Overtime Pay in South Australia: Rates, Rules & Your Rights (2026)

Overtime pay in South Australia is governed by the same federal Fair Work framework as other states — but SA has its own public holiday calendar with two notable state-specific holidays: Adelaide Cup Day (second Monday in May) and Proclamation Day (26 December, instead of Boxing Day). These holidays directly affect when the 250% public holiday rate applies for South Australian workers.

This guide covers overtime rates for SA workers, the full 2026 SA public holiday calendar, and the state-specific nuances that affect your pay.

Quick answer: Under most federal modern awards, overtime in SA is paid at 150% for the first 2 hours on weekdays and Saturdays, 200% after that, 200% for all Sunday overtime, and 250% on public holidays. SA-specific public holidays include Adelaide Cup Day (second Monday in May) and Proclamation Day (26 December) — SA observes Proclamation Day instead of Boxing Day.

Use the Dolaro Overtime Pay Calculator to calculate your exact pay including overtime at any rate.

How Overtime Works in South Australia

Almost all private sector workers in South Australia are covered by federal modern awards under the Fair Work Act 2009. The Fair Work Act and modern awards set the overtime rules for most SA employees — not separate South Australian legislation.

SA also has a state industrial relations system for South Australian public sector employees, administered under the Fair Work Act 1994 (SA) — a separate, state-level Act not to be confused with the federal Fair Work Act 2009. SA state public servants, local government workers, and some other SA-based employers are covered by the SA state system and the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET) rather than the federal Fair Work Commission.

For most private sector SA workers, your overtime entitlements come from your federal modern award. If you are unsure which award applies, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool.

Standard Overtime Rates in SA (Federal Awards)

Under most federal modern awards, these are the overtime rates applicable to South Australian workers. Always verify against your specific award.

When overtime is worked	Rate	What you earn on $35/hr base
Monday–Saturday, first 2 hours of overtime	150% (time and a half)	$52.50/hr
Monday–Saturday, after 2 hours of overtime	200% (double time)	$70.00/hr
All overtime on Sunday	200% (double time)	$70.00/hr
All overtime on a public holiday	250% (double time and a half)	$87.50/hr

Saturday Overtime Rates in SA

Saturday overtime in South Australia follows the same federal award structure as every other state. Whether Saturday is overtime depends on your award.

Saturday is outside ordinary hours for clerical, construction, and professional workers — overtime from the first minute at 150% for 2 hours, then 200%.

Saturday is within the ordinary span for retail, hospitality, and healthcare workers — Saturday penalty rates apply to ordinary Saturday hours, and overtime only begins when daily or weekly maximums are exceeded.

Industry / Award	Saturday ordinary rate	Saturday overtime
Retail (General Retail Industry Award)	125% first 3 hrs, 150% after	150% first 2 hrs, 200% after
Hospitality (Hospitality Industry Award)	Within span of hours — penalty rates apply	150% first 2 hrs, 200% after
Clerical / admin (Clerks Private Sector Award)	Outside ordinary hours → overtime	150% first 2 hrs, 200% after
Construction (Building and Construction Award)	Outside ordinary hours → overtime	150% first 2 hrs, 200% after

Sunday Overtime Rates in SA

Under most federal modern awards, all Sunday overtime in SA is paid at 200% (double time) from the first minute. There is no step-up structure — double time applies throughout Sunday. If a shift crosses midnight from Saturday into Sunday, the Sunday rate applies from midnight.

Public Holiday Pay in South Australia

South Australia's public holiday calendar has two significant state-specific differences from most other states. The 250% public holiday rate under most federal awards applies on gazetted SA public holidays.

