How to use the Leave Loading Calculator
- 1 Enter your base hourly rate.
- 2 Enter your ordinary hours a week.
- 3 Enter the weeks of leave you are taking.
- 4 Check the leave loading percentage in your award or agreement, then read your leave pay.
Worked example
Two weeks of leave at $40 an hour on a 38-hour week. Ordinary pay for the leave is $40 × 38 × 2 = $3,040. Leave loading at 17.5% adds $532, so total leave pay is $3,572 for the two weeks.
Features
17.5% loading
The standard loading in many modern awards, or any other percentage.
Ordinary pay plus loading
See both parts and the total.
Leave hours
Hours of leave taken and your yearly entitlement.
When to use it
Planning holidays
Know how much you will be paid while away.
Payroll checks
Check that loading was added to your leave pay.
Leaving a job
Estimate payout of unused leave, which often includes loading.
Employers
Work out leave pay for staff.
Frequently asked questions
What is leave loading?
An extra payment on top of annual leave pay, usually 17.5% of base pay, to make up for overtime or penalty rates missed while on leave.
Does everyone get leave loading?
No. It applies only if your award, enterprise agreement or contract includes it. The National Employment Standards do not require it.
How much annual leave do I get?
Full-time and part-time employees get 4 weeks of paid leave a year, pro rata for part-time. Some shift workers get 5 weeks. Casuals do not get paid leave.
Is leave loading taxed?
Yes. It is taxed as ordinary income. Unused leave and loading paid when you leave a job is also taxed, with special rules for some older leave.
Is it paid on unused leave when I resign?
Usually yes, if your award says loading would have been paid had you taken the leave.
Is super paid on leave loading?
Super is generally paid on leave loading that is part of ordinary time earnings. Some loading tied to lost overtime is excluded.
Is loading paid on all leave?
Usually only on annual leave. Personal leave, sick leave and long service leave do not normally include loading unless your agreement says so.
Can loading be built into my salary?
Some contracts pay an annualised salary that already includes leave loading. Check your contract to see whether it is paid separately.
Is shift work loading different?
Some awards pay shift workers the higher of 17.5% loading or the shift penalties they would have earned. Check the annual leave clause in your award.
When is leave loading paid?
Most employers pay it with the leave, in the same pay period. Some pay it once a year, for example in December, if the award allows.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Reviewed by ToolsUnlocked Team · Last updated