Does casual pay make up for no leave?

Casual work usually pays a higher hourly rate, partly because holiday pay is included as an 8% loading rather than taken as paid leave. Whether the higher rate makes up for missing sick leave, public holidays and job security depends on the gap and how much you would use those entitlements.

What do permanent staff get that casuals do not?

Permanent employees get paid annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, paid public holidays and more job security. Casuals are paid for hours worked, often with holiday pay rolled in, but without guaranteed hours.

How do I compare the two fairly?

Compare the annual earnings, but value the permanent role's paid leave (weeks you are paid without working) and the security of guaranteed hours. This calculator shows the earnings side so you can weigh it against the non-pay benefits.

Casual vs Permanent Calculator

This New Zealand calculator compares a higher casual hourly rate against a permanent role with paid leave and security. Casual pay is usually higher partly because holiday pay is rolled in as an 8% loading rather than taken as paid leave. You enter both rates and your hours, and the tool compares the annual earnings and shows the paid leave a permanent role gives, so you can weigh the cash against the stability and entitlements.

Casual hourly rate

Permanent hourly rate

Hours per week

Weeks worked per year (casual)

on annual earnings (before valuing security)

Casual per year$0

Permanent per year (incl paid leave)$0

Permanent earnings assume you are paid 52 weeks (including 4 weeks annual leave and public holidays); casual assumes you are only paid for weeks worked, with holiday pay rolled in. This is the cash comparison; permanent roles also offer sick leave and security that are hard to value. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator multiplies the casual rate by your hours and the weeks you actually work (casuals are not paid for time off), and the permanent rate by your hours across the full 52 paid weeks (permanent staff are paid for annual leave and public holidays). Comparing the two annual figures shows whether the casual loading really makes up for the paid weeks a permanent role gives you, before you even value sick leave and security.

Worked example

At $33 casual over 48 paid weeks, you earn about $63,360. At $30 permanent over 52 paid weeks, about $62,400, plus sick leave and security. The casual edge here is small once the permanent role's paid leave is counted.

Related calculators

Contractor vs Employee Calculator: contracting versus employment.
Annual Leave Calculator: leave entitlements.
PAYG Holiday Pay (8%) Calculator: rolled-in holiday pay.
PAYE Calculator: tax on your pay.

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