Annual leave calculator (National Employment Standards)
Full-time employees on 38 hours a week accrue 152 hours of annual leave a year, so after 26 weeks they have 76 hours, worth $3,040 at $40 an hour.
Leave builds up with every ordinary hour worked: 4 weeks a year, 5 for shiftworkers. Enter your hours and time worked to see your balance and what it is worth.
How it's worked out
Yearly entitlement = ordinary hours per week × 4 (or 5 for shiftworkers). Leave accrued so far = yearly entitlement × weeks worked ÷ 52. The balance is what has accrued minus what you have taken, and its value is the balance × your base hourly rate, plus 17.5% if your award or agreement pays loading.
Worked example: 38 hours a week for 26 weeks
A full-time employee on 38 hours a week at $40 an hour, six months in, no leave taken:
| Result | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual leave balance | 76 hours |
| About | 10 days |
| Accrued so far | 76 hours |
| Full year's entitlement | 152 hours |
| Value at your base rate | $3,040.00 |
How to use the Annual Leave Calculator
- Enter your ordinary hours per week and the weeks worked.
- Enter leave already taken.
- Add your base hourly rate, and tick leave loading only if your award or agreement includes it.
Key figures 2026–27
The statutory rates and thresholds this calculator uses, where each comes from, and when we last checked it.
| Figure | Value | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| NES annual leave | 4 weeks a year (5 for shiftworkers), accruing with ordinary hours | Fair Work Act 2009 (compilation C2026C00355, 7 July 2026): ss. 23, 87, 90, 117, 119, 121Checked 2026-11-05 |
| Leave loading | 17.5% only where an award or agreement provides it | Payment for annual leave (leave loading)Checked 2026-11-05 |
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do part-time employees get?
Four weeks of their own ordinary hours. Someone working 20 hours a week accrues 80 hours a year.
Who gets 5 weeks?
Shiftworkers as defined in their modern award or enterprise agreement, and some award-free employees who work continuous 24/7 rosters including Sundays and public holidays.
Does everyone get 17.5% leave loading?
No. The NES doesn't require leave loading. Many awards and agreements provide 17.5% (sometimes the higher of that and the shift loading), so check yours.
What happens to unused leave when I leave a job?
It is paid out at the rate you would have received had you taken it, including leave loading if your award or agreement says loading is paid on termination.
Do casuals get annual leave?
No paid annual leave. Casual employees receive a casual loading instead.
Sources
- Fair Work Act 2009 (compilation C2026C00355, 7 July 2026): ss. 23, 87, 90, 117, 119, 121 (Federal Register of Legislation)
- Annual leave (Fair Work Ombudsman)
- Payment for annual leave (leave loading) (Fair Work Ombudsman)
Estimates, not tax or legal advice. Results come from the published rules for the cases this calculator covers in 2026–27; your own circumstances can change them. Check with the official source: Fair Work annual leave information.
Last checked 2026-11-05 by the TakeHomeWorld editors · How we calculate and check rates · Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is stored.