Most Perth business owners think cleaner pay rates are their cleaner’s problem. They’re not. If your cleaner underpays their staff, your business carries the legal exposure. Under Australia’s 2024 Fair Work Act amendments, accessorial liability applies — meaning the business that knowingly engages an underpaying contractor faces penalties of up to $93,900 per offence.
That’s not a typo. That’s why understanding cleaner pay rates matters for everyone, not just the cleaning industry. The 2026 Cleaning Services Award is publicly available, the rates are transparent, and the maths is simple. Once you know what cleaners should be paid, you instantly recognise quotes that don’t add up.
At Precimax Clean — Perth’s commercial cleaning specialists — we’ve been Award-compliant since day one. Trading since 2008, IICRC-certified, ISO 9001/14001/45001 compliant. Our hourly rates reflect what staff actually earn, not what they’re underpaid. This guide is the 2026 reference for what fair cleaner pay looks like.
What is the minimum hourly wage for cleaners in Australia in 2026?
For a Level 1 General Cleaner, the Cleaning Services Award minimum is $28.45/hour for full-time employees and $35.55/hour for casual cleaners (includes 25% loading). Saturday rates are 1.5×, Sunday rates are 2×, and public holidays are 2.5×. These rates are reviewed every July by the Fair Work Commission.
The all-in cost to a compliant cleaning company runs around $42/hour after super, workers’ comp, payroll tax, supplies, insurance, and modest margin. Quotes below $35/hour mean someone is being underpaid — and under Australia’s 2024 Fair Work Act amendments, businesses that knowingly engage underpaying contractors face penalties up to $93,900 per offence.
In this report
Five things you’ll learn
- How Australia’s Fair Work system actually applies to commercial cleaning
- The exact 2026 Cleaning Services Award rates (Levels 1-3)
- Penalty rate structures — when they apply and how much
- Why compliant cleaners cost $42-55/hour even when wages are $28-30
- How to verify your cleaner is paying staff correctly
$28.45
Level 1 cleaner Award minimum, hourly rate, 2026
$93,900
Maximum penalty per accessorial liability offence
11.5%
Superannuation guarantee rate, 2026
Understanding Australia’s Fair Work system
How the system works
The Cleaning Services Award 2020 (modernised) is the legal instrument that sets minimum pay and conditions for cleaners across Australia. It’s published by the Fair Work Commission and updated every July. Adherence is mandatory for all employees in the industry. Verify current rates anytime at fairwork.gov.au.
Key Award provisions
- Three classification levels — Level 1 (General), Level 2 (Skilled), Level 3 (Supervisor)
- Penalty rate structure — applied for evening, early morning, weekends, public holidays
- Casual loading — 25% on top of base rate for casual employees
- Allowances — height, dirty work, broken-shift, leading-hand allowances
- Superannuation guarantee — 11.5% of ordinary earnings (rising to 12% in July 2026)
- Workers’ compensation — mandatory in WA at 4-7% of wage cost
- Annual leave — 4 weeks paid (full-time), pro-rata for part-time
Independent contractor vs employee — the misclassification trap
Many “casual cleaners” are actually employees misclassified as contractors. The legal test isn’t what the contract says — it’s the working relationship. If they: work the same site weekly, follow instructions, use your equipment, and don’t have other clients — they’re likely an employee, not a contractor. Misclassification carries severe Fair Work Act penalties.
Current minimum wage rates for cleaners (2026)
The three classification levels
| Level | Description | Full-time hourly | Casual hourly (+25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | General cleaner — routine tasks | $28.45 | $35.55 |
| Level 2 | Skilled cleaner — IICRC-trained, equipment use | $29.25 | $36.55 |
| Level 3 | Leading hand / supervisor | $30.45 | $38.05 |
These are baseline rates — for full context on what cleaners actually earn vs what businesses are quoted, see our cleaner vs professional cleaner guide. Most professional cleaning companies pay above Award to attract better staff and reduce turnover. Companies paying exactly Award minimum often have retention problems — and the cleaning quality reflects it.
Penalty rates and overtime provisions
After-hours and evening work
Most commercial cleaning happens between 5pm and 8am to minimise disruption to clients. The Award specifies:
- 6pm-midnight (evening shift): +15% on base rate
- Midnight-6am (night shift): +25% on base rate
- 4am-6am (early morning): +15% on base rate
Weekend penalty rates
- Saturday: 1.5× base rate (50% loading)
- Sunday: 2× base rate (100% loading)
Public holiday rates
2.5× base rate (150% loading). Plus, employees are entitled to time-and-a-half for any hours worked, on top of normal day’s pay if it would normally be a working day for them.
Overtime calculations
Overtime applies after 38 hours/week (full-time) or beyond rostered hours (casual). First 2 hours: 1.5× base rate. After 2 hours: 2× base rate.
| Hours | Rate calculation | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hours · Saturday | $28.45 × 1.5 (Saturday) × 1.25 (casual) | $53.34/hour |
Get an Award-compliant cleaning quote
Documented payroll integrity. Real insurance.
What real Perth contracts look like
Three live Perth contracts (anonymised) showing how Award-compliant pricing builds up:
Real 2026 Perth pricing snapshots
Award-compliant
Standard office
150m² · 12 staff · West Perth
$1,120
per month · 3× weekly
Award rates + super + workers’ comp + insurance + supplies + management overhead.
Weekend medical
200m² · 6 staff · Cannington
$2,180
per month · daily Sat/Sun
Same area, but Saturday + Sunday rates apply. Premium reflects Award-mandated 100% Sunday loading.
