Starting work in a new country can feel like a lot to figure out, especially when the calendar works differently from what you’re used to. The number of working days you’ll have in Australia in 2026 changes depending on where you live, since each state and territory has its own holidays. Knowing this can make planning a little easier, whether it’s for travel, family time, budgeting, or simply settling into a new routine.
At Remitly, we understand that building a life in a new place takes time, patience, and good information. This guide walks you through how working days are counted in Australia and gives you context to make the year ahead feel easier to navigate.
How many working days are there in Australia in 2026?
If you’ve recently started working in Australia, understanding how the calendar works can make planning your year much easier. Before we get into the numbers, it helps to know what a “working day” means here. In Australia, a working day generally refers to a weekday, Monday to Friday, when people are normally scheduled to work, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Total weekdays in the year
Every year has its own total, and for 2026, that is 261 weekdays. These are all the Mondays through Fridays across the year, before public holidays or personal leave come into the picture. It’s the starting point everyone shares, no matter where they live.
Why does the number vary by state or territory?
The final number of working days isn’t the same everywhere. Each state and territory has its own traditions and public holidays, things like local celebrations, regional events, or historical observances that matter to that part of Australia. Because of that, someone working in Victoria may end up with a slightly different number of workdays than someone in Western Australia.
Working day numbers at a glance
Once public holidays are taken into account, the total working days for 2026 differ slightly depending on your location. For example, Victoria and Western Australia have the fewest working days this year with 251, while New South Wales and Queensland have 253.
Most other states sit close to the middle with 252 working days, and Tasmania occasionally varies if you’re in a region with extra local holidays. Overall, most full-time workers across the country will experience a very similar work rhythm, even if the exact number shifts by a day or two.
Standard working hours in Australia
While everyone’s experience looks a bit different, some common patterns shape the Australian workweek.
The rhythm of a 38-hour week
Most full-time roles are based on a 38-hour week, and most workers follow something close to a Monday-to-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. routine. That said, your exact schedule depends on your role, your employer, and sometimes the industry you’re in.
For some people, work naturally fits into clear weekday hours. For others, especially in busy or service-based jobs, hours may shift depending on demand. It may take a little time to find your footing, but most people eventually settle into a rhythm that feels familiar.
Different ways of working
Across Australia, not everyone works the same structure or number of hours. Some people work part-time and enjoy shorter weeks, while others work casually, meaning their hours can change from one week to the next.
Shift work is also common, especially in hospitality, transport, retail, and healthcare, where evenings, early mornings, weekends, and rotating rosters are simply part of the job. These work patterns are guided by awards or enterprise agreements, which exist to help protect employee rights and outline entitlements clearly.
Finding flexibility with modern work culture
In recent years, flexible and hybrid arrangements have become much more common. It isn’t unusual for someone to split their time between the office and working from home, or adjust their daily hours slightly to suit their personal life. If you’re a newcomer balancing things like resettling, school routines, childcare, or cultural commitments, this flexibility can make a meaningful difference.
Understanding public holidays in Australia
Public holidays are one of those things you quickly learn to love in Australia. They create long weekends, give you something to look forward to mid-year, and sometimes spark surprisingly passionate conversations about whether a certain day really deserves public holiday status.
What public holidays mean here
A public holiday is an officially recognised day when most people across Australia take time off work, either nationally or at a state level. Some holidays mark important historical moments, while others are tied to culture or community traditions. If a holiday lands on a weekend, you may find it magically reappears as a weekday, meaning you don’t miss out on the break.
The national holidays everyone shares
No matter where you live in Australia, there are certain holidays you’ll experience along with the rest of the country.
In 2026, those include New Year’s Day, Australia Day (observed on January 26), Good Friday and Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. These dates anchor the year and often become the times when people travel, rest, host barbecues, or book a well-timed escape to somewhere sunny.
Local traditions that make each state unique
Beyond the shared holidays, every state and territory has its own personality reflected through extra days off.
Victoria celebrates Melbourne Cup Day, Queensland embraces the Royal Queensland Show (often just called the Ekka), and Canberra has its own dedicated Canberra Day. These regional holidays mean that, depending on where you’re based, you might gain or lose a day or two compared to someone living elsewhere.
At first, it may feel like a small detail, but over time, these local moments are often the ones that make you feel connected to the place you now call home.
How working days connect to pay and financial planning
Once you’ve been working in Australia for a little while, you’ll start to notice that the rhythm of the calendar and your pay cycle often go hand in hand.
How pay schedules work here
Most people in Australia are paid either weekly or fortnightly. Monthly pay exists, but it’s far less common than in some other countries.