South Australia Public Holidays 2026

Date	Public Holiday	SA-specific notes
1 January	New Year's Day
26 January	Australia Day
9 March	Adelaide Cup Day	Second Monday in May — see note below
3 April	Good Friday
4 April	Easter Saturday	SA observes Easter Saturday
5 April	Easter Sunday
6 April	Easter Monday
25 April	Anzac Day	Falls Saturday 2026 — substitute Monday 27 April in SA
11 May	Adelaide Cup Day	Second Monday in May — SA only
8 June	King's Birthday
25 December	Christmas Day
26 December	Proclamation Day	SA observes Proclamation Day, not Boxing Day

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, 2026 public holidays. Always verify current dates — SA can vary public holiday arrangements.

The SA-Specific Public Holidays You Must Know

Adelaide Cup Day — Second Monday in May

Adelaide Cup Day is a South Australia-only public holiday falling on the second Monday in May. In 2026 that is 11 May. It marks the Adelaide Cup horse racing carnival and has no equivalent in other states.

Workers in SA required to work on Adelaide Cup Day are entitled to the 250% public holiday rate under most federal awards. Employers with cross-state operations need to manage this carefully — SA workers are on public holiday rates on this day while interstate colleagues work ordinary time.

Note that Adelaide Cup Day was historically observed in May but has at times been moved to different dates or formats. Always confirm the current year's date via the SA Government or Fair Work Ombudsman before finalising payroll.

Proclamation Day — 26 December (Instead of Boxing Day)

This is South Australia's most unusual public holiday distinction. While every other Australian state observes 26 December as Boxing Day, South Australia observes it as Proclamation Day — commemorating the proclamation of the Province of South Australia on 28 December 1836.

The practical difference for overtime purposes: the name is different, but the public holiday still falls on 26 December and the 250% rate still applies for SA workers required to work that day. The distinction matters primarily for record-keeping and payslip descriptions — "Proclamation Day" not "Boxing Day" in SA payroll systems.

In 2026, 26 December falls on a Saturday. SA typically provides a substitute public holiday on the following Monday (28 December). Workers ordinarily rostered on Monday receive a paid day off; those required to work Monday 28 December are entitled to the public holiday rate.

Easter Saturday — SA Observes It

South Australia observes Easter Saturday as a public holiday, same as Victoria and NSW. Workers in SA required to work Easter Saturday are entitled to the 250% public holiday rate. This is different from WA and QLD which do not gazette Easter Saturday as a public holiday.

Anzac Day 2026 — Substitute Monday in SA

When Anzac Day falls on Saturday (as in 2026), South Australia provides a substitute public holiday on the following Monday. Workers ordinarily rostered on Monday 27 April 2026 receive a paid day off. Workers required to work that Monday are entitled to the public holiday rate.

Is Overtime Calculated Daily or Weekly in SA?

The same federal award rules apply in South Australia as nationally. Whether overtime triggers daily or weekly depends entirely on your modern award — there is no SA-specific rule.

Weekly trigger (clerical, retail, professional services): overtime after 38 hours in the week. Daily trigger (construction, some manufacturing): overtime after 8 or 10 hours in a day. Both triggers: some awards use whichever is reached first.

For detailed examples and award-specific guidance, see the Overtime Pay in Australia: Complete Guide.

Do Casual Employees Get Overtime in SA?

Yes — casual employees in South Australia are entitled to overtime under most federal modern awards when they exceed the daily or weekly ordinary hours thresholds. The overtime multiplier is applied to the base rate (before casual loading), not the casual-inclusive rate.

For the full explanation: Are Casuals Entitled to Overtime in Australia?

SA State System Employees

South Australia has its own state industrial relations system for SA public sector employees and some other workers. The Fair Work Act 1994 (SA) — a state-level Act separate from the federal Fair Work Act 2009 — governs these employees. Their overtime entitlements come from SA state awards and enterprise agreements administered by the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET).

Key SA state system industries include:

SA state government departments and agencies
Local government workers in SA
Some other SA-based employers who remained in the state system

SA state system employees should contact SafeWork SA (1300 365 255) or the South Australian Employment Tribunal for queries about their specific overtime entitlements under state awards.

