Long Service Leave Calculator SA
Long service leave in South Australia: weeks accrued, when it can be taken, the pro-rata payout after 7 years and what it is worth.
Long service leave in South Australia
13 weeksAfter 10 years of continuous service in South Australia, 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 (South Australia) | 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 |
|---|---|
| South Australia: 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 1987 (SA).
After 10 years of continuous service in South Australia, an employee has accrued 13 weeks of long service leave and can take it now, worth $19,500 at $1,500 a week.
Source: SafeWork SA Last verified How we keep this accurate
How long service leave works in South Australia
Long service leave in South Australia is set by the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA), 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. Leave other than annual or long service leave, including unpaid parental leave, does not break continuity but the period is not counted as service (s 6(1)(f), s 6(2)); the Act does not distinguish paid from unpaid parental leave.
- 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, on termination for any reason (including resignation, redundancy, dismissal and illness; on death it is paid to the estate), except where the worker is dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully terminates the contract (lsl act 1987 s 5(3)–(5)).
- 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, on termination for any reason (including resignation, redundancy, dismissal and illness; on death it is paid to the estate), except where the worker is dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully terminates the contract (LSL Act 1987 s 5(3)–(5)). |
| Casual employees | Covered. Casual employees are covered where service is continuous. |
| Parental leave | Leave other than annual or long service leave, including unpaid parental leave, does not break continuity but the period is not counted as service (s 6(1)(f), s 6(2)); the Act does not distinguish paid from unpaid parental leave. |
| Regulator | SafeWork SA |
| Source | Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA) · last checked 2026-09-25 · verified |
Points still to be confirmed against the Act: Could not confirm whether paid parental leave counts as service (the Act does not distinguish paid from unpaid leave); does not affect the calculation.
How many weeks of long service leave after 10 years in South Australia?
After 10 years of continuous service in South Australia, 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 | 9.1* | $13,650 |
| 8 | 10.4 | Not yet | 10.4* | $15,600 |
| 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 South Australia?
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, on termination for any reason (including resignation, redundancy, dismissal and illness; on death it is paid to the estate), except where the worker is dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully terminates the contract (lsl act 1987 s 5(3)–(5)). 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 South Australia 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 South Australia?
In South Australia, long service leave accrues at 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each further year under the Long Service Leave Act 1987 (SA). 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 South Australia?
Ten years of continuous service in South Australia 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 South Australia?
Only on the grounds the Act lists. After 7 years, on termination for any reason (including resignation, redundancy, dismissal and illness; on death it is paid to the estate), except where the worker is dismissed for serious and wilful misconduct or the worker unlawfully terminates the contract (LSL Act 1987 s 5(3)–(5)). 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 South Australia rule; the regulator (SafeWork SA) can confirm an individual case.
Do casual employees get long service leave in South Australia?
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 1987 (SA).
Does parental leave count towards long service leave in South Australia?
Leave other than annual or long service leave, including unpaid parental leave, does not break continuity but the period is not counted as service (s 6(1)(f), s 6(2)); the Act does not distinguish paid from unpaid parental leave. 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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- Long service leave calculator NSW Long service leave rules and payout in New South Wales.
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