At first, this can feel surprising, but many newcomers find it helpful over time. Getting paid more frequently can make meal planning, rent budgeting, and unexpected costs easier to manage, especially in your first year when everything still feels new.
Penalty rates and public holiday pay
Working on public holidays is often treated differently. In many industries, employees receive a higher hourly rate, known as penalty rates, because they’re giving up a day when most people are relaxing, travelling, or sleeping in.
These rates aren’t the same for everyone, and they depend on your award or agreement, but it’s something worth understanding early on. For some workers, public holidays can feel like bonus income; for others, they’re exactly what brings balance to their yearly budget.
Work–life balance and seasonal patterns
Australia takes work–life balance seriously, not in a forced or formal way, but in the sense that people genuinely make space to enjoy life outside their job.
The culture around taking leave
In many workplaces, taking annual leave isn’t just accepted, it’s actually encouraged. You’ll hear people planning their holidays months in advance, comparing flight deals, or negotiating who gets which dates around school holidays. Leave is seen as rest, family time, and a breather from routine.
When Australians tend to take time off
Certain times of year naturally feel quieter or busier. January often feels relaxed, thanks to school holidays and long summer days. Easter, with its built-in long weekend, becomes a favourite moment for road trips. Spring brings school holidays and warmer weather, and December often ends with social catch-ups, office parties, and a slower pace at work.
Workplace shutdown periods
Some workplaces close completely over the Christmas to New Year break. If yours does, you may be asked to use annual leave during that time.
For many people, this becomes a welcome chance to connect with family or explore more of the country. For others, especially in service-based industries, December can be the busiest season of the year.
How working days fit with your personal circumstances
Everyone’s situation is different, and working days can feel different depending on family, lifestyle, and type of work.
If you have children or family responsibilities
School holidays don’t change the number of working days, but they do change the way your family might plan them. Vacation care, adjusting work hours, working from home, or coordinating leave with a partner can all become part of the routine. Many workplaces understand this and offer flexibility where possible.
Remote work and life logistics
Hybrid work has made things easier for people balancing more than one priority. Working from home part of the week can save time on commuting and help you settle into a routine that feels more sustainable, which helps a lot if you’re still adjusting to a new home.
How to calculate your personal working days
Knowing the total number of working days in your state provides a useful starting point, but the number that matters most is the one that reflects your personal situation.
Factoring in leave and flexibility
Once public holidays are counted, annual leave comes into the equation. A full-time worker in New South Wales, for example, starts with 253 possible working days. If they use the standard 20 working days of paid annual leave, their final total becomes 233 working days. If you’re working casually, part-time, or in a flexible role, you can calculate your working year based on shifts or contracted hours instead of calendar days.
There’s no single “right” calculation. Instead, your number reflects the life you’re building, including your plans and your priorities. And over time, your working year becomes less about counting days and more about how those days support the life you want to live.
Tools and resources to plan your year
Having the right tools means you don’t have to remember everything yourself, and over time, these small habits help the year feel more organised.
Using calendars and budgeting tools
Many people start by adding public holidays, school terms, and important dates into their digital calendar. Seeing everything laid out helps make sense of the year ahead, whether you’re organising annual leave, planning trips, or simply trying to avoid surprises.
Budgeting apps and salary trackers can also help you line up income with upcoming plans. Once you know whether you’re being paid weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, it becomes easier to figure out what fits into your budget, and when.
Trusted sources of information
Your workplace will usually share important dates like shutdown periods, leave policies, or busy seasons, and that information is a great place to begin.
For anything related to working rights, pay, or entitlements, official government sources such as the Fair Work Ombudsman or state public holiday calendars are reliable and easy to access.
Planning your year with confidence
Now you’ll have a clearer picture of how working days are counted in Australia and how the calendar shapes work, rest, and everyday life. In 2025, most full-time workers will have around 233 working days, depending on where they live. What really matters, though, is how those days support the routines, relationships, and goals you’re building here.
If you’re balancing life in Australia while still supporting family abroad, you’re not doing it alone. And if sending money home is something that’s part of your rhythm, then Remitly is here to help make that part simple and low-stress.
FAQs
How many working days are in a typical month?
Most months in Australia have around 20 to 22 working days, although this varies depending on public holidays.
Do casual workers get public holiday pay?
Casual workers are generally only paid for time worked. If a casual employee works on a public holiday, they may receive penalty rates depending on their agreement.
Do I get extra pay if I work on a public holiday?
You might be entitled to higher pay when working on public holidays. Your award or agreement will outline the exact rate.
How much paid annual leave do full-time workers receive?
Most full-time workers receive four weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, with some shift workers entitled to additional leave.