Western Australia Long Service Leave Calculator
This WA long service leave calculator applies the Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA): 8.67 weeks of paid leave after 10 years of continuous service. Pro rata on leaving: After 7 years, paid for any reason except dismissal for serious misconduct, including resignation (s 8(3)). Enter your start and end dates, hours, weekly pay and why the job is ending to see the weeks, hours and dollars owed.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA)
| Continuous service | 10 years, 7 months, 7 days |
| LSL accrued to the end date | 9.19 weeks (349.3 h) |
| Can be taken now (while employed) | 8.67 weeks (329.3 h) |
| Paid out if employment ends for this reason | 9.19 weeks · $16,545 |
| Full entitlement | 8.67 weeks after 10 years (Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA)) |
| Pro rata on leaving | After 7 years, paid for any reason except dismissal for serious misconduct, including resignation (s 8(3)). |
| Full entitlement reached on | Already reached |
| Hourly value at your pay | $47.37 an hour |
Your result is ready
WA long service leave rules at a glance
| Entitlement | 8⅔ weeks after 10 years of continuous employment, then 4⅓ weeks for each further 5 years (s 8(2)). |
| Pro rata on leaving | From 7 years, paid whenever employment ends except dismissal for serious misconduct, including resignation (s 8(3)). After 10 years the same rule covers service since the last entitlement. Payment is due on the day employment ends (s 9). |
| Taking leave early | By agreement before it falls due (s 10); it can be deducted on termination if not later earned. Leave can be taken at half pay for double the time or double pay for half the time. |
| Cashing out | Allowed by a written agreement signed by both, only after the entitlement has accrued, at no less than the ordinary pay for the leave (s 5). |
| Pay rate | Normal weekly hours × ordinary rate when leave starts; where hours varied, average weekly hours over the period (s 7). Overtime, shift premiums, penalties and allowances are excluded; casual loading is included (ss 7A–7B). |
| Casuals | Covered since the 2022 amendments. Casual and seasonal staff keep continuity through absences under their terms of engagement or with a reasonable expectation of return; re-employment within 2 months (6 months after a dismissal for slackness of trade) keeps service continuous (ss 6, 6A). |
| Taking the leave | One period or separate periods by agreement; at least 2 weeks' notice from the employee. Each public holiday during the leave adds a day (s 9(4)). |
WA 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, 8.67 weeks is $13,000.
| Years of service | Accrued (weeks) | Can take while employed | Paid if you resign | Paid if made redundant | Hours at 38 h/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 164.7 |
| 7 | 6.07 | 0.00 | 6.07 | 6.07 | 230.5 |
| 8 | 6.93 | 0.00 | 6.93 | 6.93 | 263.5 |
| 10 | 8.67 | 8.67 | 8.67 | 8.67 | 329.3 |
| 12 | 10.40 | 8.67 | 10.40 | 10.40 | 395.2 |
| 15 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 494.0 |
| 20 | 17.33 | 17.33 | 17.33 | 17.33 | 658.7 |
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
- South Australia13 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 WA long service leave is calculated
Under the Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA), long service leave accrues at 0.8667 weeks for every year of continuous service with the same employer (or a business that was transferred to them). The first entitlement is 8.67 weeks after 10 years; after that, leave can be taken in further blocks every 5 years. 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 6.93 weeks. Resigning for a new job then pays 6.93 weeks, or $10,400; being made redundant pays 6.93 weeks ($10,400). After 12 years Alex has 10.40 weeks (395.2 hours), of which 8.67 weeks can be taken while still employed, and resigning pays $15,600.
When WA long service leave is paid out
What happens to 8 years of service (6.93 weeks accrued) depending on why the job ends. Before 7 years nothing is paid; after 10 years accrued leave is paid on any termination, except that only completed entitlement periods are paid after a serious misconduct dismissal.
| How the job ends | Paid out? | Weeks | Value at $1,500 a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resigned (any ordinary reason) | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
| Resigned due to illness, incapacity or pressing domestic necessity | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
| Made redundant / employer ended it (not for conduct or performance) | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
| Dismissed for conduct or performance (not serious misconduct) | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
| Dismissed for serious misconduct | No | 0.00 | $0 |
| Retired at retirement age | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
| Death of the employee | Yes | 6.93 | $10,400 |
What makes WA long service leave different
Since the 2022 amendments, WA pays pro rata long service leave after 7 years whenever employment ends, unless you are dismissed for serious misconduct. Resigning for another job at 8 years still gets you 8 years' worth: 6.93 weeks. The amendments also wrote casual and seasonal employees clearly into the Act, kept continuity through gaps of up to 2 months between engagements (6 months after a stand-down for slackness of trade), and confirmed that casual loading counts as ordinary pay while overtime, shift premiums and allowances do not.
WA allows long service leave to be cashed out by a written agreement signed by both of you, but only after the entitlement has accrued and at no less than the pay you would have received for taking it. You can also take leave before it falls due by agreement, or at half pay for double the time. WA local government employees and construction workers covered by the portable scheme (MyLeave) have separate arrangements. The WA Government's own calculator only handles payment on termination; this one also shows what you can take while employed.
Tax on a WA 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 $15,600 payout after 12 years adds about $4,992 of tax and Medicare at a 32% marginal rate, leaving $10,608. 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 Western Australia?
8.67 weeks after 10 years of continuous service, accruing at 0.8667 weeks a year (Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA)).
Do I get long service leave if I resign after 7 years in WA?
Yes. In WA pro rata long service leave is paid after 7 years for any reason except dismissal for serious misconduct: 8⅔ weeks × years ÷ 10.
Can I cash out long service leave in WA?
Yes, by written agreement signed by both parties once the leave has accrued (s 5), at no less than ordinary pay.
How do I calculate long service leave pay in WA?
Weeks of leave × ordinary weekly pay. 8.67 weeks at $1,500 a week is $13,000; in hours, 329.3 hours on a 38-hour week.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA), compilation 04-m0-00
- WA Government: Long service leave when employment ends
- WA Government: WA long service leave calculator
- 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)