Chef jobs

Chef jobs Sydney: commis, chef de partie, sous chef and head chef roles

Chef jobs Sydney employers advertise range from commis and chef de partie roles to sous chef and head chef positions in hotels, pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes and function venues. Food safety duties sit with the venue under the Food Standards Code, and the job ad tells you whether a certificate is needed. Employers usually look for a Certificate III or IV in commercial cookery or kitchen management, solid kitchen experience and, where the venue needs one, a certified food safety supervisor. Register your CV with CrossNation and a recruiter reviews it as employers brief us; a listing is not a job offer.

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By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.

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Open chef roles in Sydney right now: 0

No matching roles are open in Sydney right now. Create a candidate profile and upload your CV, and a recruiter reviews profiles against roles as employers brief us. A listing is not a job offer.

What to know

What to know before you apply in Sydney

What shapes chef hiring in Sydney?

Greater Sydney had 5,231,147 residents at the 2021 Census. Its five largest employing industries were hospitals (4.1%), computer system design and related services (3.1%), banking (2.6%), supermarket and grocery stores (2.4%), other social assistance services (2.0%), so cafes and restaurants do not reach the top five the way they do in Greater Melbourne. The Census counts where residents work by industry, not vacancies, so Sydney chef positions are better read from current job ads than from a share. Median weekly household income was $2,077 against $1,746 for Australia, and Sydney kitchens hire at every level of the brigade: a commis prepares ingredients, a chef de partie runs a station, a sous chef runs the kitchen when the head chef is off, and a head chef designs menus, costs dishes and leads the team.

Which qualifications and food safety training do Sydney kitchens ask for?

Employers in Sydney commonly ask for a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery for cooks and a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management for chefs who supervise others. Food safety is set nationally by Standard 3.2.2A of the Food Standards Code. Since December 2023 food service and caterer businesses in the first two categories must appoint a certified food safety supervisor before handling unpackaged, potentially hazardous, ready-to-eat food. The certificate must come from a registered training organisation, or an organisation recognised by the food regulator, and must have been obtained within the past five years. The supervisor has to be reasonably available to advise and supervise each food handler, so a venue may ask a chef to hold the certificate. Allergen management is a daily part of the job, so be ready to record allergens on menus and prevent cross-contact.

What does the award set for a Sydney cook or chef?

Cooks and chefs in hotels, motels, resorts and caterers are usually covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award [MA000009], and stand-alone restaurants and cafes are often covered by the Restaurant Industry Award [MA000119]. From 1 July 2026 the general award sets cook (tradesperson) grade 3 at level 4 at $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour). That is an award minimum, not a going rate, and clubs and larger groups may have their own agreement. A senior chef offered an annual salary should check the contract explains which award entitlements the salary is meant to cover. Our chef and head chef pay guide prints the penalty rates with the clause, and the Fair Work Pay Calculator prices a specific shift once you know the award and level that apply. Check Fair Work for the latest rates.

Which NSW public holidays affect chef rosters in 2026?

Kitchens trade through holidays, and the NSW list for 2026 includes King's Birthday on Monday 8 June, Labour Day on Monday 5 October, and additional days on Monday 27 April and Monday 28 December. The first Monday in August is a Bank Holiday for retail bank branches, but it is not a declared public holiday, so it does not change a kitchen roster. Ask at interview which holidays the role covers and how they are paid.

Can an overseas chef take a Sydney kitchen job?

Work rights come first. Home Affairs says a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) lets you work in any occupation, generally for up to 6 months with one employer, and other visas carry their own conditions, which VEVO shows. Home Affairs lists exemptions to the 6-month limit, including hospitality, aged and disability care, childcare and agriculture work, so check your visa conditions in VEVO or ask a registered migration agent. CrossNation is a recruitment agency and cannot sponsor you, lodge visa paperwork or promise a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.

What you could apply for in Sydney

Role types

Hotel and resort kitchens, including banquet and breakfast service
Pubs and clubs with a bistro or function kitchen
Restaurants and cafes from a single site to a group
Caterers and function venues
Aged care and institutional kitchens that need a qualified cook

Areas covered: Sydney CBD, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Bondi, Manly, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Newtown, Barangaroo.

Official data

Key facts from official sources

Food safety supervisor (Standard 3.2.2A)

Category one and two food businesses must appoint a certified food safety supervisor, with a certificate obtained within the past 5 years, before engaging in a prescribed activity. The supervisor must be reasonably available to advise and supervise each food handler.

Source: Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Food safety supervisor (retrieved 6 October 2026)

Award minimum: cook (tradesperson) grade 3

Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, level 4: $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) from 1 July 2026 (clause 18.1). This is the award minimum, not an average or a going rate.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009] (retrieved 6 October 2026)

NSW public holidays 2026

King's Birthday is Monday 8 June and Labour Day is Monday 5 October. Additional days are listed for Monday 27 April and Monday 28 December. The first Monday in August is a Bank Holiday for retail bank branches and is not a declared public holiday.

Source: NSW Government: NSW public holidays 2026 to 2027 (retrieved 6 October 2026)

Greater Sydney: largest employing industries

5,231,147 residents at the 2021 Census. The five largest employing industries were hospitals (4.1%), computer system design and related services (3.1%), banking (2.6%), supermarket and grocery stores (2.4%), other social assistance services (2.0%).

Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Greater Sydney (retrieved 6 October 2026)

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A recruiter reviews profiles against roles as employers brief us. Listings are not job offers.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to work as a chef in Sydney?

This page does not list a chef licence; the food safety duties in this page's sources sit with the food business, so check the job ad or ask the employer what the role needs. Many kitchens ask for a Certificate III or IV in commercial cookery or kitchen management, and food businesses must appoint a certified food safety supervisor, so employers sometimes ask a chef to hold that certificate.

What is a food safety supervisor certificate and how long does it last?

It is a certificate from a registered training organisation, or one recognised by the food regulator, that shows you completed the required units. Under Standard 3.2.2A it must have been obtained within the past five years, so the full course is repeated every five years unless a provider offers a refresher.

What do chefs in Sydney earn?

This page prints award minimums, not market averages. Pay depends on the award, the classification, the hours and any annual salary arrangement. Use the Fair Work Pay Calculator for a specific shift and ask the employer which award or agreement applies.

How is a cook different from a chef in a Sydney job ad?

In ANZSCO a chef plans menus, supervises staff and manages the kitchen, while a cook prepares food under direction, and awards classify the roles differently. Venues use the titles loosely, so read the duties and the classification named in the ad before you apply.

Can I do chef work in Sydney on a Working Holiday visa?

A Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) lets you work in any occupation, generally for up to 6 months with one employer. Home Affairs lists exemptions to the 6-month limit, including hospitality, aged and disability care, childcare and agriculture work, so check your visa conditions in VEVO or ask a registered migration agent. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.

Does CrossNation have chef roles in Sydney right now?

Open roles appear on this page when an employer briefs us and the role is live. If none is listed, register your CV and a recruiter reviews it as briefs arrive. A listing is not a job offer and we cannot promise a role.

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