Frequency of pay

Learn about minimum obligations for paying employees in Australia, including how and when they should be paid.

On this page:

When employees should be paid

Most awards or agreements will set out when employees must be paid:

  • weekly
  • fortnightly, or
  • monthly.

If it doesn't, employees must be paid at least monthly.

How employees should be paid

Employees need to be paid money for their work. They can’t be 'paid in-kind', for example, with goods such as food.

Employees can be paid by one, or a combination, of the following:

  • cash
  • cheque, money order or postal order, payable to the employee
  • electronic funds transfer (for example, EFT or bank transfer).

Tip: Signing a record when paying cash

If the employer is paying wages by cash, the employer and employees should sign a record to confirm the amount of money that has been paid each pay period.

Deductions

There are limited situations when an employer can:

  • make a deduction from an employee's pay
  • require an employee to pay money (for example, an overpayment).

Learn the rules that apply from our Deductions and related issues section.

Award rules about frequency of pay

Find information about the payment of wages in your award by selecting from the list below.

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Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.323

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