If you employ surveyors, survey technicians, or survey assistants, you will likely need to follow the Surveying Award 2020 [MA000066] in order to avoid possible underpayment and civil penalties.
In June 2025, the Fair Work Commission announced increases to expense-related allowances under the Surveying Award, including meal and vehicle allowances. So, be sure to review classifications, allowances, and penalty rates to ensure employees receive the correct entitlements.
In this article, we’ll explain the scope of this Award, how to classify employees, and what pay, leave, and penalty rules apply so you can compensate your employees in line with Fair Work rules.
The Surveying Award: A Quick Summary for Busy Managers
Here are the main points employers need to know about the Surveying Award.
- The Surveying Award [MA000066] sets minimum employment standards and pay rates for organisations that employ professional surveyors and other employees who fit within the classifications of the award, such as survey technicians.
- To make sure your business is compliant, check:
- Award coverage: Whether employees are covered by the Surveying Award. Architects who conduct occasional survey work, for instance, are covered by the Architects Award.
- Employee type: Whether the employee works full-time, part-time, or casual hours.
- Employee classification: Which level applies to the employee; this ranges from Level 1 to Level 12.
- Hours and timing of work: Whether the employee works standard weekday hours, weekends and public holidays, or overtime hours. If they work any of these non-standard hours, they’ll qualify for a different pay rate.
- One aspect of this award that can trip up employers is the phased pay structure for some qualified employees who don’t have relevant work experience—their rates may start below the full classification rate and increase over time.
- Overall, most compliance issues stem from incorrect employee classifications, allowance errors, missing annual leave loading, and failing to apply the correct overtime or penalty rates.
Award Basics
The Surveying Award 2020 applies to surveyors (including graduate surveyors and licensed/registered surveyors), survey technicians, and survey assistants. It also includes the employers who engage those employees for work—with the exception of local government employers. As an occupational award, it applies based on the surveying work performed, rather than a specific industry.
The Award sets out minimum employment conditions, including pay rates, classification levels, overtime, penalty rates, and allowances. Employers must also follow rules around breaks and leave entitlements.
The Surveying Award operates alongside the National Employment Standards (NES), which provide the baseline minimum entitlements for employees in Australia. While the NES offers basic protections, the Award dictates additional requirements for surveying as an occupation.
Who is covered under the Surveying Award?
The Surveying Award generally covers professional surveyors, other employees working in surveying roles as defined by the award, and their employers. Those covered by the award include:
- Licensed or registered surveyors
- Surveyors
- Graduate surveyors
- Survey technicians
- Survey assistants
The Surveying Award also covers labour hire businesses and their employees who are surveyors or surveying staff (such as technicians or assistants) placed with an organisation.
The Award applies to employees who primarily perform surveying duties. The following activities can help indicate whether a role falls within that coverage:
- Measuring and determining land features, boundaries, and physical characteristics
- Planning and setting out positions, dimensions, and layouts for land or infrastructure
- Collecting, managing, and analysing spatial or survey data
- Preparing plans, drawings, and related documentation
- Providing technical support, coordination, and administrative activities related to surveying work
Who isn’t covered by the Surveying Award?
The following groups are not covered by the Surveying Award:
- architects
- local government employers
- town planners employed in the town planning industry
Instead, these groups are likely covered by the Local Government Industry Award or the Architects Award.
Coverage self-check: Does the Surveying Award apply?
Consider whether the following statements apply to your organisation and the role you’re evaluating:
- My organisation, labour hire company, or business employs surveyors or surveying support staff.
- I do not work for a local government council.
- The employee is a surveyor, survey technician, survey assistant, graduate surveyor, or licensed/registered surveyor.
- The employee is not covered by a more relevant award, such as a surveyor employed by a Queensland government department. This person would instead be covered by the Queensland Public Service Award.
- The employee is not covered by a different modern award that applies to their primary duties: for instance, an employee who primarily performs construction work would likely be covered by the Building and Construction Award.
- There is no enterprise agreement (EA) in place for the employee. If there is, the EA generally sets pay and conditions, as long as it passes the Better Off Overall Test (BOOT).
If these statements apply, the employee is likely covered by the Surveying Award.
Did You Know?
While some may refer to the award with a recent year following the name, such as “Surveying Award 2025,” it’s known as the Surveying Award 2020 since a substantial overhaul to the Award occurred in 2020.
