Pay & allowances

How to set your own pay rate with Custom Role

Pick Custom Role, type your own role name and hourly rate, choose how penalties are paid, pick the date it started, and change it later. Cancel puts everything back.

  • Video 3:53
  • 20 steps
  • Shown on iPhone
  • Updated Oct 2026

No sound needed: every step is captioned.

Recorded as: NSW public hospital nurse, Registered Nurse / Midwife on Custom Role (Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award)

Jump to a step
  1. 1Open Settings.
  2. 2Open your job.
  3. 3Open Role & Grade.
  4. 4Pick Custom Role.
  5. 5Tap Next.
  6. 6Name your role.
  7. 7Type your hourly rate.
  8. 8Close the keypad.
  9. 9Choose how penalties are paid.
  10. 10Keep the award's rates.
  11. 11Check the example, then tap Next.
  12. 12Pick the date and confirm.
  13. 13To change it later.
  14. 14Type a new rate.
  15. 15Made a mistake?
  16. 16Open it again.
  17. 17Type your new rate.
  18. 18Tap Next.
  19. 19Pick the date and confirm.
  20. 20Go back to Settings.

  1. Step 1: Open Settings.

    Tap Settings at the bottom right of the screen.

    • Tap Settings at the bottom right.

  2. Step 2: Open your job.

    Tap your job card at the top. The Work Profile page opens.

    • Tap your job card at the top.

  3. Step 3: Open Role & Grade.

    Under Role & Grade, tap your role.

    • Under Role & Grade, tap your role.

  4. Step 4: Pick Custom Role.

    Custom Role is at the top of the list, under Custom. Tap Custom Role.

    • Custom Role is at the top of the list.
    • Tap Custom Role.

  5. Step 5: Tap Next.

    The button at the top right now says Next. Tap it. The Custom Role box opens.

    • The button at the top right now says Next. Tap it.

  6. Step 6: Name your role.

    Tap Role Name and type a name for your job. In this example, we used Agency Nurse.

    • Tap Role Name and type a name for your job.
    • In this example, Agency Nurse.

  7. Step 7: Type your hourly rate.

    Tap Base Rate and type your hourly rate. In this example, we used $58.50. Below it, you'll see what an 8-hour shift, a 38-hour week and a fortnight would pay. If you're casual, you'll also see Casual Loading here.

    • Tap Base Rate and type your hourly rate.
    • In this example, $58.50.
    • Below it, see what a shift, a week and a fortnight would pay.
    • Casual? You'll also see Casual Loading here.

  8. Step 8: Close the keypad.

    Tap Done to close the keypad.

    • Tap Done to close the keypad.

  9. Step 9: Choose how penalties are paid.

    Scroll down. Custom Pay Rules has its own tutorial. Paid for being on call? Set it up in On-Call Pay. If you get the same rate for every shift, turn on Flat Rate Only; in this example, we kept it off. The Standard Award Penalties switch for your state is on to start, and it adds your award's extra rates to your own rate. If your employer pays different rates, turn it off and type your own percentages.

    • Custom Pay Rules has its own tutorial.
    • Paid for being on call? Set it up in On-Call Pay.
    • Same rate for every shift? Turn on Flat Rate Only.
    • In this example, we'll keep it off.
    • The Standard Award Penalties switch for your state is on.
    • It adds your award's extra rates to your own rate.
    • Different rates? Turn it off and type your own.

  10. Step 10: Keep the award's rates.

    In this example, we kept the award's rates, so we turned the switch back on.

    • In this example, we'll keep the award's rates. Turn it back on.

  11. Step 11: Check the example, then tap Next.

    Scroll down. Penalty Start Times only matter when you type your own rates. The Example shows what an 8-hour Saturday night shift would pay. Happy with it? Tap Next at the top right.

    • Penalty Start Times only matter when you type your own rates.
    • The Example shows an 8-hour Saturday night shift.
    • Happy with it? Tap Next at the top right.

  12. Step 12: Pick the date and confirm.

    Pick the date your new rate started. Shifts before it keep their old pay. In this example, we kept today's date. Tap Confirm at the top right. Your role and rate now show on the Work Profile page.

    • Pick the date your new rate started.
    • Shifts before it keep their old pay.
    • In this example, we'll keep today.
    • Tap Confirm at the top right.
    • Your role and rate now show here.

  13. Step 13: To change it later.

    Tap Configure Rate & Penalties. The same box opens with your values.

    • To change them later, tap Configure Rate & Penalties.

  14. Step 14: Type a new rate.

    Tap Base Rate and type the new rate. In this example, $60.

    • Tap Base Rate and type a new rate. In this example, $60.

  15. Step 15: Made a mistake?

    Tap Cancel at the top left. Nothing changes, and your rate is still $58.50.

    • Made a mistake? Tap Cancel at the top left.
    • Nothing changes. Your rate is still $58.50.

  16. Step 16: Open it again.

    To make the change for real, tap Configure Rate & Penalties again.

    • Now tap Configure Rate & Penalties again.

  17. Step 17: Type your new rate.

    Tap Base Rate and type your new rate. In this example, $60.

    • Tap Base Rate and type your new rate. In this example, $60.

  18. Step 18: Tap Next.

    Tap Next at the top right. You're asked for the date again.

    • Tap Next at the top right.

  19. Step 19: Pick the date and confirm.

    Pick the date your rate changed. In this example, we kept today's date. Tap Confirm. Your new rate shows on the Work Profile page.

    • Pick the date your rate changed.
    • In this example, we'll keep today.
    • Tap Confirm.
    • Your new rate shows here.

  20. Step 20: Go back to Settings.

    Tap the back button at the top left. Paid other extras? Add your own in Allowances, under Custom Allowances.

    • Tap the back button at the top left.
    • Paid other extras? Add your own in Allowances.
    • Look for Custom Allowances.

Good to know

  • Nothing changes until you tap Confirm. Cancel closes the box and puts back what was there.
  • Changing your rate later with Configure Rate & Penalties also asks for a date. Shifts before that date keep the pay they had.
  • Leave Loading (in the box, under Leave): leave it blank to use your award's leave loading, or type your own percentage. Enter 0 if you don't get it.
  • Casual? The box also shows Casual Loading (25% to start). Enter 0 if your hourly rate already includes it.
  • Penalty Start Times (4 pm for afternoons and 9 pm for nights, to start) only change anything when Standard Award Penalties is off.
  • Typing your own rates? Leave Public Holiday and Mid Shift blank to keep the standard rate for those.
  • Your award's allowances can still be switched on in Settings › Allowances, or you can add your own under Custom Allowances (see the allowances tutorial).
  • Getting on-call pay? Set it up in On-Call Pay inside the box. To put on call on your roster, see the on-call tutorial.
  • Four names, untangled. Shift Worker is a job type you pick under "What do you do?" when MyRoster has no award for your work. Custom Role is what you pick in the Role & Grade list when your award job's built-in pay doesn't fit. Custom Rate is the heading over your rate on the Work Profile page. Custom Pay Rules is an optional, more detailed editor inside the Custom Role box, and it has its own tutorial.
  • The amounts in this tutorial are an example. MyRoster's figures are estimates worked out from your settings, and your payslip may differ.

Still stuck? Email Jamie — I answer every message personally.

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