South Australia Long Service Leave Calculator
This SA long service leave calculator applies the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA): 13 weeks of paid leave after 10 years of continuous service. Pro rata on leaving: After 7 completed years, 1.3 weeks per year for any reason except dismissal for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully ending the contract. Enter your start and end dates, hours, weekly pay and why the job is ending to see the weeks, hours and dollars owed.
Updated 2026-10-08 · Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA)
| Continuous service | 10 years, 7 months, 7 days |
| LSL accrued to the end date | 13.00 weeks (494.0 h) |
| Can be taken now (while employed) | 13.00 weeks (494.0 h) |
| Paid out if employment ends for this reason | 13.00 weeks · $23,400 |
| Full entitlement | 13 weeks after 10 years (Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA)) |
| Pro rata on leaving | After 7 completed years, 1.3 weeks per year for any reason except dismissal for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully ending the contract. |
| Full entitlement reached on | Already reached |
| Hourly value at your pay | $47.37 an hour |
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SA long service leave rules at a glance
| Entitlement | 13 weeks for the first 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further completed year (s 5(1)). Only completed years count (s 5(7)). |
| Pro rata on leaving | From 7 to 10 years, 1.3 weeks per completed year unless the worker was dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or unlawfully ended the contract (s 5(3)–(4)). After 10 years the accrued leave is paid on any termination. |
| Taking leave early | By agreement, in anticipation of the entitlement; the difference can be deducted on termination (s 7). |
| Cashing out | Allowed by individual written agreement after the entitlement has accrued, at the current ordinary weekly rate (s 5(1a)). |
| Pay rate | Ordinary weekly rate on the relevant date, excluding overtime, shift premiums and penalties. Where hours varied, or the worker was casual or part-time, at any time in the previous 3 years: average weekly hours over 3 years × the current hourly rate (s 3(2)). |
| Casuals | Covered. A break caused by the employer is continuous if the worker is re-employed within 2 months (s 6). |
| Taking the leave | One continuous period with at least 60 days' notice from the employer; split periods by agreement. Public holidays during the leave count as days of leave, so they do not extend it (s 7(7)). |
SA long service leave by years of service
Weeks of leave for a full-time employee on 38 hours a week. Multiply the weeks by your ordinary weekly pay for the dollar value: at $1,500 a week, 13 weeks is $19,500.
| Years of service | Accrued (weeks) | Can take while employed | Paid if you resign | Paid if made redundant | Hours at 38 h/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 247.0 |
| 7 | 9.10 | 0.00 | 9.10 | 9.10 | 345.8 |
| 8 | 10.40 | 0.00 | 10.40 | 10.40 | 395.2 |
| 10 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 494.0 |
| 12 | 15.60 | 15.60 | 15.60 | 15.60 | 592.8 |
| 15 | 19.50 | 19.50 | 19.50 | 19.50 | 741.0 |
| 20 | 26.00 | 26.00 | 26.00 | 26.00 | 988.0 |
Long service leave in other states
- New South Wales8.67 weeks after 10 years
- Victoria6.07 weeks after 7 years
- Queensland8.67 weeks after 10 years
- Western Australia8.67 weeks after 10 years
- Tasmania8.67 weeks after 10 years
- Australian Capital Territory6.07 weeks after 7 years
- Northern Territory13 weeks after 10 years
How SA long service leave is calculated
Under the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA), long service leave accrues at 1.3000 weeks for every completed year of continuous service with the same employer (or a business that was transferred to them). The first entitlement is 13 weeks after 10 years; after that, leave can be taken for each further completed year. Weeks are converted to hours at your ordinary weekly hours and paid at your ordinary weekly pay, without overtime.
Worked example: Alex started on 1 July 2016, works 38 hours a week and earns $1,500 a week. On 1 July 2024, after 8 years, Alex has accrued 10.40 weeks. Resigning for a new job then pays 10.40 weeks, or $15,600; being made redundant pays 10.40 weeks ($15,600). After 12 years Alex has 15.60 weeks (592.8 hours), of which 15.60 weeks can be taken while still employed, and resigning pays $23,400.
When SA long service leave is paid out
What happens to 8 years of service (10.40 weeks accrued) depending on why the job ends. Before 7 years nothing is paid; after 10 years accrued leave is paid on any termination.
| How the job ends | Paid out? | Weeks | Value at $1,500 a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resigned (any ordinary reason) | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
| Resigned due to illness, incapacity or pressing domestic necessity | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
| Made redundant / employer ended it (not for conduct or performance) | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
| Dismissed for conduct or performance (not serious misconduct) | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
| Dismissed for serious misconduct | No | 0.00 | $0 |
| Retired at retirement age | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
| Death of the employee | Yes | 10.40 | $15,600 |
What makes South Australian long service leave different
South Australia has the most generous scale in the country alongside the NT: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for every further completed year, which can be taken each year rather than in 5-year blocks. Only completed years count, so leaving at 9 years and 11 months pays the same as 9 years. From 7 years pro rata is paid on any termination unless you are dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or walk out in breach of your contract.
If at any time in the 3 years before the leave you were paid hourly, worked varying hours or were casual or part-time, your weekly rate is your average weekly hours over those 3 years at your current hourly rate. Weeks on unpaid leave or workers compensation are left out of the average. Leave can be cashed out by written agreement once accrued. Public holidays that fall during the leave count as leave days, so they do not extend it, and the employer must give at least 60 days' notice of when it starts.
Tax on a SA long service leave payout
Long service leave taken while employed is taxed like normal pay. Unused leave paid when you leave is taxed under the ATO's Schedule 7 rules, which are the same in every state: leave accrued after 17 August 1993 is taxed at your marginal rates on a normal resignation or dismissal, and withheld at 32% after a genuine redundancy, invalidity or approved early retirement; leave accrued between 16 August 1978 and 17 August 1993 is withheld at 32%; and only 5% of leave accrued before 16 August 1978 is taxed.
On a $78,000 salary, Alex's $23,400 payout after 12 years adds about $7,488 of tax and Medicare at a 32% marginal rate, leaving $15,912. Unused long service leave paid on termination is not ordinary time earnings, so no super guarantee is paid on it.
Frequently asked questions
How much long service leave do you get in South Australia?
13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service, accruing at 1.3000 weeks a year (Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA)).
How much long service leave do you get in SA?
13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service, then 1.3 weeks for each further completed year (Long Service Leave Act 1987 s 5).
Do I get pro rata long service leave in SA after 7 years?
Yes, 1.3 weeks per completed year for any reason except dismissal for serious and wilful misconduct or unlawfully ending the contract.
How do I calculate long service leave pay in SA?
Weeks of leave × ordinary weekly pay. 13.00 weeks at $1,500 a week is $19,500; in hours, 494.0 hours on a 38-hour week.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-08.
- Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA), authorised version 1.7.2017
- SafeWork SA: Guide to Long Service Leave 2025
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Long service leave (state laws apply; pre-modern award entitlements preserved by NES s 113; portable schemes)
- ATO: PAYG withholding Schedule 7 – unused long service leave on termination (pre-16 Aug 1978: 5% at marginal rates; 1978–1993 and redundancy: 32%; post-17 Aug 1993: marginal rates)
Reviewed by Kashif Nazir Khan on 2026-10-08 · software engineer and developer with an interest in accounting and taxation