How annual leave builds up
Annual leave accrues progressively, based on the ordinary hours you work. A full-time employee on 38 hours a week earns 152 hours a year, which is about 2.92 hours for every week worked. You keep accruing while you’re on paid leave, but accrual pauses during unpaid leave. Your balance carries over from year to year, because NES annual leave doesn’t expire.
Part-time annual leave
Part-time leave is pro-rata to your ordinary hours. If you work 20 hours a week, you accrue 80 hours a year, which is still 4 of your own working weeks.
Shiftworkers: 5 weeks
Employees who qualify as shiftworkers under an award accrue 5 weeks a year. Not every person who works shifts qualifies, so check your award or agreement before ticking the box.
What your leave is worth
When you leave a job, unused leave is paid out at your current rate. Leave loading is added only where your award provides it. For the full gross-to-net picture, use the Final Pay Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do I get per year?
Full-time and part-time employees accrue 4 weeks of paid annual leave for each year of service. Award-defined shiftworkers accrue 5 weeks. Casual employees have no annual leave entitlement.
How is part-time annual leave calculated?
It is pro-rata to your ordinary hours. You accrue the equivalent of 4 of your own working weeks each year, so 20 hours a week builds 80 hours a year.
Does annual leave expire?
No. Annual leave under the National Employment Standards accumulates from year to year and does not expire, although some awards and agreements have rules about excessive leave balances.
Do I accrue annual leave while I’m on leave?
You keep accruing while on paid leave, including paid annual leave. You do not accrue during unpaid leave, which is why this calculator lets you subtract weeks of unpaid leave.
Is unused annual leave paid out when I leave?
Yes. When your employment ends, your employer must pay out any accrued but untaken annual leave, generally at your base rate of pay.
What is leave loading?
Leave loading is an extra 17.5% paid on top of your annual leave pay. It only applies where your award or agreement says so, so tick the box only if yours does.