Coming up: Award dates and deadlines you need to know
| Date | What’s happening? |
|---|---|
| March to June 2026 | The Fair Work Commission reviews all modern award pay rates, including those under the Surveying Award. Decisions about increases are typically announced in early June. |
| 1 July 2026 | Updated award pay rates for those covered by the Surveying Award take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. |
Determining the Surveying Award [MA000066] Requirements
Under the Surveying Award, employees are generally grouped in two ways: by their employment type (such as full-time or part-time) and by their classification, which is based on the skills, training, and experience the role requires.
Employment types
Employee type is generally determined by the number of hours someone works each week and the predictability of their schedule. So, for instance:
- Full-time employees are any workers who are not specifically engaged on a part-time or casual basis. They typically work ordinary full-time hours, which the Award defines as an average of no more than 38 hours per week.
- Part-time employees work fewer than ordinary full-time hours, but their hours are agreed in advance and usually follow a consistent roster pattern.
- Casual employees work on an ‘as needed’ basis. They’re paid an hourly rate plus a 25% casual loading rate in place of paid leave entitlements such as personal leave.
Classifications and levels
Below are some examples of the Surveying Award classifications, levels, and training requirements. For additional details and duties, refer to the Award.
Pro Tip
While some modern awards start with Level 1 as the employee group with the least experience or qualifications, the Surveying Award goes in the opposite order, with Level 12 representing survey assistants with no relevant certificate.
| Level and classification | Typical minimum qualification |
|---|---|
| Level 12 – Survey Assistant Level I | Has no relevant qualification but is capable of assisting the surveyor or survey technician. |
| Level 11 – Survey Assistant Level II | Has earned a Certificate II or the equivalent. |
| Level 10 – Survey Assistant Level III | Has completed 85% of a Certificate III or the equivalent. |
| Level 9 – Survey Technician Level I | Has completed 40% of an Advanced Diploma, 60% of a Diploma, 85% of a Certificate IV, or the equivalent. |
| Level 8 – Survey Technician Level II | Has completed 50% of an Advanced Diploma or 85% of a Diploma, is an entry-point Professional Surveyor (3 year graduate), or the equivalent. |
| Level 7 – Surveying Technician Level III | Has a Diploma or is a Professional Surveyor who has completed a 4 year degree course, a 3 year degree course plus one year experience, or the equivalent. |
| Level 6 – Surveyor Level I | Has completed 80% of an Advanced Diploma, is a Professional Surveyor with a completed degree and experience, or the equivalent. |
| Level 5 – Surveyor Level II | Has an Advanced Diploma, is a Professional Surveyor with a degree and the relevant experience, or the equivalent. |
| Levels 4, 3, 2, and 1 – Surveyor Levels III, IV, V, and VI | Has a 3 or 4 year degree; an Advanced Diploma and enough additional training to meet the requirements of the relevant classification; the education and training to reach the standard equivalent of a 3 or 4 year degree; or the equivalent. |
In the official Award text, you may notice that classifications under this award include percentages that refer to ‘relativity’. These percentages indicate how each classification compares to the benchmark award wage used by the Fair Work Commission. Higher-skilled roles typically have higher relativity percentages, meaning their minimum pay rate is proportionally higher than entry-level positions.
This Might Interest You
This Award allows employers to pay reduced introductory pay rates for employees who have the required academic qualifications but no relevant industry experience. In these cases, pay may be phased in over several years, starting below the full award rate and increasing as the employee gains experience. The progression rules depend on the employee’s qualification level and years of relevant work experience. Refer to clause 17.5 of the Award, ‘Phasing in of wage rate of employees without relevant work experience’, for exact percentages.
Surveying Award Pay Rates and Entitlements Overview
The Surveying Award 2020 lays out minimum standards for how much employees must be paid, as well as breaks, allowances, and leave entitlements.
Minimum base rates
The Surveying Award sets minimum pay rates for employees, which are reviewed annually by the Fair Work Commission.
