Chef Salary Guide 2026: Award Rates, Median Pay and Minimum Wage

Chef salary: award rates and the national minimum

When researching a chef salary in Australia, the first step is to identify the correct pay floor. Most chefs are covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020, which sets minimum wages for cooks and chefs at different skill levels. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, while the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces award obligations.

Award minimum rates for chefs (from 1 July 2026)

The award classifies chefs by skill and responsibility. The key classifications for a qualified cook tradesperson are:

• Level 4 – Cook (tradesperson) Grade 3: $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week)
• Level 5 – Cook (tradesperson) Grade 4: $31.30 per hour ($1,189.40 per week)
• Level 6 – Cook (tradesperson) Grade 5: $32.13 per hour ($1,221.10 per week)

These are the legal minima for full-time adult employees. An introductory level (first six months) is $25.74 per hour ($978.10 per week). Juniors, apprentices and apprentices are paid a percentage of these rates. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

Median earnings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) reports a median full-time hourly earnings of $37 per hour for full-time non-managerial adult chefs. The median weekly earnings are $1,423 per week. These figures are before tax and super. These are survey averages, not a legal minimum. An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate.

Casual loading

Casual employees under the award receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 4 cook tradesperson grade 3, the casual rate is $36.81 per hour. The loading is intended to compensate for not receiving paid leave such as annual leave and sick leave.

How the pay floor applies

If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) applies. Most private-sector employees are covered by a modern award. The award can require a higher rate. For a chef, the award minimum is higher than the national minimum.

Superannuation is on top

Employers must pay 12% superannuation guarantee on ordinary time earnings. The rates quoted above do not include super.

For more detail on how the figures work, see How the figures work and Rate tables.

Chef salary: what to watch

• Junior employees under 21 years of age pay a percentage of the adult rate. For a 19-year-old chef, the minimum is 85% of the adult rate.
• Apprentices have separate rates under the award.
• Enterprise agreements can set higher rates than the award.
• Supported wages for employees with disability can be lower.

Always check the classification that best matches the work performed.

Three common questions about chef pay

1. What is the minimum wage for a chef in Australia?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) for a full-time adult employee. Most chefs are covered by the Hospitality Industry General Award, which sets higher minimums: for a cook tradesperson grade 3 (Level 4) the rate is $29.45 per hour, Level 5 $31.30, Level 6 $32.10 per hour. Juniors, apprentices and trainees may be paid less. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

2. How does the average chef salary compare to the award?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) gives a median full-time hourly earnings of $37 per hour for full-time non-managerial adult chefs. This is above the award minimums. The median weekly earnings are $1,423 per week. These figures are before tax and super; super is additional.

3. Do chefs get casual loading?

Yes. Under the Hospitality Industry General Award, a casual employee receives a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a Level 4 cook tradesperson grade 3, the casual rate is $36.81 per hour. The casual loading is meant to compensate for not receiving paid leave such as annual leave and sick leave. The casual loading is paid on top of the minimum hourly rate.