Long Service Leave Calculator NT
Long service leave in the NT: weeks accrued, when it can be taken, the pro-rata payout after 7 years and what it is worth.
Long service leave in Northern Territory
13 weeksAfter 10 years of continuous service in Northern Territory, an employee has accrued 13 weeks of long service leave and can take it now, worth $19,500 at $1,500 a week.
| Continuous service | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Accrual rate (Northern Territory) | 1.3 weeks per year |
| Accrued so far | 13 weeks |
| Available to take now | 13 weeks |
| Value at $1,500 a week | $19,500 |
Entitled: 10 years of continuous service reached, so the accrued 13 weeks can be taken (or paid out on termination for any reason).
How this was calculated
| Continuous service: 10 years | 10 |
|---|---|
| Northern Territory: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further year | 1.3 |
| Accrued: 10 × 1.3 = 13 weeks10 years × 1.3 weeks/year | 13 |
| Available now: 13 weeks | 13 |
| Value at $1500 a week13 × $1500 | $19,500.00 |
Rules: Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT).
After 10 years of continuous service in Northern Territory, an employee has accrued 13 weeks of long service leave and can take it now, worth $19,500 at $1,500 a week.
Source: NT WorkSafe / Department of the Attorney-General and Justice Last verified How we keep this accurate
How long service leave works in the NT
Long service leave in the NT is set by the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT), not the national Fair Work Act, so the rules differ from other states. This is how the calculator works it out:
- Count continuous service with the one employer (or a related business). Paid leave counts. Unpaid leave, including unpaid parental leave, is not counted as service; only leave granted with pay by the employer counts (s 12(5)). The Act does not say whether unpaid leave breaks continuity.
- Accrue at 1.3 weeks a year: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further year.
- Subtract leave already taken or paid out.
- Check the stage. Leave can be taken once 10 years are reached. If employment ends after 7 years, a pro-rata payment can apply on the grounds the Act lists: after 7 years but before 10, only if the employee retires at or after retirement age, the employer terminates for a reason other than serious misconduct, or the employee leaves on account of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity justifying leaving (lsl act 1981 s 10(2)); on death the estate is paid (s 10(3)). ordinary resignation does not qualify.
- Value it at ordinary pay: the normal weekly rate, excluding overtime, multiplied by the weeks available.
| Accrual | 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further year |
|---|---|
| Leave can be taken after | 10 years of continuous service |
| Pro-rata payout on termination | After 7 years. After 7 years but before 10, only if the employee retires at or after retirement age, the employer terminates for a reason other than serious misconduct, or the employee leaves on account of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity justifying leaving (LSL Act 1981 s 10(2)); on death the estate is paid (s 10(3)). Ordinary resignation does not qualify. |
| Casual employees | Covered. Casual employees are covered where service is continuous. |
| Parental leave | Unpaid leave, including unpaid parental leave, is not counted as service; only leave granted with pay by the employer counts (s 12(5)). The Act does not say whether unpaid leave breaks continuity. |
| Regulator | NT WorkSafe / Department of the Attorney-General and Justice |
| Source | Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT) · last checked 2026-09-25 · verified |
Points still to be confirmed against the Act: Could not confirm from the Act or the regulator whether unpaid leave breaks continuity of service (s 12(2)–(5) are silent); does not affect the calculation.
How many weeks of long service leave after 10 years in the NT?
After 10 years of continuous service in the NT, an employee has 13 weeks of long service leave. After 15 years it is 19.5 weeks and after 20 years 26 weeks. Valued at $1,500 a week, the 10-year entitlement is worth $19,500.
| Years of service | Weeks accrued | Can take now | Payable if employment ends | Value on termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 6.5 | Not yet | Nil | — |
| 7 | 9.1 | Not yet | Nil | — |
| 8 | 10.4 | Not yet | Nil | — |
| 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | $19,500 |
| 12 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 15.6 | $23,400 |
| 15 | 19.5 | 19.5 | 19.5 | $29,250 |
| 20 | 26 | 26 | 26 | $39,000 |
* Pro-rata payment, subject to the conditions in the rules table.
What happens to long service leave if I leave my job in the NT?