Superannuation and Overtime in SA

Superannuation is not paid on overtime in South Australia or any other state under the default Superannuation Guarantee rules. Overtime is excluded from Ordinary Time Earnings (OTE) under ATO SGR 2009/2. Your employer's 12% SG obligation applies to ordinary wages only — not total earnings including overtime.

For the full detail: Is Super Paid on Overtime in Australia?

How to Calculate Your Overtime Pay in SA

Worked example — Adelaide Cup Day:

Base hourly rate: $32.00/hr Hours worked: 7.6 hours on Adelaide Cup Day (11 May 2026) Award: Clerks Private Sector Award (250% public holiday rate)

7.6 hours × $32.00 × 2.5 = $608.00
Normal Monday: 7.6 × $32.00 = $243.20
Additional pay for working Adelaide Cup Day: $364.80

Worked example — Saturday overtime in Adelaide:

Base hourly rate: $32.00/hr Overtime worked: 3 hours on Saturday (outside ordinary span) Award: Clerks Private Sector Award

First 2 hours: $32.00 × 1.5 = $48.00/hr × 2 = $96.00
Third hour: $32.00 × 2.0 = $64.00/hr × 1 = $64.00
Total Saturday overtime: $160.00

Use the Overtime Pay Calculator to run any scenario instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overtime rate in South Australia?

Under most federal modern awards, overtime in SA is paid at 150% (time and a half) for the first 2 hours on weekdays and Saturdays, then 200% (double time) after that. All Sunday overtime is 200% from the first hour. Public holiday work is 250% (double time and a half). Your specific award may have different rates — verify at fairwork.gov.au.

What is Adelaide Cup Day and when is it in 2026?

Adelaide Cup Day is a South Australia-only public holiday marking the Adelaide Cup horse racing carnival. It falls on the second Monday in May — in 2026 that is 11 May. Workers in SA required to work on Adelaide Cup Day are entitled to the 250% public holiday rate under most federal modern awards. It has no equivalent in other states.

What is Proclamation Day in South Australia?

Proclamation Day is the name South Australia gives to the 26 December public holiday — the day all other states call Boxing Day. It commemorates the proclamation of the Province of South Australia on 28 December 1836. The public holiday still falls on 26 December and attracts the same 250% public holiday rate for workers required to work that day. In 2026, 26 December falls on a Saturday with a substitute Monday (28 December) provided.

Does SA observe Easter Saturday as a public holiday?

Yes. South Australia observes Easter Saturday as a public holiday. Workers required to work Easter Saturday in SA are entitled to the 250% public holiday rate under most federal awards. This differs from WA and QLD which do not gazette Easter Saturday.

Does SA have a substitute public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend?

Yes. When Anzac Day falls on a Saturday (as in 2026), South Australia provides a substitute public holiday on the following Monday (27 April 2026). Workers ordinarily rostered on that Monday receive a paid day off; those required to work it are entitled to the public holiday rate.

What is the SA state industrial relations system?

South Australia has a state-level IR system under the Fair Work Act 1994 (SA) — separate from the federal Fair Work Act 2009 — covering SA public sector employees and some other workers. Their overtime entitlements come from SA state awards administered by the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET). Most private sector SA workers are in the federal system. Contact SafeWork SA (1300 365 255) for state system queries.

Is overtime calculated differently in SA than other states?

No — SA private sector workers are covered by federal modern awards, the same as other states. Overtime rates are set by the award, not the state. What differs in SA is the public holiday calendar — Adelaide Cup Day and Proclamation Day are SA-specific and affect when the 250% public holiday rate applies.

Is super paid on overtime in SA?

No. Superannuation is not paid on overtime in SA under the default Superannuation Guarantee rules. Overtime is excluded from Ordinary Time Earnings (OTE) under ATO SGR 2009/2. See: Is Super Paid on Overtime?

This article is general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Overtime entitlements depend on your specific award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or SafeWork SA (1300 365 255) for state system queries.