The NES redundancy pay table
| Completed years of continuous service | Redundancy pay |
|---|---|
| 1 to less than 2 years | 4 weeks |
| 2 to less than 3 years | 6 weeks |
| 3 to less than 4 years | 7 weeks |
| 4 to less than 5 years | 8 weeks |
| 5 to less than 6 years | 10 weeks |
| 6 to less than 7 years | 11 weeks |
| 7 to less than 8 years | 13 weeks |
| 8 to less than 9 years | 14 weeks |
| 9 to less than 10 years | 16 weeks |
| 10 years or more | 12 weeks |
Less than 1 year of service means no NES redundancy pay, and the table doesn't apply to employers with fewer than 15 employees, casuals, or a few other excluded groups (see small business redundancy).
What the table is worth in dollars
Weekly base pay across the top. Each figure is the NES redundancy pay for the first year of that band (it doesn't change within a band).
| Service | $1,000/wk | $1,500/wk | $2,000/wk | $2,500/wk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to less than 2 years (4 wks) | $4,000 | $6,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| 2 to less than 3 years (6 wks) | $6,000 | $9,000 | $12,000 | $15,000 |
| 3 to less than 4 years (7 wks) | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,000 | $17,500 |
| 4 to less than 5 years (8 wks) | $8,000 | $12,000 | $16,000 | $20,000 |
| 5 to less than 6 years (10 wks) | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| 6 to less than 7 years (11 wks) | $11,000 | $16,500 | $22,000 | $27,500 |
| 7 to less than 8 years (13 wks) | $13,000 | $19,500 | $26,000 | $32,500 |
| 8 to less than 9 years (14 wks) | $14,000 | $21,000 | $28,000 | $35,000 |
| 9 to less than 10 years (16 wks) | $16,000 | $24,000 | $32,000 | $40,000 |
| 10 years or more (12 wks) | $12,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | $30,000 |
Every amount in this table is inside the 2026–27 genuine redundancy tax-free limit for its years of service, so on a genuine redundancy it is paid with no tax at all.
The 10-year step-down
The table rises to 16 weeks at 9 years and then falls to 12 weeks from 10 years. On $2,000 a week, someone made redundant at 9 years gets $32,000; one year later the NES figure is $24,000. If you are close to your 10-year anniversary, check whether your award, enterprise agreement or contract pays more than the NES for long service. Many do. And at 10 years most states' long service leave becomes payable on any exit, which is worth adding to the picture.
What "base rate" means
Redundancy pay uses your base rate for ordinary hours only. It leaves out incentive-based payments and bonuses, loadings, monetary allowances, overtime or penalty rates. Notice paid in lieu is different: it must include those amounts.
What else is paid on top
- Notice (or pay in lieu): 1 to 4 weeks plus the over-45 week. See notice and pay in lieu.
- Unused annual leave, with loading where it applies. See unused annual leave on termination.
- Long service leave: redundancy triggers pro-rata leave in every state once you pass its threshold. See pro-rata long service leave.
- Any ex gratia top-up your employer offers. See voluntary redundancy and ex gratia payments.
The final pay calculator adds all of these up and applies the tax on each part.
Frequently asked questions
How many weeks of redundancy pay do I get after 5 years?
10 weeks under the NES, for at least 5 but less than 6 completed years of continuous service, paid at your base rate for ordinary hours.
Why does redundancy pay drop after 10 years?
The NES table peaks at 16 weeks for 9 to less than 10 years, then steps down to 12 weeks from 10 years. Many awards, agreements and contracts pay more than the NES for long service.
Is the redundancy pay table the same in every state?
Yes. Redundancy pay comes from the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act, so the table is the same everywhere in Australia. Long service leave is what differs by state.
Does the table include notice?
No. Notice (or pay in lieu of it) is a separate NES entitlement of 1 to 4 weeks, plus 1 week if you are over 45 with at least 2 years' service. It is paid on top of redundancy pay.
Is redundancy pay from the table taxed?
Usually not. A genuine redundancy is tax-free up to $13,598 plus $6,801 for each completed year in 2026–27, and NES redundancy pay on its own fits inside that limit at every salary in the table on this page. Tax starts only when ex-gratia top-ups or very high salaries push the payment over the limit.
Related
- The official redundancy formula — what the government tool does and doesn't do
- How redundancy is taxed
- Voluntary redundancy and ex gratia payments
- Small business redundancy (under 15 employees)
Sources
Figures on this page come from the following primary sources. The date is when we last checked the page against the source.
- Redundancy pay and entitlements (Fair Work Ombudsman), checked 7 August 2026.
- Who doesn't get redundancy pay (Fair Work Ombudsman), checked 24 September 2026.
- Notice and ending employment (dismissal) (Fair Work Ombudsman), checked 24 September 2026.
- Key superannuation rates and thresholds: employment termination payments (ATO), checked 7 August 2026.
- Genuine redundancy payments (ATO), checked 10 August 2026.
Independent guide — not a government service, and not financial, legal or tax advice.