Site Supervisor Salary in Australia: Where It Sits on the Salary Index

What is a Site Supervisor in Australia?

A site supervisor oversees daily operations on construction, civil, or engineering projects. They coordinate trades, ensure safety, manage schedules, and report to project managers. In Australia, most site supervisors are covered by the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020), which sets minimum wages for classifications from entry-level labourers to supervisory roles. The award applies to on-site building, engineering, and civil construction across the country.

The Salary Index: Where Does a Site Supervisor Sit?

The Salary Index measures gross yearly earnings against the national line of 100, which equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A figure of 100 means you earn the national average for a full-time worker. Anything below 100 is below that average; above 100 is above.

For a site supervisor, the answer depends heavily on the specific role, sector, and experience. Award minimums provide a floor, but many site supervisors earn well above that.

Award Minimum Rates for Site Supervisors

Under the Building Award, site supervisors fall into two main streams:

• General building and civil construction – classified as Level 6 to Level 9 (CW/ECW 6 to ECW 9).
• Metal and engineering construction – specific foreperson/supervisor classifications with separate rates.

General Building and Civil Construction Levels

As of July 2026, the minimum weekly rates (excluding industry allowance) are:

Level	Weekly Rate	Hourly Rate
Level 6 (CW/ECW 6)	$1,221.30	$32.14
Level 7 (CW/ECW 7)	$1,256.30	$33.06
Level 8 (CW/ECW 8)	$1,286.70	$33.86
Level 9 (ECW 9)	$1,309.50	$34.46

*Source: *

In addition, an industry allowance of $67.15 per week applies to all sectors. So a Level 9 supervisor’s minimum ordinary weekly pay is $1,376.65, annualising to about $71,586. That gives a salary index of 66 – well below the national line.

Metal and Engineering Construction Forepersons

For site supervisors in metal and engineering construction, the award provides specific classifications. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide shows weekly hire rates for forepersons/supervisors ranging from $1,202 to $1,303 per week (depending on supervisory scope). Annualised, that’s $62,504 to $67,756, or an index of 58 to 63.

*Source: *

These are minimums. Most site supervisors in this sector earn more through experience, project complexity, or enterprise agreements.

How Market Rates Compare

Award rates are a starting point. In practice, site supervisors often earn between $80,000 and $100,000 per year, especially in commercial construction, civil infrastructure, or mining-related projects. That places them at an index of 74 to 92. Some senior supervisors on large-scale projects earn above $110,000, pushing them past the national line (index 100+).

State Variations

Where you work matters. The states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania sits at 88.6. A site supervisor in Perth may earn 10–15% more than one in Hobart for the same role. The ACT (109.9) and NSW (101.2) also tend to pay above the national average.

Industry Differences

The industries page highlights that mining has an index of 154.7, while construction is not separately listed but likely falls between retail (75.9) and professional services (114.7). Site supervisors in the resources sector often earn significantly more than those in residential building.

Take-Home Pay Estimate

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (with tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy), a site supervisor earning $85,000 would pay about $18,217 in tax and $1,700 in Medicare, leaving around $65,083 net. At $100,000, net pay is roughly $75,300. These figures exclude HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

What the Salary Index Tells You

The Salary Index is a tool to benchmark any pay figure against the national line. For a site supervisor, the index range is wide:

• Award minimum: 58–66
• Typical market: 74–92
• Top-end / senior: 95–110

If you’re a site supervisor earning $90,000, your index is 83. That means you earn 83% of the national full-time average. If you earn $110,000, your index is 102 – slightly above average.

Key Takeaways

• The site supervisor salary is not a single figure; it varies by sector, state, and experience.
• Award minimums are low (index 58–66), but most supervisors earn more.
• The national line (index 100) is $108,352; many experienced supervisors approach or exceed this.
• Use the pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman to check your award classification and minimum entitlements.

For a personalised benchmark, compare your gross annual salary to the national line using the how the index works page.