Restaurant Industry Award pay rates
Award code MA000119, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 7 adult classifications under the Restaurant Industry Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $25.74 to $32.13 an hour before tax. Casuals get a 25% loading on top.
Lowest adult rate
$25.74an hour
For Introductory Level. $978.10 for a full-time week. Up 6.01% from $24.28. Casuals get $32.18 an hour, with the 25% loading.
Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 have a higher minimum. The dashed line is the minimum wage; each tick is another award.
Pay by classification
Dollars an hour, from 1 July 2026- Introductory Level$25.74
- Level 6Cook grade 5 (tradesperson)$32.13
- Level 1Food and beverage attendant grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 1$26.44
- Level 2Food and beverage attendant grade 2; Cook grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 2; Clerical grade 1; Storeperson grade 1; Door person/security officer grade 1$27.08
- Level 3Food and beverage attendant grade 3; Cook grade 2; Kitchen attendant grade 3; Clerical grade 2; Storeperson grade 2; Timekeeper/security officer grade 2; Handyperson$27.97
- Level 4Food and beverage attendant grade 4 (tradesperson); Cook grade 3 (tradesperson); Clerical grade 3; Storeperson grade 3$29.45
- Level 5Food and beverage supervisor; Cook grade 4 (tradesperson); Clerical supervisor$31.30
Hover or tap a row for last year's rate. Every rate, in every unit, is in the tables below.
Penalty rates at a glance
Percent of the ordinary rate, and dollars an hour at Introductory Level.
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$25.74 |
| Public holiday - time added to annual leave by agreement | 125%$32.18 |
| Saturday | 125%$32.18 |
| Sunday | 150%$38.61 |
| Public holiday | 225%$57.92 |
Minimum pay by classification from 1 July 2026
Weekly rates are for a full-time week; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours. Casual hourly adds the 25% loading.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Level | $978.10 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| Cook grade 5 (tradesperson)Level 6 | $1,221.10 | $32.13 | $40.16 |
| Food and beverage attendant grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 1Level 1 | $1,004.90 | $26.44 | $33.05 |
| Food and beverage attendant grade 2; Cook grade 1; Kitchen attendant grade 2; Clerical grade 1; Storeperson grade 1; Door person/security officer grade 1Level 2 | $1,029.10 | $27.08 | $33.85 |
| Food and beverage attendant grade 3; Cook grade 2; Kitchen attendant grade 3; Clerical grade 2; Storeperson grade 2; Timekeeper/security officer grade 2; HandypersonLevel 3 | $1,062.90 | $27.97 | $34.96 |
| Food and beverage attendant grade 4 (tradesperson); Cook grade 3 (tradesperson); Clerical grade 3; Storeperson grade 3Level 4 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Food and beverage supervisor; Cook grade 4 (tradesperson); Clerical supervisorLevel 5 | $1,189.40 | $31.30 | $39.13 |
Penalty and overtime rates
Percentages as the award sets them, and what they come to an hour at the first adult level. Higher classifications get the same percentages of their own rate. The tick on each bar marks 100%, the ordinary rate.
Evenings, weekends and public holidays
Full-time and part-time adult employees: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory Level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100%$25.74 |
| Public holiday - time added to annual leave by agreement | 125%$32.18 |
| Saturday | 125%$32.18 |
| Sunday | 150%$38.61 |
| Public holiday | 225%$57.92 |
Casual adult employees: ordinary and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory Level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 125%$32.18 |
| Saturday | 150%$38.61 |
| Sunday - Introductory to Level 2 | 150%$38.61 |
| Sunday - Level 3 to 6 | 175%- |
| Public holiday | 250%$64.35 |
Overtime
Full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory Level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday - First 2 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Saturday - First 2 hours | 175%$45.05 |
| Monday to Friday - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Rostered day off - all time worked | 200%$51.48 |
| Saturday - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Sunday - all time worked | 200%$51.48 |
Casual adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Introductory Level
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday - First 2 hours | 150%$38.61 |
| Saturday - First 2 hours | 175%$45.05 |
| Monday to Friday - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Saturday - After 2 hours | 200%$51.48 |
| Sunday - all time worked | 200%$51.48 |
Juniors, apprentices and other arrangements
Rates that depend on age, training or another arrangement. Open a group to see its rates.
