Salary guide
Chef and hospitality pay in Australia: what the hospitality awards set
The Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 and the Restaurant Industry Award 2020 set minimum pay for cooks, kitchen attendants and food and beverage staff. A cook (tradesperson) grade 3, a commi chef or equivalent, is at level 4 and must be paid at least $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour). A cook (tradesperson) grade 5, a chef de partie or equivalent, is at level 6: $1,221.10 a week ($32.13 an hour). The two awards currently print the same minimum at every level. Rates apply from 1 July 2026 and are award minimums, not market averages.
Key facts
- Level 1: kitchen attendant grade 1, food and beverage attendant grade 1
- $1,004.90 a week ($26.44 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Level 2: cook grade 1, kitchen attendant grade 2, food and beverage attendant grade 2
- $1,029.10 a week ($27.08 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Level 3: cook grade 2, kitchen attendant grade 3, food and beverage attendant grade 3
- $1,062.90 a week ($27.97 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Level 4: cook (tradesperson) grade 3, commi chef or equivalent
- $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Level 5: cook (tradesperson) grade 4, demi chef or equivalent
- $1,189.40 a week ($31.30 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Level 6: cook (tradesperson) grade 5, chef de partie or equivalent
- $1,221.10 a week ($32.13 an hour) Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1
- Casual employees
- A casual employee is paid a loading of 25% in addition to the hourly rate (clause 11.1 of each award). Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 11.1
Hospitality Industry (General) Award: adult minimum rates
For hotels, motels, resorts, caterers, casinos and similar hospitality businesses (clause 4.2). Full-time weekly and part-time hourly minimums for adult employees, as the award prints them.
| Level | Classification | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory level | $978.10 | $25.74 | |
| Level 1 | Food and beverage attendant grade 1; Guest service grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 1 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 |
| Level 2 | Clerical grade 1; Cook grade 1; Door person/security officer grade 1; Food and beverage attendant grade 2; Front office grade 1; Gardener grade 1; Guest service grade 2; Kitchen attendant grade 2; Leisure attendant grade 1; Storeperson grade 1 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 |
| Level 3 | Clerical grade 2; Cook grade 2; Food and beverage attendant grade 3; Fork-lift driver; Front office grade 2; Gardener grade 2; Guest service grade 3; Handyperson; Kitchen attendant grade 3; Leisure attendant grade 2; Storeperson grade 2; Timekeeper/security officer grade 2 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 |
| Level 4 | Clerical grade 3; Cook (tradesperson) grade 3; Food and beverage attendant (tradesperson) grade 4; Front office grade 3; Gardener grade 3 (tradesperson); Guest service grade 4; Leisure attendant grade 3; Storeperson grade 3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| Level 5 | Clerical supervisor; Cook (tradesperson) grade 4; Food and beverage supervisor; Front office supervisor; Gardener grade 4 (tradesperson); Guest service supervisor | $1,189.40 | $31.30 |
| Level 6 | Cook (tradesperson) grade 5 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 |
Source: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 [MA000009], clause 18.1. Full-time weekly rates from the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Checked 3 October 2026.
Restaurant Industry Award: adult minimum rates
For restaurants, cafés, reception centres, night clubs and roadhouses (clause 4.2). The same layout: full-time weekly and part-time hourly minimums for adult employees.
| Level | Classification | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory level | $978.10 | $25.74 | |
| Level 1 | Food and beverage attendant grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 1 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 |
| Level 2 | Food and beverage attendant grade 2; Cook grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 2; Clerical grade 1; Storeperson grade 1; Door person/security officer grade 1 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 |
| Level 3 | Food and beverage attendant grade 3; Cook grade 2; Kitchen attendant grade 3; Clerical grade 2; Storeperson grade 2; Timekeeper/security officer grade 2; Handyperson | $1,062.90 | $27.97 |
| Level 4 | Food and beverage attendant grade 4 (tradesperson); Cook grade 3 (tradesperson); Clerical grade 3; Storeperson grade 3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 |
| Level 5 | Food and beverage supervisor; Cook grade 4 (tradesperson); Clerical supervisor | $1,189.40 | $31.30 |
| Level 6 | Cook grade 5 (tradesperson) | $1,221.10 | $32.13 |
Source: Restaurant Industry Award 2020 [MA000119], clause 18.1. Full-time weekly rates from the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Checked 3 October 2026.