Nothing is payable before 7 years of continuous service. From 7 years, a proportionate payment applies only when the employment ends on a ground the Act allows: after 7 years but before 10, only if the employee retires at or after retirement age, the employer terminates for a reason other than serious misconduct, or the employee leaves on account of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity justifying leaving (lsl act 1981 s 10(2)); on death the estate is paid (s 10(3)). ordinary resignation does not qualify. Choose the reason in the calculator to see whether it qualifies. From 10 years, the full accrued balance is paid out on termination for any reason, since the entitlement has vested. Long service leave paid on termination is taxed as an employment termination component under ATO rules, which is outside this calculator.
How the NT compares with other states
| State | Take leave after | Pro-rata after | Weeks after 10 years | Act |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 10 years | 5 years | 8.67 | Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) |
| Victoria | 7 years | 7 years | 8.67 | Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic) |
| Queensland | 10 years | 7 years | 8.67 | Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld), Chapter 2 Part 3 Division 9 |
| Western Australia | 10 years | 7 years | 8.67 | Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA) |
| South Australia | 10 years | 7 years | 13 | Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA) |
| Tasmania | 10 years | 7 years | 8.67 | Long Service Leave Act 1976 (Tas) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 7 years | 5 years | 8.67 | Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT) |
| Northern Territory | 10 years | 7 years | 13 | Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT) |
What this calculator doesn’t cover
- Employees covered by a federal award or agreement with its own long service leave clause, or by a portable long service leave scheme (construction, cleaning, security and community services in some states).
- Averaging rules for employees whose hours changed during their service; the calculator uses the weekly pay you enter.
- Breaks in service, business transfers and casual continuity tests, which are set out in the Act.
- Tax on a long service leave payout.
Frequently asked questions
How is long service leave calculated in the NT?
In the NT, long service leave accrues at 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further year under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT). Multiply the years of continuous service by 1.3 weeks to get the accrued balance, then multiply by ordinary weekly pay for the dollar value. Leave can be taken once 10 years of continuous service are reached; a pro-rata payment can apply from 7 years if employment ends.
How many weeks of long service leave after 10 years in the NT?
Ten years of continuous service in the NT gives 13 weeks of long service leave. After 15 years it is 19.5 weeks and after 20 years 26 weeks, because the leave keeps accruing at 1.3 weeks a year for as long as the employment continues. Leave already taken is deducted from the balance.
Can long service leave be paid out after 7 years in the NT?
Only on the grounds the Act lists. After 7 years but before 10, only if the employee retires at or after retirement age, the employer terminates for a reason other than serious misconduct, or the employee leaves on account of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity justifying leaving (LSL Act 1981 s 10(2)); on death the estate is paid (s 10(3)). Ordinary resignation does not qualify. Before 7 years no long service leave is payable, whatever the reason for leaving. The calculator asks why the employment is ending and applies the the NT rule; the regulator (NT WorkSafe / Department of the Attorney-General and Justice) can confirm an individual case.
Do casual employees get long service leave in the NT?
Yes. Casual employees are covered where service is continuous. Continuity is the key test: regular casual work with the one employer counts, with breaks allowed under the Act's rules. Hours vary, so the leave is valued on average ordinary pay over the period set out in the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT).
Does parental leave count towards long service leave in the NT?
Unpaid leave, including unpaid parental leave, is not counted as service; only leave granted with pay by the employer counts (s 12(5)). The Act does not say whether unpaid leave breaks continuity. Other unpaid leave generally does not count as service but does not break continuity, so the clock pauses rather than resets. Paid leave of any kind counts as service in every state.
How much is my long service leave worth?
Long service leave is paid at ordinary pay: the employee's normal weekly rate excluding overtime, at the time the leave is taken or paid out. Multiply the weeks available by ordinary weekly pay. For example, 13 weeks after 10 years at $1,500 a week is $19,500. Enter your weekly pay in the calculator to see your figure.
Is long service leave the same in every state?
No. Each state and territory has its own Act. Victoria and the ACT let employees take leave after 7 years; most others require 10 years. South Australia and the Northern Territory give 13 weeks after 10 years, while the others give about 8.67 weeks. Pro-rata rules on termination also differ. Use the calculator for the state where the work is performed.
Sources and assumptions
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