Chef salary in Australia
Chef salaries in Australia vary widely depending on experience, location, and the type of establishment. While the ABS does not publish a specific figure for chefs, the minimum rates are set by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, which covers cooks and chefs. This guide uses the award as a baseline and compares it to the national full-time average to give you a clear picture of where chef pay sits.
Minimum award rates for chefs
Under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, a Level 2 cook grade 1 (a common entry-level classification for chefs) is paid $27.08 per hour from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. That works out to $1,029.10 per week on a 38-hour week, or about $53,513 per year (52 weeks). This is slightly above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, $52,255 per year).
Higher classifications exist for more experienced chefs, and penalty rates apply for evening, night, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday work. For example, Saturday work attracts a rate of $33.85 per hour for a Level 2 cook. Many chefs in busy restaurants earn significantly more than the minimum due to these penalties and overtime.
Take-home pay: a resident sketch
Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200; 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; plus 2% Medicare levy), a chef earning the minimum award rate of $53,513 per year would pay roughly:
- Tax on $53,513: ($45,000 – $18,200) × 15% + ($53,513 – $45,000) × 30% = $4,020 + $2,554 = $6,574
- Medicare levy: $53,513 × 2% = $1,070
- Total deductions: about $7,644
- Take-home pay: about $45,869 per year, or $882 per week
This is a rough estimate. Actual take-home will be higher if the chef works overtime or penalty shifts, and lower if they have a HELP debt or other deductions.
How chef pay compares to the national average
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A chef on the minimum award rate earns about half that. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).
Chefs are classified under “Technicians and trades workers” in ABS data, which had an average weekly total cash earnings of $1,756.90 in May 2025 (about $91,359 per year). However, this category includes many higher-paid trades such as electricians and plumbers, so the average for chefs specifically is likely lower. Many chefs, especially in casual or part-time roles, earn less than the all-employees median.
Factors that affect a chef’s salary
- Experience and skill: Head chefs and executive chefs in high-end restaurants can earn well above $80,000–$100,000 per year.
- Location: Chefs in New South Wales (full-time average $109,658) and the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090) tend to earn more than those in Tasmania ($96,008) or South Australia ($102,450).
- Type of employer: Hotels, fine-dining restaurants and catering companies often pay above award rates, while fast-food or casual dining may stick closer to the minimum.
- Penalty rates and overtime: Weekend and evening work can boost take-home pay significantly.
Where to find more information
- Place a salary on the line to see how any salary compares to the national average.
- Job medians for earnings by occupation (note: chef is not separately listed, but related categories are available).
- Guides for more detailed breakdowns of award rates and tax calculations.
The bottom line
A chef starting on the minimum award rate earns about $53,500 per year, well below the national full-time average of $108,352. However, with experience, penalties and career progression, many chefs earn closer to or above the national median. Use the tools on this site to see where your salary sits on the line.