Workers in mainly feminised industries are getting a pay bump after the industrial umpire ruled they have traditionally been underpaid because of their gender.
The Fair Work Commission ruling means minimum pay rates for a wide range of jobs will increase.
Pharmacists are among those who'll benefit from a 14.1 per cent pay rise in the next three years.
Substantial rises of up to 35 per cent are also being proposed for health professionals, dental assistants and pathology collectors.
Early childhood education and care workers will also see their award pay rates lifted over five years, with an initial five per cent increase from August.
The commission's decision comes after hearing evidence from more than 130 witnesses as well as five experts during 15 days of hearings to consider fair rates of pay in the five priority awards.
The landmark ruling recognises that Australian workers shouldn't be undervalued and underpaid because of their gender, ACTU president Michele O'Neil said on Wednesday.
"For too long, jobs where the majority of workers are women have been paid less," she said.
"Discounting women's work has contributed to the gender pay gap and worsened cost-of-living pressures for households."
But the peak union body said it was concerned that proposed changes to the Social and Community Services Award would have unintended consequences that could disadvantage some workers.
The commission is consulting further on changes to classification structures and the timing of any increases.
If carried out, these changes would directly increase the wages of an estimated 175,000 workers paid under those awards and indirectly help a further 335,000.
"Unions know there is still a lot more work to do to achieve gender equality," Ms O'Neil said.
"We will campaign to protect the laws that have paved the way for these life-changing pay rises."
