How Much Do Apprentices Get Paid?

Apprentice wages in Australia are set by the relevant Modern Award, determined by the Fair Work Ombudsman and reviewed each financial year. What you are paid depends on your trade, your age, your year level and any applicable allowances. There is no single figure that applies to all apprentices.

For current pay rates by trade, see our What 1st Year Apprentices Get Paid: 2025-2026 Award Wages Guide.

How Apprentice Pay Works

Modern Awards

Most apprentices are paid under the Modern Award that applies to their trade and industry. Awards are legal instruments that set minimum pay rates, allowances and conditions for employees in specific industries and occupations. The Fair Work Ombudsman administers and reviews Awards annually, with updated rates typically taking effect on 1 July each financial year.

Paying below the applicable Award rate is illegal.

Some employers choose to pay above the Award rate, either through an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) or simply as a way of attracting stronger candidates in competitive trade labour markets.

What affects your pay rate

Several factors determine where you sit within the Award pay scale:

Your trade and the specific Award that applies to it
Your age at the time you commence your apprenticeship
Whether you have completed Year 12
Your year level within the apprenticeship
Whether you are attending off-the-job training during a given pay period
Any trade-specific allowances such as tool allowances, travel allowances or industry loadings

Progression through the pay scale

As you progress through your apprenticeship from first year to second, third and fourth year, your pay rate increases accordingly.

Most Awards also index rates upward each July following the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review, which means your pay should increase each year even if your year level has not changed.

Using the PAY Calculator

The Fair Work Ombudsman's PAY Calculator is the most reliable way to find the minimum wage rate that applies to your specific trade, age and year level.

If you are unsure which Award applies to your trade, your employer, your Group Training Organisation or an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) can help you identify the correct one.

Financial Support for Apprentices

In addition to your wage, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Federal Government's Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System. Support is primarily targeted at apprentices undertaking qualifications in priority occupations listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, which is updated annually.

Priority occupations currently include a range of trade apprenticeships across electrical, engineering, construction, and automotive, among others. Apprentices working in the new energy and housing construction sectors may be eligible for additional support payments.

Eligibility conditions, payment amounts and program details change periodically. For current information on what support may be available to you, visit apprenticeships.gov.au or speak with your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider.

A Note on Mature Age Apprentices

If you are 21 or older when you commence your apprenticeship, you are classified as a mature age or adult apprentice under most Modern Awards.

Adult apprentices attract higher minimum wage rates than junior apprentices at the same year level. For specific rates, use the PAY Calculator linked above.

Want to Know More?

For a detailed breakdown of current pay rates by trade, read our What 1st Year Apprentices Get Paid: 2025-2026 Award Wages Guide.

To find current apprenticeship opportunities, browse the MIGAS Jobs Board or register your details and we will be in touch when a suitable role becomes available.