WA Merges Eight Clerks Awards Into One From 4 November; Adult Office Pay Starts at $1,020.80 a Week
The Clerks - Private Sector (WA) Award replaced eight state awards on 4 November 2026. Adult Grade 1 pay is $1,020.80 a week. Who it covers and the rates.
The new Clerks - Private Sector (WA) Award replaced eight state clerical awards on 4 November 2026, the WA Government said. Adult Grade 1 office staff now start on $1,020.80 a week. The change covers receptionists and clerical, secretarial and admin workers employed by businesses in WA's state industrial relations system.
What changed for WA clerical workers?
Eight separate state awards for clerical staff became one award on 4 November 2026. The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety announced the change on wa.gov.au and published a new award summary the next day. The full award is held by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
The replaced awards were the Clerks awards for accountants' employees, bailiffs' employees, commercial, social and professional services, customs, shipping and forwarding agents, hotels, motels and clubs, racing industry betting, timber, and wholesale and retail establishments.
The department said the new award is based on the commercial, social and professional services award, with its scope expanded and "changes to some provisions". It now applies to all private sector clerical staff who aren't covered by another WA award.
Who does the Clerks - Private Sector (WA) Award cover?
It covers receptionists and clerical, secretarial and administrative employees of state system employers. Under the department's three-step check, those are sole traders, unincorporated partnerships, unincorporated trusts, and incorporated associations or not-for-profits that are not trading or financial corporations.
Pty Ltd companies that trade are in the national Fair Work system, so this award doesn't apply to their staff. Our guide to the WA state and national minimum wage systems explains how to tell which one applies.
Some clerical staff are excluded. Dental surgery receptionists fall under a separate dental award. Clerical staff in crisis assistance, supported housing and social and community services may be covered by those industry awards. Staff under the Clerks (Unions and Labor Movement) Award are also excluded.
What are the new pay rates?
The adult minimum is $1,020.80 for a 38-hour week in the first year at Grade 1. That works out to about $53,100 a year. Grade 6, the top grade, pays $1,250.90 a week, or about $65,000 a year.
| Grade (adult) | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, 1st year | $1,020.80 | $26.86 | $33.58 |
| Grade 1, 3rd year and after | $1,054.90 | $27.76 | $34.70 |
| Grade 2, 1st year | $1,069.10 | $28.13 | $35.16 |
| Grade 3, 1st year | $1,092.80 | $28.76 | $35.95 |
| Grade 4 | $1,145.30 | $30.14 | $37.68 |
| Grade 5 | $1,193.00 | $31.39 | $39.24 |
| Grade 6 | $1,250.90 | $32.92 | $41.15 |
Juniors are paid a share of the adult rate, from 40% at 15 years old to 90% at 20. Staff in accounting firms, customs, shipping and forwarding agents and hospitality must be classified at Grade 1 Year 3 or above.
The summary includes a no-loss rule. No employee can be paid less than the rate that applied to them under a replaced award as at 1 July 2026. Workers in 56 listed regional towns also get a weekly location allowance, from $7.60 in Esperance to $72.10 in Kununurra and Argyle.
What are the penalties for getting it wrong?
Complying with a WA award is compulsory, the department said. Fines for breaching an award or employment record rules reach $18,000 for individuals and $93,000 for bodies corporate. Serious contraventions carry up to $180,000 and $930,000. Industrial inspectors can investigate underpayment complaints and run proactive audits.
What it means for Perth job seekers
The award sets the floor, and many advertised office jobs pay well above it. On 6 November 2026, Jobs In Perth's feed showed 77 live direct admin job ads in Perth. Of the 50 newest, 41 came through the WA Government jobs board, led by the WA Police Force with 10 and the Department of Education with 7. Those public sector roles are not covered by this private sector award.
The median advertised salary midpoint across the 44 newest admin ads that quoted annual pay was about $87,300. Of the 50 newest, 21 close within seven days. There were also 51 live accounting and finance ads in Perth, a field where many support staff work for accounting practices. See our bookkeeper salary guide for typical pay.
If you work in admin for a sole trader, a partnership or a small not-for-profit, check your payslip against the new summary. Wageline can be reached on 1300 655 266.
How we reported this
- The award change, coverage and exclusions come from the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety announcement New Clerks - Private Sector (WA) Award and its Changes to awards for clerical employees page, both updated 5 November 2026.
- Pay rates, the no-loss rule, location allowances and penalties come from the WA award summary for the Clerks - Private Sector (WA) Award dated 4 November 2026.
- Jobs In Perth figures are live direct-from-employer ads in our feed, observed on 6 November 2026. They are advertised vacancies, not people employed.
- Cover image: AI-generated illustration, not a photo of the event.
Sources
About this reporting
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