Below are the adult minimum base rates for full-time, adult employees:
| Levels | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 12 | $948.00 | $24.95 |
| Level 11 | $999.40 | $26.30 |
| Level 10 | $1,068.40 | $28.12 |
| Level 9 | $1,135.50 | $29.88 |
| Level 8 | $1,224.90 | $32.23 |
| Level 7 | $1,250.10 | $32.90 |
| Level 6 | $1,283.50 | $33.78 |
| Level 5 | $1,350.80 | $35.55 |
| Level 4 | $1,384.40 | $36.43 |
| Level 3 | $1,445.10 | $38.03 |
| Level 2 | $1,579.40 | $41.56 |
| Level 1 | $1,781.00 | $46.87 |
The rates for junior employees, or those under age 21, correspond to a percentage of the Level 10 rate and depend on the employee’s age:
| Age | % of Level 10 rate |
|---|---|
| 17 | 52% |
| 18 | 62% |
| 19 | 75% |
| 20 | 88% |
For a complete breakdown of employee classifications and award pay rates, refer to the Surveying Award pay guide.
Penalty rates
Within the Surveying Award, all work performed on a public holiday is deemed to be work outside ordinary hours of duty, and penalty rates apply.
The percentage of the minimum hourly rate is as follows:
| Ordinary hours | Public holiday | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time and part-time employees | 100% | 250% |
| Casual employees | 125% | 312.50% |
Casual workers receive 125% of the baseline minimum hourly rate (even during ordinary hours) because they receive a 25% loading rate.
Overtime rates
Employers must pay all full-time, part-time, and casual employees overtime when they work beyond their ordinary hours. For the Surveying Award, ordinary hours must be no more than an average of 38 hours per week; these hours can span from Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm.
For full-time and part-time employees, the following overtime rates apply as a percentage of the minimum hourly rate:
- First three hours of overtime, Monday to Saturday: 150%
- Any overtime beyond three hours, Monday to Saturday: 200%
- Sunday: 200%
- Public holidays: 250%
For casual employees, the following overtime rates apply as a percentage of the minimum hourly rate:
- First three hours of overtime: 187.5%
- Any overtime beyond three hours: 250%
- Public holidays: 312.50%
A full-time Surveyor Level IV (who’s designated as Level 3 for the award) would earn $38.03 per ordinary hour. If they work overtime on a Sunday, for instance, they should receive 200% of their ordinary rate, which is $76.06/hour.
Breaks
Surveyors and surveying staff covered by this award must be allowed an unpaid meal break of between 30 minutes and 1 hour each day. They can’t be required to work for more than 5 hours without a meal break.
Employees are also entitled to a paid 10-minute morning rest break. The Award allows employees to take a short afternoon refreshment break without formally stopping work, such as having a drink or light snack while continuing their duties.
If an employee is required to work more than 1.5 hours of overtime, they must receive a 20-minute rest break (paid at ordinary rates) before starting overtime.
Allowances
Employees are given extra compensation, known as allowances, for costs connected to their work. The Surveying Award allowances include the following:
| Allowance | Amount | To be paid |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance for more than 2 hours of overtime after ordinary finishing time | $15.96 or meal provided | For each meal break taken |
| Meal allowance for more than 4 hours of work on Sunday or public holiday | $15.96 or meal provided | For each meal break taken |
| Vehicle allowance | $0.98 | Per km, when an employee agrees to use their own vehicle for work-related travel |
| Living away from home | All reasonable travel expenses and fares, plus ordinary hourly rates for travel time | When an employee is required to work away from their usual workplace and stay overnight |
| Excess travel time | Ordinary hourly rates for travel time | When an employee is required to work away from their usual workplace, for travel time that exceeds an employee’s normal commute time |
| Excess travel fares | All reasonable fares that exceed the fares for their commute to their normal workplace | When an employee is required to work at location away from their usual workplace |
| This is a summary. For more detailed information about each allowance and conditions, refer to the Surveying Award or download the Fair Work Pay Guide for the Award. | ||
Did You Know?
Fair Work rules require that pay records and payslips identify base pay and allowances separately; they can’t be combined into one amount.
Leave entitlements
Most leave entitlements are governed by the NES, which applies to employees regardless of the award covering them. However, the Surveying Award has some additional rules surrounding leave.
| Annual leave provision | What employers should know |
|---|---|
| Annual leave loading | Under this award, employees taking annual leave must receive their normal pay for ordinary hours plus an additional 17.5% annual leave loading. |
| Annual leave in advance | Employers and employees may agree in writing for leave to be taken before it has accrued. |
| Excessive leave accruals | An employee is considered to have an excessive balance if they have more than 8 weeks of annual leave. Employers and employees should try to agree on how the leave will be taken to reduce the balance. |
| Shutdown periods | Employers may direct employees to take annual leave during a temporary business shutdown, provided at least 1 month’s written notice is given. |
| Cashing out annual leave | Employees must retain at least 4 weeks of leave, and no more than 2 weeks can be cashed out within 12 months. |
See the Award for more information about employer directives to take leave and employee requests to take leave.
