2026 Classifications

CW1 vs CW4 vs EBA — Construction Rates 2026

Q: What about the Carpenter Full Tools rate — is it worth paying?

For short, high-skill fitout or finishing work where tool supply delays would hurt progress, yes. A Carpenter Full Tools at $85/hr (midpoint) versus a CW4 carpenter at $69/hr is $16/hr more, or ~$29k/year — but the worker brings their own saws, drills, clamps, nail guns, and the judgment to use them without site supervision. For long-term commercial work with a company-issued tool kit, CW4 is usually more cost-effective.

Q: Do apprentices have different charge rates?

Yes. Apprentices (first, second, third, fourth year) have specific pay and charge rates below CW4 — typically 55%–85% of the full trade rate depending on year. EIR supplies apprentices through direct employer arrangements; contact 1800 LABOUR to discuss specific apprentice needs.

A CW4 carpenter charges $64.50–$75.00/hr ex-GST through labour hire in 2026 — not $38/hr. The lower number is the award pay ratethe worker receives. The charge rate is what you pay EIR all-in, including super, WorkCover, payroll tax, leave, public liability and supervision. Every CW1–CW5 + EBA classification compared below.

Direct answer

Two numbers get confused on this question. The CW4 award pay rate is what the worker takes home — around $38–$39/hr under the Building & Construction General On-site Award (MA000020) from 1 July 2025. The CW4 labour hire charge rate is what you pay EIR — $64.50–$75.00/hr ex-GST, $69/hr midpoint, all-inclusive of the worker's wage, 12% super, workers' comp, state payroll tax, casual loading, annual and personal leave, $20M public liability and supervision. The pay rate and the charge rate are not the same thing. Below: every classification (CW1, CW2, CW3, CW4, CW5, Carpenter Full Tools, EBA) with both numbers side-by-side.

Classification breakdown

Pay rate

What the worker receives per hour under the Building & Construction General On-site Award (MA000020). This is not what you pay through labour hire.

Charge rate

What EIR charges you, ex-GST. All-in: wage, 12% super, WorkCover, state payroll tax, casual loading, leave, $20M public liability, supervision. This is your number.

CW1 — General Construction Labourer

Pay: $33.94 – $38.00/hrCharge: $51.00 – $64.17/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Entry-level general labourer on a commercial or residential site. No specific ticket required (beyond White Card). Typical tasks: site cleanup, materials handling, basic digging, concrete prep, assisting trades.

Typical tickets: White Card (mandatory), plus SA/QLD labour hire licensing compliance via EIR.

When to use: When you need reliable labourers on site for general cleanup, material flow, traffic assistance or as a trades assistant. Highest volume classification in EIR's Adelaide operations.

CW2–CW3 — Skilled Labourers & Operators

Pay: $36.26 – $40.00/hrCharge: $54.50 – $63.00/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Skilled operators holding specific tickets — forklift (LF), EWP (boom/scissor), traffic controller (Blue Card), dogman, scaffolder (basic/intermediate), steel fixer.

Typical tickets: White Card + role-specific ticket (LF, EWP, Blue Card, Dogging, Scaffolding, Rigging Basic).

When to use: When the site needs ticketed operators — forklift moving materials, EWP working at height, traffic control for road/footpath interfaces, dogging for crane lifts.

CW4 — Qualified Tradesperson

Pay: $38.36 – $39.46/hrCharge: $64.50 – $75.00/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Qualified tradesperson — carpenter, formwork carpenter, bricklayer, plumber, electrician. Holds relevant trade qualification and ongoing CPD.

Typical tickets: White Card + trade qualification + trade licence (state-specific where required).

When to use: When you need a qualified trade on site — framing, formwork, brickwork, electrical, plumbing. CW4 charge rate is significantly lower than CW5 specialist or EBA rates.

CW5 — Advanced / Specialist Trade

Pay: $39.46 – $45.00/hrCharge: $64.50 – $85.00/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Advanced or specialist trade — experienced carpenters with full tools, specialist formworkers, safety officers, leading hands.

Typical tickets: Trade qualification + advanced specialist tickets (safety, rigging advanced, working at heights, confined space).

When to use: When the job needs an experienced trade lead, a dedicated safety officer, or specialist skills beyond standard CW4 scope.

Carpenter with Full Tools

Pay: $45.00 – $65.00/hrCharge: $65.43 – $103.13/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Experienced carpenter bringing their own tool kit. Charge range reflects experience, tool value, and whether the worker is dedicated to one site over multiple weeks.

Typical tickets: White Card + trade qualification + own tool kit + all site-specific tickets.

When to use: When the job needs a full-tools carpenter who can hit the ground running without tool supply delays. Common on framing, second-fix, fitout and custom residential work.

EBA Site Rates — CW1, CW2, Carpenter

Pay: $54.38 – $61.81/hrCharge: $63.00 – $92.96/hr ex-GST

Who it is: Workers placed on commercial construction sites covered by an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (CFMEU or equivalent). EBAs typically apply to larger commercial builders, infrastructure, and major projects.

Typical tickets: Trade qualification (for skilled EBA roles) + EBA site eligibility + site-specific inductions.

When to use: When the site is an EBA site — the worker must be paid at the EBA rate for that site. EIR supplies EBA-rated CW1 labourers ($63–$81.78/hr charge), EBA operators ($80.39–$85.50/hr), and EBA carpenters ($91.83–$92.96/hr).

