Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate for annual leave accrual and costs. It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice or detailed calculations as per your specific employment conditions or applicable laws.
Annual leave is an important part of employment entitlements, giving employees the opportunity to take paid time off. If you’re based in Queensland (QLD) and need to calculate your annual leave accrual, entitlements, or loading, our Annual Leave Calculator provides an easy way to determine your leave balance. Whether you’re an employee tracking your entitlements or an employer managing leave records, this guide explains how annual leave is calculated in Queensland.
Under the National Employment Standards (NES), full-time and part-time employees in QLD are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave per year, which accrues throughout the year based on ordinary hours worked.
The standard formula to calculate annual leave accrual is:
Annual Leave Accrued = (Ordinary Hours Worked per Week × 4) ÷ 52
For a 38-hour week:
(38 × 4) ÷ 52 = 2.923 hours per week
This means a full-time employee accumulates approximately 2.923 hours of leave per week.
For employees working a 38-hour week, annual leave accrual can be calculated using the following:
For part-time employees, annual leave is accrued proportionally to their hours worked. The formula is:
(Hours Worked per Week × 4) ÷ 52
For example, if a part-time employee works 20 hours per week:
(20 × 4) ÷ 52 = 1.54 hours per week
This means they accrue 1.54 hours of annual leave per week, accumulating to approximately 80 hours per year (or four weeks of their usual working hours).
Many employees in QLD receive annual leave loading, which is an additional 17.5% on top of their base pay when taking annual leave.
The formula for annual leave loading is:
Annual Leave Loading = (Ordinary Weekly Pay × 17.5%) × Number of Weeks Taken
For example, if your weekly earnings are $1,200 and you take two weeks of leave:
($1,200 × 17.5%) × 2 = $420
This means you receive an additional $420 in leave loading.
For an easy way to calculate your annual leave, follow these steps:
For part-time employees, simply use their actual weekly hours instead of 38 hours in the calculation.
Annual leave accrues progressively throughout the year based on ordinary hours worked. Full-time employees accrue approximately 2.923 hours per week.
Use the formula: (38 × 4) ÷ 52 = 2.923 hours per week.
Multiply the number of hours worked per week by 4, then divide by 52.
Annual leave loading is an extra 17.5% of your base wage paid during annual leave. It applies if specified in your award or enterprise agreement.
Multiply your weekly earnings by 17.5%, then multiply by the number of leave weeks taken.
Unused annual leave, including any applicable leave loading, must be paid out when you leave your job.
Yes, in certain circumstances such as business shutdowns or if excessive leave has accumulated, an employer can direct employees to take leave.
Annual leave can only be cashed out if allowed under your award or enterprise agreement, and employees must keep at least four weeks of leave.
Use our Annual Leave Calculator QLD to quickly determine your leave entitlements and plan your time off with confidence.
