The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General, through its Wageline Information Centre, provides information on wage rates and employment conditions for trainees and apprentices. Traineeships, and to a lesser extent apprenticeships, in Queensland are very flexible and include part-time and school-based arrangements. As a result of these options there are many varying wage rates and employment conditions that may apply depending on the type of apprenticeship or traineeship you are doing.
Apprentices and trainees may be employed under state or federal awards, agreements or other employment arrangements. If you are having difficulty working out which award applies to you, contact Wageline.
Wages and employment conditions for apprentices and traineesThe Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) makes orders fixing the minimum wages and employment conditions for apprentices and/or trainees.
It is recommended that the Order be read in conjunction with the specific industrial instrument |
An apprentice or trainee is entitled to the same employment conditions as those in an award applicable to employees at the workplace where the apprentice or trainee is employed. In effect, the apprentice is entitled to the same benefits of the award covering the equivalent tradesperson in their job, but their wages are fixed as a percentage of the tradespersons' rate by virtue of the above Order. The provision of tools of trade is prescribed under another Order.
Wages for apprenticeships and traineeships vary; however, the following information may be used as a guide only.
As a minimum, you must be paid a training wage as outlined in the award or agreement for your occupation or industry. The wage you are paid will depend on your apprenticeship or traineeship and the progress you make.
For most apprenticeships and traineeships, the wage is calculated as a percentage of the wage paid to qualified workers, and depends on the year or level you have reached in your apprenticeship or traineeship. When you have achieved the competencies required for your current level (or after the end of a period of time - usually 12 months), you can progress to the next wage level of your apprenticeship or traineeship.
Example A - wage progression arrangements for traineeships in an industry
|
Wage Level |
Minimum Training Requirements on Entry |
% of Relevant Adult Rate |
|
1 |
On commencement |
40 |
|
2 |
On attainment of AQF* 1 competencies |
55 |
|
3 |
On attainment of AQF 2 competencies |
75 |
|
4 |
On attainment of AQF 3 competencies |
90 |
|
5 |
On attainment of AQF 4 competencies |
100 |
* The Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) is the national system of recognition for the issue of vocational qualifications.
Example B - wages for 'Certificate III in Hairdressing' under the Hairdressers' Industry Award - State 2003
|
Level of Training |
% of Relevant Adult Rate |
Weekly |
Part-Time |
|
Wage Level 1 |
40 |
$264.80 |
6.9684 |
|
Wage Level 2 |
55 |
$364.10 |
9.5816 |
|
Wage Level 3 |
75 |
$496.50 |
13.0658 |
|
Wage Level 4 |
90 |
$595.80 |
15.6789 |
Refer to our Award Wage Summary Sheets for apprenticeships and traineeship current rates of pay for common awards.
If you have already completed some of your apprenticeship or traineeship with another employer (or completed a relevant prevocational course), you must be paid at the correct rate for the competencies you have achieved.
Your hourly rate will be the equivalent to that of the relevant full-time apprentice or trainee wage, and will be calculated on the number of hours you work each week. Other conditions and entitlements will be calculated on a pro rata basis.
In some industries, minimum wages apply for adult apprentices and trainees. The age when an apprentice or trainee is considered to be an adult may differ from industry to industry.
To be entitled to an adult rate of pay an apprentice must be of the specified adult age at commencement of the apprenticeship. An apprentice who becomes an adult during the course of their apprenticeship shall not become entitled to applicable adult rates of pay. Some exceptions apply.
As a school-based apprentice or trainee you will only be paid for the time you spend at work. Your wage will be a percentage of the relevant full-time apprentice or trainee wage, and will be calculated on the number of hours you work each week.
You will not be paid for the time spent attending training arranged by your supervising registered training organisation.
School-based apprentices and trainees do not receive entitlements to sick leave, annual leave (holidays) or public holidays. However, you will be paid an extra amount (i.e. a loading) to compensate for not receiving these entitlements.
You must work and be paid for a minimum of 48 days in each year of your school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
If you are employed by a group training organisation, that organisation will usually pay your wages and provide your entitlements. If the group training organisation places you with a host employer, the group training organisation must pay you the wages and entitlements on the workplace where you are employed. For example, if you are placed in a workplace where a federal award applies to tradesmen, you are entitled to the rate of wages stated in the federal award rather than the state award.
In many industries, employers are prohibited from reducing the wages of existing workers when they become an apprentice or trainee. To find out if this applies to your industry, contact Wageline.
An apprentice or trainee under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 1.04 MB) is exempt from the Queensland minimum wage. For apprentices and trainees not covered by an industrial instrument, their wages and employment conditions are outlined in the Order for apprentices and trainees (including those part-time based) employed by private sector employers (PDF, 402kB)
Copyright
| Disclaimer
| Privacy
| Access keys
| Feedback | 
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) 2009
IRIS award service 
(including the