Besides annual leave, the NES also provides for the following types of leave:
- Personal leave or carer’s leave
- Compassionate leave
- Parental leave and related entitlements
- Community service leave
- Family and domestic violence leave
- Public holiday entitlements
How to Determine Surveying Award Coverage
Determining how the Surveying Award applies in practice can take time, particularly working out accurate employee classifications, pay rates, and entitlements. To help simplify the process, we’ve outlined a real-world example for additional guidance.
Surveying Award [MA000066]: A practical, real-world example
Jamie is employed by a construction company that undertakes large commercial and infrastructure projects. As part of the company’s project delivery team, she performs surveying work to support site planning, engineering layouts, and construction accuracy.
Jamie works full-time, or 38 hours per week, with a schedule of Monday to Friday, 7.00am to 3.30pm. She has occasional extended hours during project deadlines. Her duties include:
- Gathering and setting out field data for engineering surveys, under supervision.
- Using surveying software to process field measurements and produce spatial data.
- Preparing worksheets and applying checks to ensure accuracy.
- Preparing plans and drawings for project teams.
- Documenting calculations for review by a Professional Surveyor.
Even though Jamie works for a construction company, her duties align with the occupational classifications listed in the Surveying Award 2020 [MA000066]. This means the Surveying Award applies to her role.
Since she performs both field and office-based surveying work, prepares plans and data for project use, and applies checks to her own work before it is reviewed by a Professional Surveyor, Jamie would be classified as a Surveyor Level I (Level 6). Her role goes beyond a surveying technician, as she is responsible for producing and validating surveying outputs under controlled supervision, rather than simply assisting or following prescribed instructions.
Under this classification, she’d make at least:
- Base rate (for ordinary weekday hours): $33.78/hour
- Overtime (first 3 hours, Monday–Saturday, 150%): $50.67/hour
- Overtime (beyond 3 hours, Monday–Saturday, 200%): $67.56/hour
- Sunday rate (200%): $67.56/hour
- Public holiday rate/penalty rate (250%): $84.45/hour
For example, if Jamie works 3 hours beyond her ordinary hours to meet a project deadline on a Tuesday, she would receive a 150% overtime rate of $50.67/hour. In total, she would earn $151.92 for those three hours of overtime work.
In addition, since she worked more than 2 hours of overtime past ordinary hours, her employer would also provide her a meal or give her a meal allowance of $15.96.
If she works more than 3 additional hours in a shift, or on a Sunday, the higher overtime rate of 200% applies to those extra hours. Public holiday work would also attract penalty rates.
Common scenarios and compliance tips
1. An engineering firm hires professional surveyors
Key checks:
- Confirm the award and role classifications: Check to make sure roles are covered by the Surveying Award (not, for example, the Building and Construction Award), and classified based on actual surveying duties.
- Confirm pay: Pay the correct minimum rate for their level. If the employee works overtime or on public holidays, apply the correct overtime and penalty rates.
- Confirm travel and working location arrangements: If employees are required to work at a site other than their usual workplace, check whether excess travel time and additional travel fare allowances apply. Time spent travelling beyond the normal commute may be treated as paid working time.
- Check living away from home entitlements: If employees are required to work away from their usual location and stay overnight, they may be entitled to fares, accommodation, and reasonable living expenses, as well as payment for travel time in line with the award.
2. A mining company hires surveying staff to support 24/7 site operations, with a mix of full-time, part-time, casual, and junior staff
Key checks:
- Confirm the correct employment types: Make sure it’s clear whether workers are full-time, part-time, or casual employees.
- Confirm role classifications: Check all roles based on actual duties, including levels and qualifications.
- Confirm pay: Confirm the correct overtime, Sunday, and public holiday penalty rates and ensure that casual workers are given their 25% loading rate. Make sure junior employees are given the correct percentage of the Level 10 rate based on their age.
- Check minimum engagement rules: For instance, part-time employees must be rostered on for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours for any shift.
