Public Holiday Pay: How 2.5× Really Works
Public Holiday Pay in Australia (2.5× Explained)
Working a public holiday is one of the most profitable shifts on the calendar.
Most awards pay between 2× and 2.5×, with some including minimum shift lengths.
Standard Public Holiday Rates
Most awards fall into one of these:
2× pay
2.25× pay
2.5× pay
Double time + half
Minimum 4 hours paid (even if rostered less)
The 2.5× multiplier is the most common.
How to Calculate Public Holiday Pay
If your base rate is $32/hr:
2.5× → 32 × 2.5 = $80/hr
If you work 8 hours:
80 × 8 = $640
Minimum Shift Guarantee Example
If your award requires a 4-hour minimum, you get paid four hours even if sent home early.
Example: $35/hr base, 2.5×:
35 × 2.5 = 87.50/hr
Minimum shift: 4 hours → $350 minimum payout
Annual Impact Example
If you work 4 public holidays at $30/hr:
30 × 2.5 = $75/hr
8 hours × $75 = $600/PH
$600 × 4 = $2,400 per year
Related Tools
Overtime Calculator
Take-Home Pay Calculator
