Leaving a Job: Which Leave Gets Paid Out, and How Much
Unused annual leave must be paid out when you leave. How much builds up over 6 months to 2 years, and what happens to sick leave, long service leave and TOIL.
By the MoneyBackKit AU team · Updated 28 October 2026 · 2 min read
When you resign, are dismissed or are made redundant, your employer must pay out any annual leave you've built up and not taken. Other kinds of leave work differently.
Unused annual leave if none was taken
| Time worked | Leave built up | Paid at $42.00 an hour | With 17.5% loading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 weeks | 76 h | $3,192 | $3,751 |
| 52 weeks | 152 h | $6,384 | $7,501 |
| 78 weeks | 228 h | $9,576 | $11,252 |
| 104 weeks | 304 h | $12,768 | $15,002 |
What's paid out and what isn't
- Annual leave: always paid out, at your base rate. Leave loading is added if your award or agreement includes it on termination (many awards do).
- Personal (sick and carer's) leave: not paid out.
- Long service leave: depends on your state or territory law; in some places a pro-rata amount is paid after a minimum period.
- Time off in lieu (TOIL): usually paid out if your award or agreement says so.
Under most awards, final pay is due within 7 days of your last day.
Annual Leave & Leave Loading CalculatorWork out how much leave you've built up.