Supermarkets, fashion chains and electronics stores hire thousands of casual students, especially before Christmas and end-of-financial-year sales.

Typical hourly rate

$26–$33

Typical hours

Evenings and weekends, 12–24 hrs/week

Demand

Very high

Covered by: General Retail Industry Award. Rates shown are indicative advertised casual rates including loading — your legal minimum is the current award rate at fairwork.gov.au.

What the job actually involves
Serve customers and run registers
Stock shelves and manage fitting rooms
Handle returns and stocktake
Meet basic sales or add-on targets in specialty retail

Honest pros and cons

Pros
Penalty rates on Sundays and public holidays
Big employers pay correctly and on time

Cons
Hours can be cut after the Christmas peak

Frequently asked questions





Do supermarkets hire international students?

Yes. Major supermarket chains hire international students on a student visa as casuals, provided you have work rights, a Tax File Number and an Australian bank account.

What are Sunday penalty rates in retail?

The General Retail Industry Award sets higher rates for Sundays and public holidays than ordinary hours. The exact multiplier changes with award updates, so confirm on fairwork.gov.au and check it appears on your payslip.

Work out what this actually pays you

Put $26–$33 per hour into the wage calculator to see weekly take-home pay after tax, then check it against typical rent in your city.
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📌 Retail Sales Assistant Cairns
🏢 Australian Student
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