Chef salary in Australia: where it sits on the national pay index
See how the typical chef salary in Australia compares to the national line. Median weekly earnings $1,423, index 68. Award rates and industry context.
The typical chef salary in Australia sits at an index of about 68, well below the national line of 100.
What does “chef salary in Australia” mean?
When you search for a chef salary in Australia, you are usually asking what a typical chef earns before tax and before any salary sacrifice. The most reliable public source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. That survey gives a median weekly figure for full-time non-managerial chefs paid at the adult rate: $1,423 per week, or about $37 per hour.
Where that sits on the Salary Index
The Salary Index sets 100 as full-time adult ordinary-time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A chef’s median weekly pay of $1,423 gives an index of 68.3 – well below the national line. For context, the accommodation and food services industry index is 72.5, and the national minimum wage index is 48.2.
This index helps you see how a pay figure compares to the whole workforce. If you earn $1,423 a week, you are at 68% of the national ordinary-time benchmark. That is not a judgement – it is a measure of where the occupation sits in the pay structure.
Award rates and the real floor
A chef salary in Australia is also shaped by modern awards. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Hospitality Industry (General) Award (effective 1 July 2026) sets minimum pay for different classifications. For example:
- Level 4 cook (tradesperson) – $29.45 per hour, $1,119.10 per week
- Level 2 cook grade 1 – $27.08 per hour, $1,029.10 per week
- Introductory level – $25.74 per hour, $978.10 per week
These are minimums. Many chefs earn above them, especially with experience or in high-end venues. The median of $37 per hour is about 26% above the Level 4 award rate.
How the occupation compares by state and industry
Chefs work mainly in accommodation and food services. That industry’s index of 72.5 is slightly above the chef occupation index, suggesting that other roles in the industry (like managers) pull the average up. State indexes vary: Western Australia (106.9) and the ACT (109.9) are above the national line, while Tasmania (88.6) is below. A chef in WA might earn more than the national median, but the JSA data is national.
What about super and tax?
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, paid on top of the salary. For a chef earning $73,996 a year, that adds about $8,880 in super. Tax for a resident (2026–27 rates, excluding Medicare) is nil up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000. A chef on $73,996 would pay roughly $13,500 in tax plus the 2% Medicare levy, leaving take-home pay around $58,000. These are estimates – individual circumstances vary.
Why the index matters for your pay check
The Salary Index is a tool to benchmark any pay figure against the national line. You can use it to compare a chef salary in Australia with other occupations or industries. For example, the mining industry index is 154.7, while retail trade is 75.9. Chefs sit between retail and the national average. See how the index works for the full calculation.
Where to find more
Caveats on the data
The JSA median is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. It excludes managers, part-time employees, and youths, so it reflects full-time adult chefs. The data will not be updated under the old ANZSCO system; new OSCA profiles are expected in mid-2026. The HILDA survey from 2019 (Attorney-General’s Department) gave a lower median of $28.15 per hour, but that is older and based on a small sample. Use the JSA figure as the best current public benchmark.
Final thought
A chef salary in Australia typically falls below the national ordinary-time line, but above the minimum wage. The index of 68.3 shows the gap. If you are negotiating pay, knowing the median and the award floor gives you a solid starting point.
Questions people ask
What is the average chef salary in Australia?
The median full-time weekly earnings for chefs in Australia is $1,423, according to Jobs and Skills Australia (ABS data, May 2025). That annualises to about $73,996 and sits at an index of 68.3 on the Salary Index, where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. Note that this is a median for non-managerial full-time employees; actual pay varies by experience, location, and employer.
How does chef pay compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week, index 48.2). The median chef hourly rate of $37 is about 40% above that floor. However, award minimums for chefs are higher: for example, a Level 4 cook (tradesperson) under the Hospitality Industry Award earns $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week). Many chefs earn above the award rate, but the median suggests many earn well above the minimum.
Do chefs get penalty rates and super?
Yes. The Hospitality Industry (General) Award includes penalty rates for evening work, Saturday, night shifts and overtime. For example, a Level 4 cook on Saturday earns $36.81 per hour. Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026. The median chef likely includes some penalty loadings in the $37 median hourly figure. Casual chefs also receive a 25% casual loading (e.g., $33.05 per hour for Introductory level).