How do the hospitality awards classify cooks and chefs?
Both awards sort kitchen work into the kitchen stream of Schedule A. Kitchen attendants run from grade 1 to grade 3, and cooks from grade 1 to grade 5. Cook grades 3 to 5 are tradesperson classifications: the awards describe grade 3 as a commi chef or equivalent, grade 4 as a demi chef or equivalent and grade 5 as a chef de partie or equivalent. The Hospitality Industry (General) Award asks for a completed apprenticeship or a passed trade test, and the Restaurant Industry Award also accepts an appropriate level of training. Each grade sits at a wage level, and the rate for that level is the minimum.
Do the awards set rates for head chefs and sous chefs?
No. Neither award lists head chef, sous chef or executive chef as a classification, and the highest cook classification is cook grade 5 (tradesperson) at level 6. Employers can pay more than the award, and employees covered by an enterprise agreement are paid under that agreement. An employee offered an annual salary should check which award entitlements the salary is meant to cover. Both awards allow a written annualised wage arrangement on the conditions in the award (clause 24 of the Hospitality Industry (General) Award and clause 20 of the Restaurant Industry Award).
Which award covers a hospitality job?
The Hospitality Industry (General) Award covers employers in the hospitality industry, which includes hotels, motels, resorts, caterers, casinos and similar businesses (clause 4.2). The Restaurant Industry Award covers restaurants, reception centres, night clubs, cafés and roadhouses, including catering by a restaurant business (clause 4.2). Registered and licensed clubs, hospitals and some other businesses are covered by other awards, and an enterprise agreement can apply instead. If an employer is covered by more than one award, the award with the classification most appropriate to the work applies (clause 4.5). The Fair Work Ombudsman can confirm which award covers a specific job.
What is not included in these figures?
The tables show ordinary-hours minimums for adult employees. Penalty rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays, overtime, allowances and the casual loading are extra, junior and apprentice rates are set separately, and employers can pay above the award. The Hospitality Industry (General) Award also sets a separate minimum annual salary for its Managerial staff (Hotels) classification in clause 18.2, which this guide does not cover. Superannuation is paid on top of these rates. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025 (Australian Taxation Office: Super guarantee).
Chef and hospitality pay questions
What is the minimum pay for a chef in Australia?
The hospitality awards classify cooks by grade rather than by the chef title. A cook (tradesperson) grade 3, a commi chef or equivalent, must be paid at least $1,119.10 a week ($29.45 an hour) from 1 July 2026, and a cook (tradesperson) grade 5, a chef de partie or equivalent, at least $1,221.10 a week ($32.13 an hour). Employers can pay more than the award, and an enterprise agreement can apply instead.
What is the minimum pay for a cook?
Under the hospitality awards a cook grade 1 is at level 2 and must be paid at least $1,029.10 a week ($27.08 an hour), and a cook grade 2 is at level 3 and must be paid at least $1,062.90 a week ($27.97 an hour), from 1 July 2026. The tradesperson grades 3 to 5 are at levels 4 to 6.
Do casual chefs and cooks earn more per hour?
Under both awards a casual employee is paid a loading of 25% in addition to the hourly rate (clause 11.1).
Which award covers chefs in a restaurant or a hotel?
A restaurant, café or roadhouse is usually covered by the Restaurant Industry Award, and a hotel, motel, resort or caterer by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award. Registered and licensed clubs sit under a different award, and an enterprise agreement can apply instead, so check the award or agreement that covers the job.
Can an employer pay more than the award?
Yes. The award sets minimum pay. Employers can pay more, and employees covered by an enterprise agreement are paid under that agreement, which must leave them better off overall than the award. Check the award or agreement that covers the job, and use the Fair Work Pay Calculator for a specific shift.
Related
Hiring chefs? CrossNation recruits for employers across Australia. Fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, with a 90-day placement guarantee.
Sources (accessed 3 October 2026)
CrossNation does not promise pay, roles or visas. These guides are not legal or employment advice. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.