What is the difference between a safety officer and a security officer under Australian awards?

A safety officer typically refers to a work health and safety (WHS) professional, while a security officer is employed to protect property and people. The Security Services Industry Award covers security officers. Safety officers may be covered by other awards such as the Manufacturing Award or Professional Employees Award, or may be award-free. Always check the classification that best matches the duties performed.

Does the Security Services Industry Award apply to all security officers?

The award applies to employers in the security services industry and their employees with classifications defined in Schedule A. It covers full-time, part-time, and casual employees. However, some employees may be covered by an enterprise agreement or another modern award if the work is more appropriate to that award. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides guidance on coverage.

How is casual loading calculated for security officers under the award?

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate for all ordinary hours. This loading is paid instead of entitlements like paid leave. For example, a Level 1 security officer’s casual hourly rate is $35.53 (base $28.42 plus 25%). Penalty rates for shift, weekend, or public holiday work are paid on top of the casual rate.

Safety Officer Salary: Award Rates for Security Officers Under the Security Services Industry Award

The Security Services Industry Award sets minimum hourly rates for security officers from $28.42 (Level 1) to $31.20 (Level 5) as of July 2026, with casual loading and penalty rates; safety officers in other industries may be covered by different awards.

Understanding the safety officer salary under Australian awards

If you are searching for a safety officer salary, it is important to distinguish between a work health and safety (WHS) officer and a security officer. In common usage, the term is sometimes applied to security personnel, but the legal minimums differ. This guide focuses on the Security Services Industry Award 2020, which sets minimum rates for security officers. For WHS officers, award coverage may fall under other instruments such as the Manufacturing Award or the Professional Employees Award, or they may be award-free and entitled only to the national minimum wage.

Award coverage for security officers

The Security Services Industry Award covers employers in the security services industry and their employees with classifications listed in Schedule A. This includes full-time, part-time, and casual employees working as security officers. The award applies to the exclusion of other modern awards unless an enterprise agreement or another award is more appropriate to the work performed. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a pay guide summarising the rates and conditions.

Minimum rates under the Security Services Industry Award

From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly and hourly rates for security officers are:

Security Officer Level 1: $1,080.10 per week / $28.42 per hour
Security Officer Level 2: $1,111.00 per week / $29.24 per hour
Security Officer Level 3: $1,129.80 per week / $29.73 per hour
Security Officer Level 4: $1,148.70 per week / $30.23 per hour
Security Officer Level 5: $1,185.70 per week / $31.20 per hour

These rates are for ordinary hours of work (38 per week or an average of 38 over a roster cycle). Employers must also pay superannuation contributions of at least 12% on top of ordinary time earnings, as required by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.

Casual and penalty rates

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For example, a casual Level 1 security officer earns $35.53 per hour for ordinary hours. Penalty rates apply for shift work, weekend work, and public holidays. The award provides specific penalty percentages for permanent night work, overtime, and work on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. For instance, a Level 1 security officer working permanent night shift Monday to Friday receives $42.63 per hour for the first two hours of overtime.

Comparison with the national minimum wage

The adult national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). All award rates for security officers are above this floor. The award also includes an introductory rate of $25.74 per hour for the first six months, which is below the national minimum but permitted under the award terms. Casual employees under the award receive at least $33.05 per hour (national minimum casual rate) but the award casual rates are higher for most classifications.

How the figures work

The rates in this guide are sourced from the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide. They reflect the 4.75% increase from the 2026 Annual Wage Review. Always check the specific award provisions, as enterprise agreements or individual contracts can set higher rates. For award-free employees, the national minimum wage applies, with junior percentages for those under 21. For more detail, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables.

Important notes

The term "safety officer salary" is not a classification under the Security Services Industry Award. If your role involves occupational health and safety duties, you may be covered by a different award or be award-free.
The rates above are minimums. Actual pay may be higher due to enterprise agreements, market conditions, or individual negotiations.
Superannuation is an employer payment on top of the base rate. The 12% guarantee applies to ordinary time earnings.
Casual employees do not receive paid leave but receive a loading in lieu.

For further guidance, refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website or the Fair Work Commission’s award pages. This site provides orientation only and is not a pay determination or legal advice.

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