How long service leave works in Australia
Long service leave is a paid leave entitlement for employees who stay with one employer for a long stretch. Unlike annual leave under the National Employment Standards, it is governed by state and territory legislation — or sometimes by a pre-1993 federal award that still binds your job. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a national overview, but the numbers that matter are always in your state Act.
Most people search for a single “long service leave calculator” expecting one formula. There isn’t one. NSW pro-rata can start at 5 years; Queensland’s proportionate payment threshold is 7 years; Victoria, WA and the other jurisdictions each have their own accrual tables, ordinary-pay definitions and termination tests. Getting the state wrong is how employees end up arguing about weeks they were never owed.
How this calculator works
Pick your state, choose whether you want entitlement, payout or eligibility view, then enter your start date, end date and ordinary pay. The worksheet updates as you type.
- Entitlement — weeks accrued while still employed (where the statute allows leave to be taken).
- Payout — estimated gross payment if employment ends, including pro-rata logic and your selected termination reason.
- Eligibility — same maths with a timeline showing where you sit against 5-, 7-, 10- and 15-year milestones.
NSW and Queensland run on verified interactive statutory calculation engines. For other states and territories, verified statutory entitlement summaries and official legislation resources are provided below.
Long service leave by state
| State | General entitlement (verified) | Calculator | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 8.6667 weeks after 10 years, plus 4.3333 weeks for each further completed 5 years. Pro-rata payment only between 5 and under 10 years on qualifying termination. | Calculate | Read guide |
| QLD | 8.6667 weeks after 10 years (13 weeks at 15 years). Pro-rata payment from 7 years only on qualifying termination — leave cannot be taken before 10 years. | Calculate | Read guide |
| VIC | 1/60th of continuous employment (~6.1 weeks after 7 years; 8.67 weeks at 10 years). Leave can be taken or is paid out on departure after 7 years. | Official rules ↗ | — |
| WA | 8.6667 weeks after 10 years, plus 4.3333 weeks for each further 5 years. Pro-rata payout between 7 and 10 years on qualifying termination. | Official rules ↗ | — |
| SA | 13 weeks after 10 years, plus 1.3 weeks for each completed year thereafter. Pro-rata payout from 7 years on qualifying termination. | Official rules ↗ | — |
| ACT | 6.0667 weeks after 7 years (1/5th of a month per year), plus 1/5th month per completed year after. Pro-rata payout from 5 years on qualifying grounds. | Official rules ↗ | — |
| TAS | 8.6667 weeks after 10 years, plus 4.3333 weeks for each completed 5 years thereafter. Pro-rata payout from 7 years on qualifying termination. | Official rules ↗ | — |
| NT | 13 weeks after 10 years, plus 1.3 weeks for each completed year thereafter. Pro-rata payout from 7 years on qualifying grounds. | Official rules ↗ | — |
NSW long service leave calculator
Under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW), 8.6667 weeks (two months) is the full entitlement after 10 years of continuous service. Each extra completed 5-year block adds 4.3333 weeks. Between 5 and under 10 years you might receive a pro-rata payment when employment ends — but only if the reason fits the statute (redundancy, certain resignations, dismissal other than serious misconduct, and similar). You cannot take that accrual as leave while still employed.
NSW updated its interpretation guidance effective 1 March 2026. Casual absences, fixed-term contracts and fluctuating hours all affect whether service is continuous. The calculator uses your dates and lets you strip unpaid absence days; complex pay (bonuses averaged into ordinary remuneration) needs the advanced rules in our NSW long service leave guide.
Queensland long service leave calculator
Queensland’s scheme under the Industrial Relations Act 2016 looks similar on paper — 8.6667 weeks at 10 years — but it runs three different curves: what you have earned, what you can take, and what is payable on termination. Between 10 and 15 years you may have accrued more weeks than you are allowed to take; that locked portion only opens up when you complete the next 5-year block (13 weeks total at 15 years).
Pro-rata payments can arise from 7 years if the primary reason for leaving is a listed statutory ground. Part-time and casual workers use the hours formula published by Business Queensland. Portable QLeave members should use QLeave’s tools instead — see our Queensland long service leave guide and the dedicated QLD calculator page.
Pro-rata long service leave
Pro-rata is the most misunderstood part of LSL. Employees with, say, 8 years of service often assume they can book leave or cash out. In NSW and QLD they usually cannot — the accrual exists on paper but crystallises only when employment ends for an approved reason. Select Payout in the calculator and choose the reason that matches your situation; if it is a plain resignation, the worksheet should show zero payable below 10 years.
Long service leave payout value
The dollar figure is ordinary gross weekly wage multiplied by net weeks (after deducting leave already taken). Queensland casuals can enter total ordinary hours and an hourly rate instead. Overtime, one-off allowances and expense reimbursements are generally excluded; commissions and loadings may need a separate calculation under the Act. The result is gross — tax, super and payroll treatment sit outside this tool.
Portable long service leave
If you work in building and construction, contract cleaning or community services, you may be registered with a portable scheme (QLeave in Queensland; equivalent funds in NSW). Service credits, levy rates and leaving-the-industry claims follow the industry Act, not the general state formula. Tick the portable-scheme checkbox in the calculator and we will point you to the right scheme — we do not apply the general state maths to those workers.
Long service leave FAQs
How is long service leave calculated in Australia?
There is no single national formula. Each state and territory has its own long service leave legislation. Most schemes grant about 8.67 weeks after 10 years of continuous service with the same employer, but the pro-rata threshold, payout triggers and ordinary-pay rules differ. This calculator applies the verified NSW and Queensland engines only.
When do I get long service leave?
In NSW you generally need 10 completed years before you can take leave, with a pro-rata payment possible from 5 years only when employment ends in qualifying circumstances. In Queensland you cannot take leave until 10 years, but a proportionate payment may be payable from 7 years on a qualifying termination.
What is pro-rata long service leave?
Pro-rata (or proportionate) long service leave is a cash payment for service between the minimum threshold and the full entitlement period. You usually cannot take it as time off — it is paid when employment ends for a reason the statute recognises, such as redundancy or illness. A plain resignation often does not qualify.
How much long service leave do I get after 10 years?
In both NSW and Queensland the statutory full entitlement after 10 years of continuous service is 8.6667 weeks (often described as two months). Queensland adds a further block at 15 years (13 weeks total); NSW adds 4.3333 weeks for each further completed 5-year period.
Is long service leave paid out on resignation?
At 10 or more years, accrued long service leave is generally payable when employment ends regardless of reason (subject to misconduct rules). Below 10 years, whether you are paid depends on your state and why you are leaving — voluntary resignation without a statutory ground usually forfeits the pro-rata amount.
Does casual work count for long service leave?
Casual employees can accrue long service leave in NSW and Queensland if service is continuous under the relevant Act. Queensland uses a statutory hours formula for casual and part-time workers. Portable industry schemes (building, cleaning, community services) use separate registration systems.
What is portable long service leave?
Portable schemes let workers in high-mobility industries accrue service across multiple employers in the same industry. QLeave in Queensland and equivalent NSW schemes have different thresholds and calculators from the general state formula — do not use this tool for portable entitlements.
How is long service leave payout taxed?
Leave taken while still employed is taxed as ordinary income. Lump sums paid on termination may use ATO Schedule 7 rates. This calculator shows estimated gross value only — not tax withheld.
This long service leave calculator provides an informational estimate based on figures and dates you enter. It is not legal advice and does not replace advice from your state industrial body, employer payroll team or a qualified practitioner. Always verify current rules with the official source for your state before relying on a result.