Building Your Future: Bricklaying Apprentice Wages and Benefits
The table below shows the current Apprenticeship rates, but note that this table does not show overtime rates. These are Downloadable at a link located at the base of this page together with other useful information.
FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN – BRICKLAYER APPRENTICE PAY RATES – RESIDENTIAL WORK – 1 July 2024
All States based on Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020)
- Different rates apply for Non-residential Work and Civil Construction
- QLD Rates apply if not a Constitutional Corporation
- WA Rates apply if a Pty Ltd or Ltd Company
- WA If a Sole Trader, Partnership, Not for Profit or Trust State Awards may apply
- Call WA Department of Commerce Wageline 1300 655 266 or 08 6251 2100 or www.commerce.wa.gov.au
- Enterprise Bargaining Agreements may apply to certain job sites.
COMMENCEMENT AGE UNDER 21 YEARS – 3 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP
COMMENCEMENT AGE UNDER 21 YEARS – 4 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP (Completed Yr 12)
COMMENCEMENT AGE UNDER 21 YEARS – 4 YEAR APPRENTICESHIP (Did Not Complete Yr 12)
COMMENCEMENT AGE 21 YEARS AND OVER – ADULT APPRENTICESHIP
Fares and Travel Allowance per Day: Applies when apprentice makes own travel arrangements to the job site. (Not applicable when attending TAFE/RTO, on annual or personal leave.)
DISCLAIMER: Rates are sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman. Your situation and the law can change so we encourage you to check with the Fair Work Ombudsman website via the P.A.C.T. Pay and Conditions Tool (http://fairwork.gov.au) or call 13 13 94. Other allowances may also be applicable and can also be checked via P.A.C.T. Whilst all care is taken in the preparation of the information on this website, given that Brick and Block Careers is relying on the provision of some of the information from an external source no responsibility can be taken for any inaccuracy in the information and accordingly no liability therefore is accepted by Brick and Block Careers. Last updated 1-Jul-23.
Market Rates for Qualified Bricklayers
When apprentice become a qualified bricklayer they are paid ‘market rates’. Post-Apprenticeship completion rates are a function of the Modern Award minimum and the applicable market rates above the minimum. See the Fair Work Link at the base of this page for the Award.
Financial Rewards
The financial rewards don’t stop there. As an apprentice you might decide to become an independent contractor and run your own bricklaying gang. You’ll be quoting your own jobs and running your own business so will set your own pay rate according to your success in attracting good work, consistently and maintaining high productivity.
Future Career Path
You might later choose a different career path in the construction industry to become a builder, project manager or construction manager – the choice is yours!
Employment and Pay Conditions Applying to the Bricklaying Apprenticeship, Certificate III
In preparation for the Modern Award which was introduced in mid-2014, whereby apprentices are paid the same rate around Australia, Conditions of Employment were also revised. The following is a guide in understanding the mutual responsibilities between employer and apprentice under the new Award. The full Modern Award, Code MA000020, applicable to Bricklaying, can be viewed at the Fair Work Ombudsman website (see all links and supporting documents below).
- An apprenticeship is a Contract of Training
An apprenticeship is a system of structured on-the-job training with an employer and off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation accessed through a contract of training.
2 - What is a Registered Training Organisation?
Registered Training Organisation (RTO) means a training organisation registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority or the Western Australia’s Training and Accreditation Council.
3 - Any training counts in calculating the apprentice wage
Time spent by an apprentice, in attending any training and assessment associated with the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the apprentice’s wages.
4 - Work must not prevent attendance at the RTO
No apprentice will, except in an emergency, work or be required to work overtime at times which would prevent their attendance at the RTO.
5 - Fees will be reimbursed by the employer
All fees charged by an RTO and the cost of all prescribed textbooks for the apprenticeship, which are paid by an apprentice, shall be reimbursed by the employer within six months of commencement of the apprenticeship or within three months of the commencement of training provided by the RTO, whichever is the later, unless there is unsatisfactory progress.
6 - Employers can pay fees direct to the RTO
An employer may meet its obligations under this clause by paying any fees and/or costs of textbooks directly to the RTO.
7 - Excess of reasonable overnight stay costs for training will be reimbursed by the employer
Where an apprentice is required to attend block release training and requires an overnight stay, the employer must pay for the excess reasonable travel costs incurred by the apprentice in the course of travelling to and from such training.
8 - What’s included in excess reasonable travel costs?
Excess reasonable travel costs includes transportation, accommodation and reasonable expenses incurred while travelling, including meals.
9 - Pay rates for employees who were already employed but not an apprentice
Where a person was employed by an employer immediately prior to becoming an adult apprentice with that employer, such person will not suffer a reduction in the ordinary time hourly rate of pay by virtue of entering into the contract of training.
11 - Allowances are provided only for days worked and RDO’s
Apprentices will only receive the allowances when they attend work and any rostered day off.
12 - Allowances are not paid for days attending RTO’s
Apprentices will not be paid the allowance for days they attend an RTO for training and assessment.
13 - School-based apprentice wage scales
School-based apprentices progress through the relevant wage scale at the rate of 12 months progression for each two years of employment as an apprentice.
14 - What is the apprentice wage scale based on?
The apprentice wage scales are based on a standard full-time apprenticeship or stages of competency-based progression.
15 - Full-time apprentice time spent on the job counts if converting from school-based to full-time
If an apprentice converts from school-based to full-time, the successful completion of competencies and all time spent as a full-time apprentice will count for the purposes of progression through the relevant wage scale.