Annual Leave Calculator (Australia)
Under Australia's National Employment Standards, a full-time employee on 38 hours a week accrues 76 hours of paid annual leave after 6 months (4 weeks/year × 38h, pro-rated to 26/52 weeks). After a full year that's 152 hours. Part-time employees accrue the same way, pro-rata to their own hours — enter your hours and period below to see your own balance.
76 hours of annual leave remaining
Accrued so far: 76h (4 weeks/year × 38h/week, pro-rated to 26/52 weeks) · Already taken: 0h
Based on the National Employment Standards (4 weeks/year statutory minimum, Fair Work Act 2009 ss.86-87). Awards and enterprise agreements can be more generous than the NES; cashing out leave isn't modelled; the 17.5% leave loading isn't universal. Educational estimate, not legal advice. How we calculate →
How annual leave accrues under the NES
Almost all employees (except casuals) accrue 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year under the National Employment Standards, based on their own ordinary hours — not a flat number of days. It accrues gradually from day one of employment (including probation), pro-rata to hours worked.
Example: a full-time employee on 38 hours/week accrues 4 × 38 = 152 hours over a full year. After 6 months (26 of 52 weeks) that's 152 × (26/52) = 76 hours.
Part-time example: the Fair Work Ombudsman's own worked case
Part-time employees accrue leave pro-rata to their own hours, not to a 38-hour full-timer's day count. The Fair Work Ombudsman's own example: an employee working 20 hours a week accrues 4 × 20 = 80 hours over a full year — the equivalent of 4 of her own 20-hour weeks.
Shiftworkers: 5 weeks is conditional, not automatic
Some awards and enterprise agreements grant shiftworkers an extra week (5 weeks total instead of 4) — but only if the award defines that employee as an NES shiftworker with shiftwork provisions. It's not automatic for every employee who happens to work shifts. On 38 hours/week that would be 5 × 38 = 190 hours a year, versus 152 hours under the standard 4-week entitlement — check the applicable award before assuming the extra week applies.
Remaining balance, dollar value, and payment on termination
Subtract any leave already taken from the accrued total to get your remaining balance. If you enter an hourly rate, the calculator also shows the dollar value of that balance — optionally including the commonly-seen 17.5% leave loading, which is award/enterprise-agreement-dependent, not a universal NES entitlement.
That same remaining-balance value is what must legally be paid out at termination — for any reason (resignation, dismissal, redundancy) — at the employee's ordinary rate plus any applicable loading. Unused leave carries over from year to year without limit under the NES itself (though some employers direct "reasonable" use of excess leave).
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do I accrue per year in Australia?
Most employees accrue 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year under the NES, based on their own ordinary hours. On 38 hours/week that's 152 hours a year; on 20 hours/week it's 80 hours.
How many hours of annual leave after 6 months on 38 hours a week?
76 hours — 4 weeks × 38 hours = 152 hours a year, pro-rated to 26 of 52 weeks worked.
Do shiftworkers get 5 weeks of annual leave in Australia?
Only if their award or enterprise agreement specifically defines them as an NES shiftworker with shiftwork provisions and grants the extra week — it is not automatic for every employee who works shifts. Otherwise it's the standard 4 weeks like any other employee.
Is the 17.5% annual leave loading guaranteed in Australia?
No — it's common under many modern awards but is award/enterprise-agreement-dependent, not a universal NES entitlement. Some awards specify a different rate or none at all. Check your specific award before assuming it applies.
What happens to unused annual leave when I leave my job?
Accrued but untaken annual leave must be paid out at termination for any reason (resignation, dismissal, redundancy), at your ordinary rate plus any applicable loading under your award or agreement.
Does unused annual leave expire in Australia?
No — under the NES itself, unused annual leave carries over from year to year without limit. Some employer policies or awards may direct 'reasonable' use of excess leave, but the NES doesn't impose a cap.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →