Public Holiday Pay Calculator
Understand your entitlements for working on a public holiday, including penalty rates and paid days off.
Quick Use Samples
Holiday Pay Details
Holiday Pay Calculation
Pay Breakdown
2025 Public Holidays
* State-specific holidays may also apply
For working 8 hours on a public holiday, your total pay is $300.00. This is calculated using a penalty rate of 150% applied to your base pay, plus casual loading if applicable. Your total effective hourly rate is $37.50.
Pay Breakdown
Key Takeaway
For working **8 hours** on a public holiday, your total pay is **$300.00**. This is calculated using a penalty rate of **150%** applied to your base pay, plus casual loading if applicable. Your total effective hourly rate is **$37.50**.
What about Time Off in Lieu (TOIL)?
Some awards allow you to take paid time off instead of receiving penalty rates. This must be agreed upon in writing, and you should receive the same benefit as you would from the penalty pay.
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What is Public Holiday Pay?
Public holiday pay in Australia refers to the special entitlements for employees related to designated public holidays. If you are a permanent employee, you are entitled to be paid your base rate of pay for a public holiday that falls on a day you would normally work, even if you don't work that day. If you are required to work on a public holiday, you must be paid at a much higher penalty rate.
Behind the Formula
For an employee who works on a public holiday, the calculator multiplies their base hourly rate by the public holiday penalty rate, which is typically 200% to 250% (2x to 2.5x), as specified in their Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement. For a permanent employee who doesn't work, the calculator simply shows their standard pay for that day, representing the benefit of a paid day off.
Expert Insights
- An employer can make a reasonable request for an employee to work on a public holiday, but the employee can also refuse the request if they have reasonable grounds. What is 'reasonable' depends on the circumstances.
- Casual employees are not entitled to be paid for a public holiday if they do not work. However, if they do work, they are entitled to be paid the public holiday penalty rate.
- If a public holiday falls during a period of paid annual leave for a permanent employee, that day is not deducted from their annual leave balance. They are paid for the public holiday instead.
Actionable Tips
- Know the designated public holidays for your state or territory, as they can differ. Your employer is only obligated to observe the official holidays for your location of work.
- If you are asked to work on a public holiday, confirm the penalty rate you will be paid in advance. It should be clearly stated in your award or agreement.
- For part-time employees, your entitlement to a paid public holiday depends on whether it's a day you would normally be rostered to work. If your regular day off falls on a public holiday, you are typically not entitled to an extra day's pay or leave.
Real-World Examples
A Full-Time Office Worker
Anzac Day falls on a Tuesday. A full-time office worker who normally works Monday to Friday gets the day off but is paid their normal Tuesday salary.
A Paramedic Working on Christmas Day
A paramedic is required to work on Christmas Day. Their award specifies a 250% penalty rate. For their 10-hour shift, they are paid for 25 hours of work.
A Casual Barista on Boxing Day
A casual barista is asked to work on Boxing Day. They are not obligated to, but they agree to work. They are paid at the public holiday penalty rate for the hours they work. If they hadn't worked, they would not have been paid.
Glossary of Terms
Base Rate of Pay
The ordinary hourly rate of pay for an employee, not including any bonuses, loadings, or penalty rates.
Penalty Rate
A higher rate of pay for working on weekends, public holidays, or at other unsociable times.
Rostered Day Off (RDO)
A day in a roster cycle that an employee is not required to work. Common in industries with continuous shifts.