Guide · Updated January 2026
2026 Australian Chef Salary Guide: Rates by Role & City
Whether you're a commis chef weighing a move from Brisbane to Sydney, or a head chef trying to set a fair rate in a regional venue, knowing the market matters. Here's what kitchen staff are actually being paid across Australia in 2026 — by role, by city, and against the Restaurant Industry Award baseline.
Hourly rates by role and city
Indicative weekday hourly rates for full-time and casual roles in 2026. Casual loading (typically 25%) and weekend/penalty rates apply on top. Source: Bookachef pitch data, paired with public AU venue listings.
| Role | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Perth | Adelaide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchenhand | $28–$34 | $27–$33 | $26–$32 | $28–$34 | $26–$31 |
| Commis chef | $32–$38 | $31–$37 | $30–$36 | $32–$38 | $29–$35 |
| Chef de partie | $36–$44 | $35–$42 | $34–$41 | $36–$44 | $33–$40 |
| Pastry chef | $38–$48 | $37–$46 | $35–$44 | $37–$46 | $34–$43 |
| Sous chef | $42–$55 | $40–$52 | $38–$50 | $42–$54 | $37–$48 |
| Head chef | $48–$72 | $46–$68 | $44–$64 | $48–$70 | $42–$60 |
| Executive chef | $60–$110 | $58–$100 | $54–$92 | $58–$100 | $50–$85 |
How the Restaurant Industry Award sets the floor
The Restaurant Industry Award 2020 (MA000119) is the legal minimum for most front- and back-of-house roles in Australian hospitality. Level 1 covers kitchenhands; Level 5 and 6 cover head chefs and tradespersons with supervisory duties. Most venues pay above-award — especially in metro Sydney and Melbourne — but the award is the baseline you can refuse to go below.
Casual loading is 25% on top of the base rate. Weekend penalties are typically 25% (Saturday) and 50% (Sunday). Public holidays are 150%. Always check what's quoted: $30/hr "all in" usually means casuals lose meaningful weekend uplift.
What drives a chef above the band
- Format premium. Hatted/fine dining pays the top of the range; pubs, cafés and QSR sit lower. Hotels and function venues fall in the middle but often add penalty rates that level the take-home.
- Section ownership. Running larder, grill or pastry solo at speed typically adds $3–$6/hr over a generic "chef" hire.
- Salary vs hourly. Head chef salaried packages range $75K–$130K in metro AU. If salaried, ask for the hours expectation in writing — 60+ hour weeks are common and crush the effective rate.
- Visa & RTW. Right-to-work without sponsorship is increasingly valuable; sponsored visas typically discount the offer by $2–$5/hr because the venue absorbs the cost.
How to negotiate without burning the bridge
On Bookachef, you set your floor before any venue pitches. That makes negotiation a number, not a confrontation. If you're negotiating off-platform: anchor on the city-and-role range above, name the specific format (e.g. "$42/hr for a 50-seat bistro CDP role, weekends loaded"), and ask for transit and meal entitlements separately so the hourly figure stays clean.
Get pitched at your rate
Bookachef is free for chefs. Set your minimum, your shifts, and your suburbs — and let Australian venues come to you with the role, hours and pay upfront.
Ranges are indicative and based on aggregated pitch data and public AU venue listings; verify against your Fair Work entitlements. Last updated January 2026.