Long Service Leave Calculator NSW

New South Wales long service leave calculator

Enter your service and pay to see the leave you've accrued, whether it's payable, and what it's worth.

How long service leave works in New South Wales

In NSW you get 8.67 weeks (2 months) of long service leave after 10 years of continuous service, and another 4.33 weeks for each further 5 years. Between 5 and 10 years, pro-rata leave is paid only if your employer ends your employment (other than for serious and wilful misconduct), you resign because of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity, or on death. After 10 years it is paid out whatever the reason your employment ends.

Long service leave is about continuous service with one employer, not hours worked. Part-time employees accrue it the same way as full-time employees, and paid leave such as annual leave counts as service. Unpaid leave and some breaks in service may not count, so check the NSW Act if you've had a long break.

New South Wales long service leave accrual table

How much leave you build up over time, and whether it's payable if your employment ends.

Part years count, so your balance grows each month of service.

Pro-rata long service leave in New South Wales

Pro-rata means being paid for the leave you've built up before you reach the full qualifying period. In New South Wales, it can be paid from 5 years of continuous service, but only for certain reasons for leaving.

After 10 years, unused long service leave is paid out when your employment ends.

Taking your leave and getting paid

Once you reach 10 years you can take the leave, at a time agreed with your employer. You're paid your ordinary pay for the period, without overtime or most allowances. If your employment ends and you still have leave owing, it's paid out with your final pay.

Long service leave paid out on termination is taxed differently to your normal wages, and the tax depends on when the leave was accrued and why you left. Use the leave payout tax calculator to estimate the tax, or read our guide on tax on leave payouts.

More on New South Wales long service leave

Worked examples

Before tax, at the accrual rate in the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW). The pro-rata example assumes the reason for leaving qualifies.

What counts as continuous service in NSW?

The NSW Act defines continuous employment broadly. These do not break continuous service:

• All paid leave — annual leave, sick leave, parental leave all count toward continuity and accrual.
• Unpaid parental leave — doesn't break continuity but the period may not count toward accrual depending on the arrangement.
• Temporary stand-down — industrial action or direction to stand down generally doesn't break continuity unless the gap is more than 3 months.
• Transfer of business — if your employer sells the business and you transfer to the new owner, your continuity carries across under the Fair Work Act. The LSL clock keeps running.
• Re-engagement after redundancy — if you're made redundant and re-engaged within 2 months by the same or an associated employer, the break may not reset your LSL clock. Check your specific circumstances.

Long service leave in NSW after 20 years — the 4-month entitlement

One of the most common specific searches is "long service leave nsw 20 years calculator." Here's the exact answer:

After 20 years of continuous service in NSW, an employee is entitled to 4 months of long service leave. Using the NSW definition of 1 month = 4⅓ weeks:

4 months × 4.3333 weeks = 17.333 weeks

The entitlement builds up as follows: 2 months at 10 years, plus 1 month for every further 5 years — so 3 months at 15 years, 4 months at 20 years, 5 months at 25 years, and so on. Each additional 5-year block adds exactly 4.3333 weeks.

At $1,600/week: 17.333 weeks × $1,600 = $27,733 gross. At $2,000/week: 17.333 × $2,000 = $34,667 gross.

NSW portable long service leave — the building and construction scheme

Under the Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Act 1986 (NSW), eligible construction workers in NSW carry their LSL entitlement across employers within the industry. The scheme is administered by the Long Service Corporation (LSC), not individual employers. Workers can check their balance and lodge claims at longservice.nsw.gov.au.

The scheme covers a wide range of trade workers — labourers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers and more — as well as some non-trade roles within the construction industry. If you've worked across multiple construction employers in NSW, your entitlement is almost certainly held by the LSC, not your current employer.

Common mistakes when calculating NSW long service leave

• Using 4 weeks instead of 4⅓ weeks per month. The most common error. NSW's "1 month" is 4.3333 weeks, not 4 weeks. Treating 2 months as 8 weeks instead of 8.6667 weeks understates the entitlement by almost a week — about 5% less than what's owed.
• Assuming any resignation after 5 years qualifies. Between 5 and 10 years, NSW only pays pro-rata if your employer ends your employment or you leave because of illness, incapacity or a pressing necessity. If you're close to 10 years, check the date before resigning.
• Using the Victorian or QLD threshold. NSW uses 5 years, not 7. If your payroll system defaults to 7 years (VIC standard), it will miss legitimate NSW pro-rata entitlements.
• Including overtime in the rate. LSL is paid at the ordinary rate — base pay for ordinary hours only.
• Forgetting the LSC construction scheme. NSW construction workers may have portable entitlements registered with the Long Service Corporation that don't appear on employer payslips.
• Miscounting years when calculating 20-year entitlement. The 20-year entitlement is 4 months — but only if the employee has genuinely completed 20 years of continuous service. Part-year leave periods, unpaid breaks and business transfers can all affect the count.

This article reflects the NSW Long Service Leave Act 1955 and the Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Act 1986. For official guidance and dispute resolution, contact NSW Industrial Relations or call 13 16 28. WorkCalc Australia is independent and not affiliated with the NSW Government.

Long service leave in other states

Long service leave is state law, so the rules change at the border. If you've worked in more than one state, the state where you're based usually applies.