What is the legal minimum pay for a mortician in Australia?

The legal minimum depends on whether you are covered by the Funeral Industry Award 2020. If the award applies, the minimum hourly rate ranges from $25.74 (Grade 1, introductory) to $30.38 (Grade 6). Most morticians (funeral directors/embalmers) are classified at Grade 4 or above, meaning at least $27.97 per hour. If you are award-free, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour applies. All rates have 12% superannuation on top.

Can my employer pay me less than the award rate for a mortician?

No, the award rate is a minimum. Your employer must pay at least the classification rate that matches your duties. If you perform higher-grade work for more than two hours in a day or shift, you must be paid the higher rate for that day. Enterprise agreements can set higher rates but not lower. Junior, apprentice, trainee, and supported wage employees may be paid less under specific conditions.

How does the mortician salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). The Funeral Industry Award’s lowest ongoing rate (Grade 2) matches that. Higher grades (Grade 4–6) exceed the national minimum, reflecting the skilled nature of mortician work. The ABS does not publish a specific median for funeral workers, so award rates are the best benchmark for minimum pay.

Mortician Salary Guide: Award Coverage vs Award-Free Rates in Australia

The minimum mortician salary under the Funeral Industry Award 2020 ranges from $25.74 to $30.38 per hour depending on classification, with superannuation paid on top.

Mortician Salary: Award Coverage vs Award-Free Rates

When researching a mortician salary in Australia, the first question is whether the Funeral Industry Award 2020 covers your role. This award sets minimum pay for employees in funeral services, coffin manufacturing, removal of deceased human remains, and ancillary services. If you are a funeral director, embalmer, or mortuary technician, you are likely covered by this award. For award-free workers—those not covered by any modern award or enterprise agreement—the national minimum wage applies.

Funeral Industry Award Minimum Rates (from 1 July 2026)

The award classifies workers from Grade 1 (introductory) to Grade 6 (highest skill). The Fair Work Commission’s consolidated award shows these weekly and hourly minimums:

Classification	Weekly rate	Hourly rate
Grade 1	$978.10	$25.74
Grade 2	$1,004.90	$26.44
Grade 3	$1,029.10	$27.08
Grade 4	$1,062.90	$27.97
Grade 5	$1,119.10	$29.45
Grade 6	$1,154.30	$30.38

A mortician performing embalming, funeral directing, or supervisory duties would typically be at Grade 4 or above. The award also requires employers to pay 12% superannuation on top of these rates (the super guarantee from 1 July 2026).

National Minimum Wage for Award-Free Workers

If you are not covered by the Funeral Industry Award or any other award, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week). Casual workers receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour. Junior workers (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate—for example, a 20-year-old award-free worker gets $25.84 per hour. Which minimum wage applies can help you check your coverage.

Survey Averages and Actual Earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish a reliable median hourly or weekly earnings figure for funeral workers due to high standard error. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that median full-time earnings for funeral workers are not available. This means the award rates are the only authoritative public benchmark for a mortician salary. Actual pay may be higher under enterprise agreements or individual contracts, but the award sets the legal floor.

How the Award and National Minimum Interact

The award’s Grade 2 rate matches the national minimum. However, the award also includes an introductory rate (Grade 1) of $25.74 per hour, which is below the national minimum. This introductory rate is limited to the first six months of employment. After that, the employee must move to at least Grade 2. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that if an award classification rate is lower than the national minimum, the national minimum prevails. So no mortician can be paid less than $26.44 per hour after the introductory period.

Superannuation and Other Entitlements

All minimum rates discussed are before tax and do not include superannuation. The super guarantee requires employers to contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings into a super fund. This is on top of the hourly or weekly wage. For example, a Grade 4 mortician earning $27.97 per hour would also receive $3.36 per hour in super contributions. Rate tables show how super adds to total remuneration.

Award-Free Juniors and Trainees

If you are a junior mortician (under 21) and award-free, your minimum wage is a percentage of the adult national minimum. For example, a 17-year-old earns $15.29 per hour. However, if the Funeral Industry Award covers you, the award’s junior rates may differ. Always check the award first. Trainees and apprentices have their own rates under the Miscellaneous Award or training agreements.

Key Takeaway

For most morticians in Australia, the Funeral Industry Award 2020 sets the minimum salary. The lowest ongoing rate is $26.44 per hour, but skilled roles command $27.97 to $30.38 per hour. Award-free workers fall back on the national minimum of $26.44 per hour. No public survey average exists, so these award rates are the best guide to the pay floor. Always confirm your classification with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.