Annual Leave Accrual Calculator (Australia)
Find out how many hours and days of annual leave you've accrued under the Fair Work Act National Employment Standards. The NES gives full-time Australian employees 4 weeks per year of paid annual leave, accruing progressively from day one. Shift workers get 5 weeks.
How NES annual leave accrual works
Under section 87 of the Fair Work Act 2009, full-time and part-time employees accrue annual leave progressively throughout the year based on their ordinary hours of work. Accrual rate is:
- Full-time (38 ordinary hours/week): 4 weeks × 38 hours = 152 hours/year ≈ 2.923 hours per week
- Part-time: pro-rata based on ordinary hours worked
- Continuous shift worker: 5 weeks × 38 hours = 190 hours/year ≈ 3.654 hours per week
Leave accrues from day one of employment. There is no waiting period before you start accruing.
Annual leave accrual rates (full-time equivalent)
| Ordinary hours/week | Annual entitlement | Hours per week | Hours per day worked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 (standard FT) | 152 hours / 20 days | 2.923 | 0.585 |
| 30 (part-time) | 120 hours / 16 days | 2.308 | 0.462 |
| 20 (part-time) | 80 hours / 10.5 days | 1.538 | 0.308 |
| 38 (shift worker, 5 weeks) | 190 hours / 25 days | 3.654 | 0.731 |
When annual leave does NOT accrue
- Casual employees — receive 25% casual loading instead of leave entitlements.
- Unpaid leave — annual leave does not accrue during leave without pay or unpaid parental leave (with limited exceptions).
- Unauthorised absences — periods where you weren't entitled to be away.
- Independent contractors — not employees, so the NES doesn't apply.
Annual leave does continue to accrue during paid annual leave, paid personal/carer's leave, paid community service leave, and paid public holidays.
Cashing out annual leave
An employee can cash out accrued annual leave only if all of the following apply:
- The award, enterprise agreement, or contract permits it
- The cash-out is made by a separate written agreement each time
- The employee retains at least 4 weeks of accrued leave after the cash-out
- The payment is at least equal to what the employee would have been paid for taking the leave
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes templates for the required cash-out agreement.
Leave loading (17.5%)
Many modern awards include an annual leave loading of 17.5% on top of base wages when annual leave is taken. Whether you get leave loading depends on:
- Whether your modern award includes it (most awards do)
- Whether your enterprise agreement preserves or removes it
- Whether you are award-free (no automatic loading)
Leave loading is paid on the base rate of pay for the period of leave, not on overtime or shift allowances.
Plan your leave dates
Use the Days From Date Calculator to find your return-to-work date after taking leave.
Open Days From Date CalculatorFrequently asked questions
Official sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Annual leave
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Taking annual leave
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) on Federal Register of Legislation
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Official P.A.C.T. Leave Calculator
This calculator and guide are general information only and not legal advice. Your specific entitlements depend on your award, contract, and personal circumstances.