Sous chef salary in Australia: awards versus the national minimum wage
What does a sous chef earn in Australia? Compare award rates for cook grades with the national minimum wage and the salary index.
A sous chef typically falls under Cook (tradesperson) Grade 4 or 5 in the Hospitality Award, with minimum hourly rates of $31.30 to $32.13, annualising to around $61,850–$63,500, which is index 57–59 — well above the national minimum wage but below the national line.
What is a sous chef salary under Australian awards?
When you search for a sous chef salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that the role isn’t a named classification in the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020. Instead, a sous chef is usually classified as a Cook (tradesperson) at Grade 4 (Level 5) or Grade 5 (Level 6), depending on the complexity of cooking, supervision, and menu planning. The award sets minimum rates, but many sous chefs are paid above these floors, especially in high-end venues.
Award minimum rates for sous chef roles
From 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rate for a Cook (tradesperson) Grade 4 (Level 5) is $31.30, which works out to $1,189.40 per week and $61,848.80 per year. For a Cook (tradesperson) Grade 5 (Level 6), the minimum is $32.13 per hour, $1,221.10 per week, and $63,497.20 per year. These figures come from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides for the Hospitality Award.
If a sous chef has significant managerial duties — like rostering, ordering, and training — they may be classified under the Managerial Staff (Hotels) level, which has a minimum annual salary of $63,617. That’s very close to the Level 6 cook rate.
Sous chef salary vs the national minimum wage
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised to $52,255. That’s an index of 48.2 on the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352. A sous chef on the Level 5 award rate earns $31.30 per hour, which is about 18% above the national minimum wage, and sits at index 57.1. The Level 6 rate is $32.13 per hour, index 58.6.
So while a sous chef is paid more than the minimum wage, the award floor is still well below the national line. In practice, many sous chefs earn more — especially in fine dining, hotels, or with enterprise agreements — and their salary index can climb to 70 or higher.
How the salary index works for sous chefs
The Salary Index compares a yearly gross salary to the national line of $108,352. For example, a sous chef earning $70,000 would have an index of 64.6. One earning $90,000 would be at 83.1. The index helps you see where a pay figure sits against the average Australian full-time worker.
Keep in mind that the index uses ordinary-time earnings, not total remuneration. Superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of the base salary. The states also vary: a sous chef in Western Australia (state index 106.9) might earn more than one in Tasmania (state index 88.6), but award rates are national.
Casual sous chef rates
If a sous chef is employed casually, they get a 25% loading on the base award rate. For a Level 5 cook, that’s $39.13 per hour, annualised to about $77,300 (index 71.4). Casual loading is meant to compensate for lack of paid leave. The national minimum wage casual rate is $33.05 per hour.
Tax and take-home pay for sous chefs
Using 2026–27 tax rates (excluding HELP and Medicare levy surcharge), a sous chef on the Level 5 award rate of $61,849 would pay about $12,350 in tax and Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of roughly $49,500. Super of 12% ($7,422) is paid by the employer into a fund. A sous chef earning $80,000 would take home about $62,000 after tax and Medicare.
Industries and sous chef pay
The industries page shows that Accommodation and Food Services has an average index of 72.5, meaning the typical worker in that industry earns about 72.5% of the national line. A sous chef on award rates is below that average, but many experienced sous chefs in high-end venues earn above the industry average.
What about enterprise agreements?
Many hotels and restaurants have enterprise agreements that set higher pay rates than the award. A sous chef under an agreement might earn $35–$40 per hour, pushing the annual salary to $70,000–$80,000 or more. Always check the specific agreement or your contract.
Summary
A sous chef salary in Australia starts at award minimums of $31.30–$32.13 per hour (index 57–59), well above the national minimum wage but below the national line. Actual earnings vary widely by venue, experience, and agreement. The award provides a floor, not a ceiling, and the salary index helps you benchmark any figure against the average Australian full-time worker.
Questions people ask
Is sous chef a specific classification in the Hospitality Award?
No, the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 does not list 'sous chef' as a separate classification. The role is typically covered by Cook (tradesperson) Grade 4 (Level 5) or Grade 5 (Level 6), depending on the level of responsibility. Some sous chefs with significant supervisory duties may fall under the Managerial Staff (Hotels) classification, which has a minimum annual salary of $63,617.
How does the sous chef award rate compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2). The minimum award rate for a sous chef at Cook Grade 4 is $31.30 per hour (index 57.1), and at Cook Grade 5 it is $32.13 per hour (index 58.6). This means a sous chef on award rates earns roughly 19–22% more per hour than the national minimum wage, but still well below the national line of $108,352 (index 100).
What is the typical take-home pay for a sous chef on award rates?
Take-home pay depends on tax and super. For a sous chef earning the Level 5 award rate of $61,849 per year, after tax (using 2026–27 rates, excluding HELP and Medicare levy surcharge) and including 2% Medicare levy, the estimated take-home is about $49,500. Superannuation of 12% ($7,422) is paid on top. Actual take-home will vary with deductions and salary packaging.