Garbage Man Salary 2026: Award Rates, Fortnightly Pay & Annual Earnings
A full-time Level 1 garbage man earns $30.11 per hour, or $1,143.98 per week, under the Waste Management Award 2020, assuming a 38-hour week.
Understanding the Garbage Man Salary Under the Waste Management Award
If you're looking up the garbage man salary in Australia, the most reliable source is the Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043), which covers employees in waste collection, recycling, and disposal. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official rates, including the industry allowance that is already built into the figures below.
Full-Time and Part-Time Rates
A full-time employee works an average of 38 ordinary hours per week. Part-time employees work fewer hours but are paid the same hourly rate, with a minimum of 4 hours per shift. The table below shows the minimum weekly and hourly rates for adult employees (including the industry allowance):
| Classification | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,143.98 | $30.11 |
| Level 2 | $1,168.48 | $30.75 |
| Level 3 | $1,180.58 | $31.07 |
| Level 4 | $1,199.18 | $31.56 |
| Level 5 | $1,212.58 | $31.91 |
| Level 6 | $1,240.98 | $32.66 |
| Level 7 | $1,321.78 | $34.79 |
| Level 8 | $1,381.68 | $36.36 |
| Level 9 | $1,393.88 | $36.68 |
Source: and the Pay Guide for the Waste Management Award, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
These rates already include the industry allowance of $122.98 per week (or $3.24 per hour) for full-time employees. The industry allowance is paid for all purposes, meaning it counts towards overtime and penalty rates.
Casual Loading
Casual employees are paid 25% extra on top of the ordinary hourly rate. This loading replaces entitlements such as annual leave, personal/carer's leave, and redundancy pay. For a Level 1 casual garbage man, the rate is $37.64 per hour ($30.11 × 1.25). The casual rates in the award also include the industry allowance.
Fortnightly Pay
If you're paid fortnightly, simply multiply the weekly rate by two. For a Level 1 full-time employee:
- Weekly: $1,143.98
- Fortnightly: $2,287.96
For a casual at Level 1:
- Weekly: $1,430.32
- Fortnightly: $2,860.64
Annual Gross Salary
To estimate the annual gross salary, use the formula:
Annual gross = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
Assuming a 38-hour week, a Level 1 full-time garbage man earns: $30.11 × 38 × 52 = $59,497.36 per year
This is the base salary before tax and super. The same formula works for any classification.
How the National Minimum Wage Compares
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. The garbage man salary under the award is higher, reflecting the industry allowance and the nature of the work. The award rate is the legal minimum for that job, so you should not be paid less than the figures above.
Tax and Superannuation
Superannuation is paid on top of your gross salary. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a Level 1 full-time garbage man earning $59,497.36, the employer must contribute an additional $7,139.68 to your super fund.
Income tax for 2026–27 is based on the resident tax-free threshold of $18,200. For a gross salary of $59,497.36:
- Taxable income: $41,297.36
- Tax on first $18,200: $0
- Tax on $18,201–$45,000 (15%): $4,020
- Tax on $45,001–$59,497.36 (30%): $4,349.21
- Total tax: $8,369.21
- Plus Medicare levy (2% of taxable income): $825.95
- Estimated take-home pay: $50,302.20 per year
Note: Medicare levy reduction thresholds for 2026–27 were not confirmed at the time of this estimate, so the 2025–26 single thresholds are used. This is an approximation only.
Allowances and Penalty Rates
The award includes additional allowances for leading hands, first aid, boat work, and overtime meals. Overtime is paid at 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% thereafter for full-time employees. These extras can increase the garbage man salary significantly, but they are not included in the base rates above.
Using the Timesheet Calculator
To work out your own pay, try the timesheet where you enter your base hourly rate. If you're a casual, tick the 25% loading checkbox – the tool adds it on top automatically. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading.
For more detailed comparisons, see our job pay page or the casual loading guide.
Disclaimer
Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.