Long Service Leave Calculator Australia 2026
Long service leave is paid time off you earn after many years with one employer. The rules differ in every state and territory, so pick yours below. This calculator gives a statutory-minimum estimate and shows its working.
Calculate your long service leave
- These amounts are gross estimates before tax.
- Your award, enterprise agreement or contract can give you more than the statutory minimum.
- Long service leave paid out on termination is taxed. Use the Final Pay Calculator for the net figure.
- Portable industry schemes (construction, cleaning, community services) have different rules and aren't covered here.
- All calculation happens in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How your long service leave is worked out, step by step
Take example A: a New South Wales employee with 10 years of continuous service, still employed, on $1,500 a week and with no leave taken.
| 1. Service | 10 years |
|---|---|
| 2. Accrual rate (NSW) | 26/30 of a week for each year (2 months after 10 years) |
| 3. Accrued weeks | 10 × 26/30 = 8.6667 weeks |
| 4. Less leave taken | 8.6667 − 0 = 8.6667 weeks |
| 5. Value | 8.6667 weeks × $1,500.00 = $13,000.00 |
How we round
We calculate dollars from the exact accrual and never round the weeks first. Victoria's official guide does round weeks first: 11 years gives 9.53 weeks, or $10,483 at $1,100 a week. Exact accrual gives $10,486.67, a $3.67 rounding difference that we disclose rather than hide.
Why your state matters
Each state and territory has its own Act, and they differ on how much you earn, when you can use it and when it is paid out.
- NSW, Queensland, WA and Tasmania: about 8.6667 weeks (two months) after 10 years, built up at 26/30 of a week a year.
- Victoria: one-sixtieth of your time worked, with full entitlement after 7 years.
- South Australia: 1.3 weeks for each completed year, so part-years don't count.
- Northern Territory: 1.3 weeks for each year.
- ACT: about 0.8667 weeks a year, with full entitlement after 7 years.
The pro-rata trap: when leaving early still pays
Most states let you take long service leave in full at 10 years, but Victoria and the ACT use 7. If your employment ends before the full mark you may still be paid pro-rata, but only once you pass the earlier window: 5 years in NSW and the ACT, 7 years in Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania and the NT, and 7 years in Victoria.
Inside the window, the reason you left decides everything. In NSW an ordinary resignation for a new job does not qualify, while illness, redundancy, death or dismissal that isn't serious misconduct does. In WA the same resignation does qualify. Check your state before you resign.
Frequently asked questions
Does long service leave apply to part-time and casual workers?
Yes. Part-time workers earn long service leave on the same basis as full-time workers, and the leave is usually paid at their ordinary (often averaged) weekly hours. Casual workers can qualify too if their work is regular and continuous, though the tests differ by state, so check your state's rules.
What counts as continuous service?
Continuous service means an unbroken run of work for one employer. Paid leave, most unpaid leave and short gaps are usually counted or bridged, and service generally carries across if the business changes hands. Each state sets its own rules on breaks, so a long gap or a resignation and rehire can reset the clock.
Is my long service leave payout taxed?
Yes. Long service leave paid out when you finish up is taxable income, and your employer withholds PAYG tax from it. How much is withheld depends on your service dates and circumstances, so use our Final Pay Calculator for a net figure and check the ATO's guidance for your situation.
Can my employer make me take long service leave?
Usually not without notice. Most state laws expect long service leave to be taken by agreement, or on reasonable written notice once you are entitled to it. The notice period and the rules for refusing differ between states, and your award or agreement may add to them.
What happens to my long service leave if the business is sold?
In general your service continues with the new owner, so the clock doesn't restart. The sale agreement may transfer your accrued balance or the seller may pay it out, depending on your state and how the sale is structured. Ask for the arrangement in writing before the handover.
Do public holidays extend my long service leave?
In some states, public holidays that fall during your leave are not deducted from it and so extend the break, while others treat them differently. Check your state's Act or your agreement, and confirm with your employer how they will be recorded before you book time off.
Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman, and the long service leave pages of the NSW, Victorian, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmanian, ACT and NT governments. Rules checked: October 2026.
This calculator gives an estimate only. It is not legal or financial advice. Confirm your entitlement with your employer, your award or agreement, your state regulator or the Fair Work Ombudsman.