Roof Plumber Salary: Award Rates, Take-Home Pay, and What Changes Your Fortnight

Understanding Your Roof Plumber Salary

If you work as a roof plumber in Australia, your pay is covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020). The award sets minimum hourly rates for different classifications, including allowances for tools, industry, and follow-the-job loading. Your actual roof plumber salary may be higher depending on your employer, experience, and the type of work (residential, commercial, or industrial).

Fair Work publishes the award rates effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. For residential work, a Level 3 roof tiler, slate ridger or roof fixer on daily hire earns $32.43 per hour. On weekly hire, the rate is $31.43 per hour (or $1,194.41 per week). These rates include the applicable allowances. You can check the full award summary on the Fair Work website.

What Changes Your Fortnightly Take-Home Pay

Your take-home pay depends on three main factors: tax brackets, the Medicare levy, and superannuation. Super is paid on top of your salary and does not reduce your take-home. Here’s how to estimate what lands in your bank account each fortnight.

Step 1: Calculate Your Annual Salary

Use your award classification. For a Level 3 roof plumber on daily hire at $32.43 per hour, working 38 hours per week for 52 weeks:

$32.43 × 38 × 52 = $64,081.68 per year

This is your gross salary. If you work overtime (common in construction – the ABS reports average full-time hours of 43 per week for roof plumbers), your pay will be higher. Overtime rates under the award are time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours Monday to Friday, and double time thereafter, with higher rates on Saturdays.

Step 2: Apply Tax Brackets (2026–27)

The Australian Taxation Office uses these resident tax rates:

• $0 – $18,200: Nil
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each $1 over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

For a salary of $64,082:

• Tax on first $18,200: $0
• Tax on $18,201 to $45,000 ($26,800): $26,800 × 0.15 = $4,020
• Tax on $45,001 to $64,082 ($19,082): $19,082 × 0.30 = $5,724.60
• Gross tax: $4,020 + $5,724.60 = $9,744.60

You may be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO). The maximum $700 reduces by 5c per $1 from $37,500 to $45,000, then by 1.5c per $1 from $45,000 to $66,667. At $64,082, LITO = $325 – 0.015 × ($64,082 – $45,000) = $325 – $286.23 = $38.77. So tax after LITO = $9,744.60 – $38.77 = $9,705.83.

Step 3: Add the Medicare Levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For singles, the latest published thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If your income is above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. At $64,082, that’s $64,082 × 0.02 = $1,281.64.

Total tax and Medicare = $9,705.83 + $1,281.64 = $10,987.47.

Step 4: Calculate Fortnightly Take-Home

Annual net pay = $64,081.68 – $10,987.47 = $53,094.21.

Fortnightly take-home = $53,094.21 ÷ 26 = $2,042.08.

This is an estimate. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll rounding. Use our Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

From 1 July 2026, the Super Guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Your employer pays this into your super fund – it is not deducted from your pay. For the example above, your employer contributes $64,081.68 × 0.12 = $7,689.80 per year to your super. This grows your retirement savings without reducing your fortnightly take-home. Learn more on our Super page.

Award Rates and Overtime

The award rates shown are minimums. Many roof plumbers earn above award, especially on commercial projects or with specialised skills. Overtime is common – the ABS reports that 84% of roof plumbers work full-time, averaging 43 hours per week. Under the award, overtime on Monday to Friday is paid at time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours and double time thereafter. Saturday rates are time-and-a-half before noon and double time after noon. These higher rates can significantly boost your fortnightly pay.

Other Factors That Affect Your Pay

• Allowances: The award includes tool allowance, industry allowance, and follow-the-job loading in the rates shown. Additional allowances may apply for height, confined spaces, or specific tasks.
• Location: Pay can vary by state. The ABS 2021 Census shows 26.7% of roof plumbers work in New South Wales. Regional areas may offer different rates.
• Experience: The award has levels from Level 1 to Level 3. Entry-level workers start at Level 1 (e.g., $28.98 per hour daily hire) and progress with skills and qualifications.

Summary

Your roof plumber salary is determined by the award classification and any over-award agreements. To estimate your take-home, start with your hourly rate, calculate annual gross, apply tax brackets and the Medicare levy, and divide by 26. Remember that super is extra and does not reduce your pay. For a detailed breakdown, see our Tax and Medicare guide.

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This guide uses award rates from Fair Work and tax rates from the Australian Taxation Office for 2026–27. It is an estimate only and not a tax assessment. Always consult a tax professional for your individual circumstances.