In short: Most arborist apprentices in Australia are covered by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020 (MA000101) — not the Horticulture Award. Their minimum pay depends on which year of the apprenticeship they are in, whether they finished Year 12, and whether they are an adult apprentice. Award rates rose 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, so a first-year apprentice now earns at least $14.73 an hour. Because the exact rate turns on the apprentice’s specific circumstances, always confirm the figure for your apprentice using Fair Work’s free Pay and Conditions Tool before you set up payroll.
Which award covers an arborist apprentice?
Getting the award right is the first thing employers get wrong, and it matters because the wrong award means the wrong pay rate. According to Fair Work’s own guidance, two awards can cover arborists, tree loppers and pruners:
- Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020 [MA000101] — applies where the worker is an arborist, tree lopper or pruner and the employer operates in the gardening and landscaping industry. This covers the large majority of private tree-care and arboriculture businesses.
- Electrical Power Industry Award — can apply instead where the work is vegetation clearance around electrical assets and powerlines for an electricity-industry employer.
Coverage follows the nature of the employer’s business and the work performed, so it is worth confirming with the Fair Work Ombudsman’s arborist coverage guide if you are unsure. The rest of this guide assumes coverage under the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award (MA000101), which is the usual case for arboriculture employers.
Arborist apprentice pay rates (from 1 July 2026)
Under MA000101, an apprentice's minimum rate steps up with each year of the apprenticeship, and is higher for apprentices who have completed Year 12 and for adult apprentices. These are the minimum full-time hourly rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 for apprentices who started after 1 January 2014, from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the award.
| Apprenticeship year | Did not complete Year 12 | Completed Year 12 | Adult apprentice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $14.73 | $16.20 | $23.56 |
| Year 2 | $17.67 | $19.14 | $25.74 |
| Year 3 | $22.09 | $22.09 | $25.74 |
| Year 4 | $27.98 | $27.98 | $27.98 |
On a 38-hour week, a first-year apprentice who has not completed Year 12 earns about $560 a week, rising to about $1,063 in fourth year. As a reference point, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour ($1,004.90 a week) from 1 July 2026, and qualified adult employees under the award are paid at or above that.
Confirm before you pay. The exact minimum for your apprentice depends on their start date, year, Year 12 status, age and any allowances. Enter their details into Fair Work's free Pay and Conditions Tool or check the MA000101 pay guide. Rates change again from the first full pay period on or after 1 July each year after the Annual Wage Review.
Arborist salary in Australia: what qualified arborists earn
A qualified arborist in Australia typically earns $75,000 to $90,000 a year in a full-time job, with a median advertised salary of about $81,500 (SEEK, November 2026). That works out to roughly $41 an hour on a 38-hour week. Climbers with crane, EWP or powerline clearance experience, and crew leaders, earn more; consulting arborists' pay depends on their qualifications and reports work.
The award sets the floor, not the going rate. Adult minimum rates under the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award from 1 July 2026 are:
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Level 2 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| Level 3 | $1,074.70 | $28.28 | $35.35 |
| Level 4 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 5 | $1,154.30 | $30.38 | $37.98 |
An employee's level depends on their skills and duties under the award's classification definitions. Most experienced arborists are paid well above these minimums. For employer benchmarks across a whole crew, see our arborist award rates and payroll benchmarks.
What changes an apprentice’s pay rate
- Year of apprenticeship. Rates step up each year as competency increases, as shown above.
- Year 12 completion. An apprentice who has completed Year 12 is entitled to a higher percentage of the trade rate than one who has not.
- Adult apprentices. An apprentice who is 21 or older when they start is entitled to a higher minimum, and an existing adult employee who becomes an apprentice generally cannot be paid less than their previous classification rate.
- School-based apprentices. School-based arrangements are paid for the hours worked and have their own loading; check the award for the specific terms.
Landscaping, horticulture and parks and gardens apprenticeship wages
Landscaping apprentices working for a landscaping or gardening business are covered by the same award as arborists (MA000101), so landscaping apprenticeship wages are the same as the table above: $14.73 an hour in first year for an apprentice who did not complete Year 12, or $16.20 with Year 12. Mature age landscape apprentices (adult apprentices) start at $23.56 an hour.
Horticulture apprenticeship wages can differ. Apprentices in production horticulture, such as nurseries and orchards, are generally covered by the Horticulture Award (MA000028), which has its own rates. Parks and gardens apprentices employed by a council are usually covered by a local government award or the council's enterprise agreement, so check that instrument rather than MA000101.
How to become an arborist apprentice
An arborist apprenticeship combines paid work for a tree care business with training towards the Certificate III in Arboriculture. The usual steps are:
- Find an employer willing to take on an apprentice (tree services, councils and utility contractors all hire apprentices).
- Choose a registered training organisation or TAFE that delivers the Certificate III in Arboriculture.
- Sign a training contract with your employer through an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.
- Work and train until you are assessed as competent, with your pay rising each year as shown above.
