes a set-off clause or an annualised salary arrangement, the calculated entitlement may differ from what you are actually paid under that arrangement.
• Allowances: Some allowances require you to enter additional details (e.g. whether you used your own vehicle, whether you handled cash). Check the allowance descriptions carefully.

How This Site's Calculator Differs From Fair Work's Tool

There are important differences between this general overtime calculator and the official Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool:

This calculator is best used for quick estimates and understanding how pay components interact. For authoritative entitlement information, disputes, or payroll verification, always use the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool or contact the Fair Work Ombudsman directly.

Or use our quick estimate: Overtime Calculator Australia • See also: How to Find Your Award • Sources and Official References