What is the minimum wage for a site supervisor?

The minimum wage depends on award coverage. If covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (metal and engineering construction sector), the minimum is the relevant foreperson/supervisor classification rate – for example, $1,202.00 per week for supervising three or more non-trades employees. If award-free, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies. Always check the applicable award or enterprise agreement, as it may set a higher rate.

Does the site supervisor salary include super?

No. The superannuation guarantee is paid on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, employers must contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings into a complying super fund. For a site supervisor earning the award minimum of $1,202.00 per week, the employer would add $144.24 in super, making the total cost to the employer $1,346.24 per week.

How is tax calculated on a site supervisor salary?

Tax is withheld from each pay according to the ATO tax tables. For the 2026–27 income year, a site supervisor earning $1,202.00 per week ($62,504 annually) would pay an estimated $9,967 in tax plus $1,250 in Medicare levy (2% on income above $30,000), leaving a net weekly take-home of about $1,004. This is a simplified estimate; actual tax depends on offsets, HELP repayments, and other factors.

Site supervisor salary: award rates, national minimum and what you take home

The minimum site supervisor salary depends on award coverage; for metal and engineering construction forepersons the award rate is $1,202.00 per week, while award-free supervisors are entitled to the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week.

Site supervisor salary: what you need to know

When researching a site supervisor salary, the first step is identifying which legal minimum applies. Site supervisors in the building industry can be covered by different awards or be award-free, and each has a different pay floor. This guide explains the minimum rates, how they compare with typical earnings, and what your weekly packet looks like after tax and super.

Award coverage for site supervisors

The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that award coverage depends on the employer’s industry and the employee’s duties. Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020, a site supervisor may be covered if their employer operates in the metal and engineering construction sector and has more than 30 employees. The award includes classifications for forepersons and supervisors, with specific minimum rates.

For example, the pay guide published by the Fair Work Ombudsman (effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026) lists a weekly rate of $1,202.00 for a foreperson/supervisor supervising three or more people who are not tradespersons or leading hands. Higher rates apply for supervising tradespersons or larger teams. These rates are the legal minimum for that classification; they do not include tool allowances or other loadings.

Site supervisors in general building and construction or civil construction are not covered by this award. They may fall under the Miscellaneous Award or be award-free. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s guidance on award coverage for site supervisors helps determine the correct instrument.

National minimum wage for award-free supervisors

If no modern award or enterprise agreement covers a site supervisor, the national minimum wage applies. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38-hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the minimum to $33.05 per hour. Award-free junior rates are lower for those under 21, and apprentices and trainees have their own minimums under the Miscellaneous Award.

The weekly packet: tax, Medicare and super

Understanding your take-home pay means looking beyond the gross figure. The superannuation guarantee (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid by the employer on top of the salary. For a site supervisor earning the award minimum of $1,202.00 per week, the employer must contribute an extra $144.24 to super, making the total cost $1,346.24. The employee does not pay tax on super contributions.

Tax is withheld from each pay. Using the 2026–27 ATO tax rates (with full tax-free threshold and no offsets), a weekly salary of $1,202.00 (annual $62,504) would attract about $9,967 in tax plus $1,250 in Medicare levy (2% on income above $30,000). That leaves a net weekly amount of approximately $1,004. This is a simplified model; actual tax may be lower due to the low-income tax offset or higher if you have HELP debt or salary sacrifice.

How does the award rate compare?

The ABS May 2026 report shows full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. The award minimum for a metal and engineering construction foreperson ($1,202.00) is about 58% of that average. Many site supervisors negotiate salaries above the award, especially those with experience or managing large teams. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates.

For award-free supervisors, the national minimum of $1,004.90 is the absolute floor. Actual salaries in the market are often higher, but no official survey average exists for the broad “site supervisor” role. The figures here are legal minimums, not market benchmarks.

Key takeaways

The site supervisor salary floor varies by award coverage. Check the Building and Construction Award if your employer is in metal and engineering construction with more than 30 employees.
Award-free supervisors are entitled to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.
Super is paid on top: 12% from 1 July 2026.
Tax and Medicare reduce gross pay; use the Rate tables to estimate your take-home.
For a detailed explanation of how these figures are derived, see How the figures work.

Always consult the relevant award or agreement, as it may require a higher rate than the national minimum. This guide is for orientation only and is not legal or tax advice.