Which classification for your job?

Small residential build — framing + fitout

Recommended: 1× CW1 labourer ($57/hr midpoint) + 1× CW4 carpenter ($69/hr midpoint) = $229,824/year all-in for 1,824hr × 2 workers

Why: Standard residential doesn't need EBA rates or CW5 advanced specialists. CW1+CW4 is the common cost-effective pairing.

Commercial CBD tower — Master Builder EBA site

Recommended: EBA-rated CW1 labourers ($81.78/hr) + EBA carpenters ($92.96/hr). Cannot place non-EBA workers on an EBA site.

Why: EBA compliance is legal requirement on EBA sites. Rates are higher but non-negotiable. Plan volume × duration for volume discount within the EBA band.

Civil infrastructure — roads, pipelayers, traffic

Recommended: Mix of CW1 civil labourers ($57/hr) + CW2 traffic controllers ($55/hr) + CW3 pipelayers ($63/hr)

Why: Civil stream of Building & Construction General On-site Award. Traffic controllers need Blue Card. Pipelayers typically CW3.

Small fitout specialist job — need a lead carpenter

Recommended: Carpenter with full tools ($85/hr midpoint, $103/hr peak for short booking) or CW5 trade lead ($75/hr)

Why: Tools-on-site and experienced judgment matter more than the cost differential for short, high-risk fitout work. Carpenter Full Tools is worth the premium.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CW4 charge rate the same as the CW4 award pay rate?

No — these are two different numbers and they get confused a lot. The CW4 award pay rate is what the worker receives per hour ($38.36–$39.46/hr under the Building & Construction General On-site Award MA000020, effective from 1 July 2025). The CW4 labour hire charge rate is what you pay through a provider like EIR ($64.50–$75.00/hr ex-GST, $69/hr midpoint in 2026). The difference (~$26–$36/hr) is not margin — it covers the worker's 12% superannuation, WorkCover premium (varies by state and industry), state payroll tax (4.85% VIC / 5.45% NSW / 4.95% SA / 4.75% QLD), casual loading where applicable, annual and personal leave accruals, $20M public liability cover, supervision, recruitment, compliance, and the agency margin. If a labour hire provider quotes you anything close to the $38 award pay rate, they are either operating illegally (no super, no WorkCover, no payroll tax) or the worker is being underpaid.

What's the difference between CW1, CW4 and EBA rates in Australian construction?

All rates below are CHARGE rates ex-GST — what you pay EIR per hour, all-in. CW1 (general labourer) charges $51–$64/hr. CW2–CW3 (ticketed operators) charges $54–$63/hr. CW4 (qualified tradesperson — carpenter, bricklayer, electrician) charges $64.50–$75/hr. CW5 (advanced specialist) charges $64.50–$85/hr. Carpenter with own tools charges $65–$103/hr. EBA site rates are higher because the EBA sets the worker's pay floor: EBA CW1 $63–$82/hr, EBA carpenter $91–$93/hr. Underlying award PAY rates (what the worker receives) are much lower — CW1 around $33–$38/hr, CW4 around $38–$39/hr. The gap covers super, WorkCover, payroll tax, casual loading, leave, public liability, supervision and margin. Don't confuse the two.

Which construction classification should I ask for?

Match classification to the work: CW1 for general labour and trades-assistance; CW2 for ticketed operators (forklift, EWP, traffic); CW3 for dogmen, scaffolders, steel fixers; CW4 for qualified trades without full tool kit; CW5 for advanced specialist trades; Carpenter Full Tools when tools-on-site matters; EBA rates when the site requires it. Call 1800 LABOUR if you're unsure — specifying the wrong classification can mean underpaying the worker (an offence) or over-paying unnecessarily.

Are EBA rates only for commercial construction?

Primarily yes — EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement) rates apply to commercial, government and major infrastructure sites covered by a CFMEU or equivalent EBA. Residential construction typically runs on the standard Building & Construction General On-site Award without EBA loadings. Check the head contractor's EBA coverage before booking — putting non-EBA workers on an EBA site is a compliance issue and can halt work.

How does volume change CW1–CW5 rates?

EIR's charge rates sit in a published band. A single worker on a short (<13 week) booking sits at the top of the band. A crew of 5+ workers on a 13+ week project sits at the bottom — that's the volume + ongoing partnership discount. For CW1 in SA: single short-term worker ~$64/hr, crew-in-a-long-project ~$51/hr. Mid-range commitments get the midpoint rate. EBA site rates have less flexibility because the EBA sets a floor.

What about the Carpenter Full Tools rate — is it worth paying?

For short, high-skill fitout or finishing work where tool supply delays would hurt progress, yes. A Carpenter Full Tools at $85/hr (midpoint) versus a CW4 carpenter at $69/hr is $16/hr more, or ~$29k/year — but the worker brings their own saws, drills, clamps, nail guns, and the judgment to use them without site supervision. For long-term commercial work with a company-issued tool kit, CW4 is usually more cost-effective.

Do apprentices have different charge rates?

Yes. Apprentices (first, second, third, fourth year) have specific pay and charge rates below CW4 — typically 55%–85% of the full trade rate depending on year. EIR supplies apprentices through direct employer arrangements; contact 1800 LABOUR to discuss specific apprentice needs.

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Not sure which classification you need? Call 1800 LABOUR — we'll talk through the job and match the right mix. Or use the cost calculator to model a crew.

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