Public Holiday Pay Calculator
Estimate public holiday pay in Australia using your chosen holiday rate multiplier, a minimum engagement period and any fixed allowance for the day worked.
Your results
Calculation breakdown
- Payable hours
- max(8, 3 minimum) = 8
- Holiday pay
- $32.00 × 2.5 × 8 hours = $640.00
Assumptions
- There is no universal public holiday multiplier — your award or agreement sets the actual rate, commonly 2.5x for casuals.
- Minimum engagement rules mean you may be paid for more hours than you actually worked.
How this calculator works
Working on a public holiday in Australia usually attracts a significant pay premium, commonly quoted as double time and a half under many awards, though the exact multiplier depends on the award or agreement that applies. Many awards also guarantee a minimum number of hours' pay for any public holiday engagement, even if the actual shift is shorter, to make it worthwhile for an employee to come in. This calculator applies your chosen holiday multiplier to the greater of your actual hours worked and the minimum engagement hours, then adds any fixed allowance for the day. Public holiday entitlements and rates are set by the National Employment Standards and the relevant award or enterprise agreement, and gazetted public holidays can differ slightly between states and territories, so confirm which dates and rates apply to your workplace.
Frequently asked questions
Is public holiday pay always double time and a half?
No. That is a common rate under several awards, but the actual multiplier is set by the award or agreement covering the role and can be different, particularly for casual employees who may also receive their casual loading on top.
What is a minimum engagement period?
Many awards guarantee a minimum number of paid hours whenever an employee is called in to work, including on public holidays, so a short callback shift still pays for several hours rather than only the time actually worked.
Do public holiday dates differ between states?
Yes. While most national public holidays are shared, some dates such as certain regional or state-specific holidays vary between states and territories, so the number of paid public holidays in a year can differ depending on location.
Actual entitlements can depend on your award, enterprise agreement, contract, employment status and individual circumstances.