For an arborist apprenticeship in Melbourne or elsewhere in Victoria, the Victorian Skills Gateway lists the providers offering the qualification; other states have equivalent course finders. For the business side of hiring, see our guide to arborist payroll in Australia.
Overtime, penalties and allowances
Beyond the base rate, MA000101 sets out penalty and overtime entitlements that apply on top of ordinary pay. As a general guide under the award, overtime is paid at a higher rate (commonly time-and-a-half for the first part of the overtime and double time after that), weekend and public-holiday work attract penalty rates, and casuals receive a 25% casual loading. The award also provides allowances relevant to tree work — for example tool, travel and height-related allowances. Because these vary and are adjusted each year, confirm the current figures through the Pay and Conditions Tool or the award itself rather than relying on a fixed number.
The on-costs: what an apprentice really costs an employer
The award rate is only part of the picture. On top of the base wage, an employer carries:
- Superannuation at 12%. The super guarantee is 12% and, from 1 July 2026, is calculated on qualifying earnings. Under Payday Super, which also started on 1 July 2026, super must be paid with each pay run and reach the fund within 7 business days.
- Workers compensation insurance. Tree work is a higher-risk classification, so premiums are a meaningful cost and vary by state and claims history.
- Payroll tax if your total Australian wages exceed your state threshold (for example $1.2 million in NSW and $1 million in Victoria; check your state revenue office for the current year), though many states offer apprentice wage rebates or exemptions.
- Paid training time. Time an apprentice spends at TAFE or in approved off-the-job training is generally paid time.
- Allowances, tools and PPE as required by the award and the nature of the work.
Government incentives for hiring an apprentice
Hiring an arborist apprentice can attract financial support through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (employer incentives and, in priority occupations, apprentice support payments) as well as state-based payroll tax rebates and training subsidies. The amounts and eligibility change from time to time, so check the current settings at australianapprenticeships.gov.au and with your state training authority before budgeting for them.
Setting up apprentice payroll correctly
The compliance basics for an arborist apprentice are: confirm the correct award and classification, pay at least the applicable minimum for their year and circumstances, pay super at 12% with each pay run (Payday Super), withhold PAYG, keep accurate time and pay records, and apply the annual award increase each 1 July. Getting the award or the apprentice year wrong is the most common — and most expensive — mistake, because underpayments accrue and have to be back-paid.
Frequently asked questions
Which award covers an arborist apprentice?
Most arborist, tree lopper and pruner apprentices are covered by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020 (MA000101), where the employer is in the gardening and landscaping industry. Where the work is powerline vegetation clearance for an electricity-industry employer, the Electrical Power Industry Award can apply instead. Confirm coverage using Fair Work’s arborist coverage guide.
What is the minimum wage for a first-year arborist apprentice?
Under MA000101, the first-year minimum is a proportion of the qualified trade rate and depends on whether the apprentice completed Year 12 and whether they are an adult apprentice. As an indicative figure, a first-year apprentice who has not completed Year 12 is $14.73 per hour from 1 July 2026 ($16.20 with Year 12, $23.56 for an adult apprentice) — but you should confirm the exact rate for your apprentice with Fair Work’s Pay and Conditions Tool.
Do I have to pay an apprentice for time at TAFE?
Yes. Time spent in approved off-the-job training, including at TAFE, is generally treated as paid time under the apprenticeship arrangements.
Can I pay an apprentice above the award rate?
Yes. The award sets the minimum; you can always pay more, and many employers do to attract and retain good apprentices. You cannot pay less than the applicable award minimum.
When do apprentice wage rates increase?
Modern award rates are reviewed each year by the Fair Work Commission and change from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Rates rose 3.5% on 1 July 2025 and 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
How much do arborists make in Australia?
Qualified arborists typically earn $75,000 to $90,000 a year in full-time jobs, with a median advertised salary of about $81,500 (SEEK, November 2026). The award minimum for adults under MA000101 ranges from $26.44 to $30.38 an hour from 1 July 2026.
What is the arborist pay rate per hour?
A median arborist salary of about $81,500 equals roughly $41 an hour on a 38-hour week. Award minimums are $26.44 to $30.38 an hour for adults, and $14.73 to $27.98 an hour for apprentices depending on their year and circumstances.
What do first-year landscaping apprentices get paid?
From 1 July 2026, a first-year landscaping apprentice under the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award earns at least $14.73 an hour if they did not complete Year 12, $16.20 if they did, and $23.56 if they are an adult apprentice.
Are arborist and landscaping apprentices on the same award?
Usually yes. Both are generally covered by the Gardening and Landscaping Services Award 2020 (MA000101) when they work for a gardening, landscaping or tree care business. Production horticulture and council parks roles are usually covered by other awards or agreements.
Take the complexity out of apprentice payroll
Award coverage, apprentice progression rates, super, allowances and the annual 1 July increase add up to a lot of moving parts — and underpayments are expensive to unwind. Arbour Advisory works specifically with arborists and tree-care businesses, so we set up apprentice payroll on the correct award, keep it compliant through each wage review, and handle PAYG and super so you can focus on the work.