After-hours industrial
800m² · 22 staff · Welshpool
$3,180
per month · daily 11pm-3am
Night-shift loading (+25%) on industrial-rate hourly rate. Worksafe WA-compliant team.
Why professional cleaning companies charge more than minimum wage
Total employment costs
The hourly wage paid to a cleaner is only part of the cost to the employing company. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Cost component | Per hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly wage (Level 1) | $28.45 | Award minimum |
| Superannuation (11.5%) | $3.27 | Mandatory contribution |
| Workers’ comp (5%) | $1.42 | WA WorkCover |
| Payroll tax (5.5%) | $1.56 | WA threshold-dependent |
| Annual leave loading | $0.55 | 17.5% on annual leave portion |
| Sick leave provision | $0.45 | 10 days/year averaged |
| Direct staff cost | $35.70 | Per hour worked |
| + Equipment & supplies | $1.30 | Vacuums, chemicals, consumables |
| + Insurance ($20M PL) | $1.00 | Spread across hours |
| + Admin & overheads | $3.00 | Quoting, supervision, payroll |
| + Modest margin | $2.50 | Sustainable business |
| All-in client charge | ~$42 | Per hour worked |
That’s why a fair Perth quote sits around $42/hour for compliant operators (see our cleaner vs professional cleaner comparison) — and ranges up to $55/hour for companies with bigger management overheads. Below $40/hour starts getting tight. Below $35/hour, your cleaner is almost certainly being underpaid — which becomes your problem under accessorial liability.
Compliant cleaner vs underpaying cleaner
The price gap reflects a real difference in risk. Here’s exactly what you’re choosing between:
What “$28/hour” vs “$45/hour” actually means
Common comparison
$28/hour quote
Cleaner paid below Award
- Wages below $28.45/hour Award minimum
- No super or partial super only
- No workers’ comp insurance
- Cash payments common
- No payroll tax compliance
- Usually no sick or annual leave
- YOUR business carries accessorial liability
- Penalty exposure: up to $93,900
$42/hour quote
Cleaner properly paid + insured
- Wages at or above Award rates
- 11.5% super paid into fund
- WA WorkCover registered
- PAYG tax withheld correctly
- Payroll tax compliant
- Annual + sick leave provisioned
- Liability transferred to contractor
- You’re protected from Fair Work issues
The $40,000 wage theft case (Perth, 2024)
A Perth office building hired a cleaning contractor at $25/hour in 2023. Fair Work investigation triggered by an anonymous tip discovered the contractor was paying staff $18/hour cash. Building management, despite “not knowing,” was found liable under accessorial provisions for failing to verify wage compliance. Penalties: $40,000 + back-pay obligations passed to building. The “savings” cost $50,000+ all-in.
Hire cleaners who pay their staff properly
Free assessment + payroll compliance documentation.
The “cheap quote” is only cheap until the Fair Work inspection arrives. Then it’s the most expensive contract you’ve ever signed.
Ziyaad Buccus, MD Precimax Clean
The 24-hour compliance check
Email any prospective cleaner asking for: certificate of currency for workers’ comp, sample timesheet showing Award rate, ABN registration confirmation, and proof of super payments. A genuinely compliant operator produces these in 24 hours. Anyone who can’t or won’t is your warning sign.
Common questions, honest answers
What is the minimum hourly wage for cleaners in Australia in 2026?
For Level 1 General Cleaners, the Cleaning Services Award minimum is $28.45/hour for full-time employees. Casual cleaners receive $35.55/hour (includes 25% loading). These rates are reviewed every July by the Fair Work Commission and apply across Australia, including all of Perth.
Can cleaners be paid less than Award rates?
Legally, no — not below the Award unless they are independent contractors with a registered ABN running their own business. Many casual cleaners are misclassified as contractors when they are actually employees, which is wage theft. Penalties for the employer (or the business engaging them through a contractor) include up to $93,900 per offence under Fair Work Act 2024 amendments.
Do penalty rates apply to commercial cleaning?
Yes. Evening work (6pm-midnight) attracts a 15% loading. Early morning work (before 6am) attracts a 15% loading. Saturday work is 1.5× base rate. Sunday work is 2× base rate (100% loading). Public holidays are 2.5× base rate. These rates are mandatory under the Cleaning Services Award.
Why does my cleaner cost $45/hour when minimum wage is $28?
Real employment costs include: wage ($28-30) + 11.5% super ($3.30) + workers’ comp insurance (4-7% = $2) + payroll tax + leave loading + admin overhead + supplies + equipment + insurance. The all-in cost to a compliant cleaning company is roughly $42-55/hour even when the cleaner earns $30/hour. That’s not profiteering — that’s basic cost coverage.
What happens if my cleaning contractor underpays their staff?
Under the Fair Work Act 2024 amendments, businesses that knowingly engage contractors who underpay can face accessorial liability — including penalties up to $93,900 per offence and potential reputational damage. Always request payroll compliance documentation before signing contracts.
How can I verify my cleaner is paying staff correctly?
Ask for: (1) Certificate of Currency for Workers’ Compensation, (2) confirmation of super payments, (3) sample timesheet showing Award rates being paid, (4) ABN registration. A genuine compliant cleaner produces these in 24 hours. Anyone who can’t or won’t is operating outside compliance.
Ready when you are
Hire cleaners who are paid properly
Free site assessment. Award-compliant rates. Documented payroll integrity. The cleaning standard that protects everyone.