3. A government department contracts surveyors from a labour hire group for a public infrastructure project
Key checks:
- Confirm award coverage: Since surveyors are working as contractors, performing surveying duties and employed by a private firm, the award applies. This is the case even though they are working on a government project, so a state-specific award or the Local Government Industry Award would not apply in this instance.
- Confirm meal allowances: If employees work more than 2 hours’ overtime after their usual finishing time, or work more than 4 hours’ overtime on a Sunday or public holiday, provide an adequate meal or pay a $15.96 allowance for each rest break.
- Confirm vehicle allowances: If employees agree to use their own vehicle to complete duties, reimburse $0.98 per kilometre of travel.
Common employer mistakes to avoid
Some employers find it difficult to stay compliant with the Surveying Award because it is highly detailed. To make the process a little easier, here are the most common employer mistakes to avoid:
- Misclassifying employees by not updating their level: For instance, some employers may forget to progress a survey assistant from Level II to Level III as their skills and responsibilities increase. Review classifications regularly to ensure employees are paid correctly under the Award.
- Failing to review award changes: Award rates, classifications, and conditions can change over time. Employers should stay up to date to support ongoing compliance and ensure correct pay.
- Overlooking annual leave loading: Some employers mistakenly pay annual leave at base rate only, but this award requires 17.5% annual leave loading.
- Assuming a flat salary covers requirements: Flat annual salaries don’t automatically cover extra entitlements like overtime penalties and allowances. Conduct better off overall (BOOT) tests regularly and record overtime diligently to avoid this mistake.
Glossary
Allowances
Extra payments or contributions paid to employees, in addition to regular wages, to cover specific work-related expenses or conditions. They may also be given for the use of special skills or qualifications.
Annual leave loading
Additional payment on top of ordinary pay while employees are on annual leave. This helps compensate employees for the loss of overtime and penalty rates they would have earned if they were working.
Casual loading
An additional percentage paid to casual employees instead of paid leave and other entitlements. Under this award, casual employees receive a 25% loading on their hourly rate.
Ordinary hours
The standard hours an employee is scheduled to work at their base rate (before overtime applies).
Penalty rates
Higher rates that apply when employees work during certain hours outside typical business hours. For the Surveying Award, this is public holidays; for other awards, it could include weekends or non-standard hours.
Resources and Links
For further reading and official resources, visit:
- Surveying Award 2020 [MA000066]: The official Award text.
- Surveying Award [MA000066]: Fair Work Ombudsman document summarising who is and isn’t covered by the Award.
- Surveying Award Pay Guide: A guide with lists of the current minimum pay rates, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime under the Award.
- Fair Work Record-Keeping Requirements: General guidance on pay slips, pay records, and which documents employers need to keep.
- Annual Leave Cash-Out Agreement: A ready-to-use agreement template.
- Annual Leave in Advance Agreement: A template for agreeing to annual leave in advance.
FAQs
What is the Surveying Award?
The Surveying Award 2020 [MA000066] is a modern award that sets out the minimum pay rates and employment conditions for surveyors and related roles in Australia. Employers who hire surveyors, surveying technicians, or survey assistants may need to comply with this award to ensure employees receive the correct pay and entitlements.
Which employers are excluded from the Surveying Award?
Some employers and employees are not covered by the Surveying Award. They include local government employers, architects, and some town planners.
However, coverage can still apply in certain situations. For example, labour hire businesses that employ surveyors and place them with another organisation are typically covered by the Surveying Award, even if the host organisation operates in a different industry.
Does the Surveying Award cover surveying students?
Yes. The Surveying Award includes several classification levels that may apply to students or trainees working in surveying roles while completing their studies. These classifications allow employees to perform surveying-related duties while progressing through recognised qualifications.
For example, entry-level roles such as Level 12 – Survey Assistant Level I may include employees assisting surveyors or surveying technicians, even if they haven’t completed a relevant qualification yet. As they progress through training or gain experience, they may move into higher classifications, such as Survey Assistant or Survey Technician roles, which correspond to partial completion of qualifications like certificates, diplomas, or advanced diplomas.
Disclaimer
The information provided here is a summary only and does not constitute legal advice. While we have made every effort to ensure the information provided is up to date and reliable, we cannot guarantee its completeness, accuracy, or applicability to your specific situation. Laws change frequently, and outcomes may vary depending on your business circumstances. We recommend consulting a qualified employment lawyer before making decisions related to workforce management. Please note that we cannot be held liable for any actions taken or not taken based on the information presented on this website.