Which award covers a site supervisor?

Award coverage depends on the employer's industry and the employee's duties. According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, site supervisors may be covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award if their employer is in the metal and engineering construction sector and has more than 30 employees. If no industry award applies, they may fall under the Miscellaneous Award or be award-free, entitled only to the National Minimum Wage and the National Employment Standards.

How do I convert my hourly rate to an annual salary?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52. For a full-time employee on a 38-hour week, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. This gives your gross annual pay before tax and super. Remember that this assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances.

Is superannuation included in the hourly rate?

No, superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For example, if your annual gross pay is $60,000, your employer must contribute an additional $7,200 into your super fund.

Site Supervisor Salary: How to Calculate Your Pay from Hourly Rates

A site supervisor's annual salary is estimated by multiplying their hourly rate by 38 hours per week and 52 weeks, then adding superannuation on top.

Understanding the Site Supervisor Salary

If you're working as a site supervisor in the building industry, your pay can vary depending on the award that covers you, your experience, and whether you're employed on a daily, weekly, or casual basis. This guide explains how to calculate a site supervisor salary from an hourly rate, using a standard 38-hour week and a 52-week year, and what to consider for tax and superannuation.

How to Calculate Annual Pay from an Hourly Rate

The basic formula is straightforward: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For a full-time employee working 38 hours per week, the calculation is:

Annual gross pay = hourly rate × 38 × 52

For example, if your hourly rate is $30.00, your annual gross pay would be $30.00 × 38 × 52 = $59,280. This is before tax and before superannuation, which is paid on top.

You can also work out your fortnightly pay by multiplying your weekly pay by 2. For the example above, weekly pay is $30.00 × 38 = $1,140, so fortnightly pay is $2,280.

This method assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. If you receive a salary that already includes these components, your actual annual earnings may differ.

Award Coverage for Site Supervisors

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, award coverage for a site supervisor depends on the industry of their employer and their specific duties. A site supervisor is typically not working 'on the tools' and is responsible for managing daily operations on a building site, including workplace health and safety, overseeing employees, and liaising with contractors.

Building and Construction General On-site Award may cover a site supervisor if their employer is in the metal and engineering construction sector and has more than 30 employees. The award provides classifications and pay rates for roles such as foreperson or supervisor.
Other building industry awards (e.g., Plumbing Award, Joinery Award) do not have a specific classification for site supervisors.
Miscellaneous Award may apply if no industry award covers the employer and the employee is not a managerial or professional employee.
Award-free site supervisors are entitled only to the National Minimum Wage and the National Employment Standards.

The Modern Awards Pay Database from the Fair Work Commission contains the latest minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award. The 2026 data incorporates changes from the Annual Wage Review 2026.

Pay Rates Under the Building and Construction Award

The Building and Construction General On-site Award pay guide shows minimum hourly rates for different classifications. For example, a Level 1 (CW/ECW 1) employee on daily hire might earn $25.76 per hour (level a) up to $27.03 (level d), while a Level 2 employee earns $27.55 per hour. These rates include industry allowance, follow-the-job loading, and tool allowance where applicable. Weekly hire rates are slightly lower per hour because they are calculated over a 38-hour week.

If you are a casual employee, you receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate. For example, a casual Level 1 (level a) would earn $32.20 per hour ($25.76 × 1.25). The pay guide also includes overtime rates: Monday to Friday first 2 hours at time-and-a-half, after 2 hours at double time, and Saturday rates vary.

National Minimum Wage and Casual Loading

For site supervisors not covered by an award, the National Minimum Wage applies. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum rate $33.05 per hour. You can use our casual loading page to see how this affects your pay.

Superannuation and Tax

Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For example, if your annual gross pay is $60,000, your employer must contribute an additional $7,200 into your super fund. This is not deducted from your hourly rate. Learn more about super and packaging.

Tax is calculated using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

Nil on the first $18,200
15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
45% on income above $190,000

Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with reductions for low-income earners). The tax-free threshold is included. Use our take-home pay tool to estimate your net pay after tax and Medicare.

Putting It All Together: Example Calculation

Let's say you are a site supervisor covered by the Building and Construction Award at Level 2, earning $27.55 per hour (daily hire rate). You work 38 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Weekly pay: $27.55 × 38 = $1,046.90
Fortnightly pay: $1,046.90 × 2 = $2,093.80
Annual gross pay: $27.55 × 38 × 52 = $54,438.80
Superannuation (12%): $54,438.80 × 0.12 = $6,532.66 (paid on top)
Estimated tax (2026–27): approximately $7,717 (including Medicare) – use our hourly conversion tool for a precise estimate.

If you are a casual, your hourly rate would be $27.55 × 1.25 = $34.44, giving an annual gross of $34.44 × 38 × 52 = $68,053.44.

Important Considerations

This calculation is an estimate. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to you. The reference tables on our site provide more detailed pay rates for various awards. For a quick calculation, use the timesheet to enter your hourly rate and see your annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay.

Remember that site supervisor salaries can also be influenced by experience, qualifications, and the size of the employer. The Fair Work Ombudsman's guidance on award coverage is a good starting point to determine your correct classification and entitlements.