JuniorsJunior ratesClause 18.2(a)24 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| Introductory Level17 years of age | $586.90 |
| Introductory Level18 years of age | $684.70 |
| Introductory Level19 years of age | $831.40 |
| Introductory Level20 years of age | $978.10 |
| Introductory LevelUnder 17 years of age | $489.10 |
| Level 117 years of age | $602.90 |
| Level 118 years of age | $703.40 |
| Level 119 years of age | $854.20 |
| Level 120 years of age | $1,004.90 |
| Level 1Under 17 years of age | $502.50 |
| Level 217 years of age | $617.50 |
| Level 218 years of age | $720.40 |
| Level 219 years of age | $874.70 |
| Level 220 years of age | $1,029.10 |
| Level 2Under 17 years of age | $514.60 |
| Level 318 years of age | $744.00 |
| Level 319 years of age | $903.50 |
| Level 320 years of age | $1,062.90 |
| Level 418 years of age | $783.40 |
| Level 419 years of age | $951.20 |
| Level 420 years of age | $1,119.10 |
| Level 518 years of age | $832.60 |
| Level 519 years of age | $1,011.00 |
| Level 520 years of age | $1,189.40 |
Junior apprentices, cooking tradeApprentice ratesClause 18.3(a)(ii)4 rates
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 551st year | $615.51 | $16.20 |
| 652nd year | $727.42 | $19.14 |
| 803rd year | $895.28 | $23.56 |
| 954th year | $1,063.15 | $27.98 |
Junior apprentice, cooking trade - Competency- based wage progressionApprentice ratesClause 18.3(b)5 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $615.51 |
| 2nd year | $727.42 |
| 3rd year | $895.28 |
| 4th year, not attained standard of proficiency | $1,063.15 |
| 4th year, attained standard of proficiency | $1,119.10 |
Adult apprenticesAdult apprentice ratesClause 18.55 rates
| Classification | Weekly |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $895.28 |
| 2nd year | $978.10 |
| 3rd year | $978.10 |
| 4th year, not attained standard of proficiency | $1,063.15 |
| 4th year, attained standard of proficiency | $1,119.10 |
Allowances paid on top
3 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 4 cover costs you'd otherwise pay yourself, like meals, laundry or travel. The amounts are the Commission's, in force today; the award sets out exactly who gets each one and when.
For the work
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Split shift allowance, full-time and part-time employeesClause 21.3(b) | $5.60 per each separate work period of 2 hours or more | |
| Penalty | ||
| Monday to Friday, 10.00 pm to midnightClause 24.2 | $2.95 per hour or part thereof | |
| Monday to Friday, midnight to 6.00 amClause 24.2 | $4.42 per hour or part thereof | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance | ||
| Overtime of more than 2 hours without a day’s notificationClause 21.2(a) | $17.42 each time | |
| Employee provides meal and is no longer required to work full overtimeClause 21.2(b) | $17.42 each time | |
| Clothing, equipment and tool allowance | ||
| Cook or apprentice cook, Maximum per week, an amount of up toClause 21.4(a) | $9.94 a week | |
| Cook or apprentice cook, Per day or part dayClause 21.4(a) | $2.03 per day or part day | |
The award is the final word
These are the minimum rates the Fair Work Commission publishes for the award. Shift rules, rostering and who each classification covers are in the award itself, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay. Employees no award or agreement covers get the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026.
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum pay rate under the Restaurant Industry Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour ($978.10 a week full time), for Introductory Level. The highest adult classification is $32.13 an hour. Junior, apprentice and adult apprentice rates, further down, can be lower.
- How does the Restaurant Industry Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $25.74 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 71 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Restaurant Industry Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 6.01%, from $24.28 to $25.74 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.
- What is the casual loading under the Restaurant Industry Award?
- 25% on top of the ordinary hourly rate, paid instead of leave entitlements. For Introductory Level that makes $32.18 an hour.
- What are Sunday rates under the Restaurant Industry Award?
- Full-time and part-time employees get 150% of the ordinary rate on Sunday: $38.61 an hour at Introductory Level. Public holidays are 125–225%. Casual rates are in the penalty tables above.
- What allowances are paid under the Restaurant Industry Award?
- 7 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a split shift allowance, full-time and part-time employees of $5.60 per each separate work period of 2 hours or more, a penalty, Monday to Friday, 10.00 pm to midnight of $2.95 per hour or part thereof and a penalty, Monday to Friday, midnight to 6.00 am of $4.42 per hour or part thereof. The full list, with the clause each comes from, is on this page.
- Where do these rates come from?
- The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database, which publishes every award's minimum rates; we read it when the Commission changes an award. The award itself prevails if the two ever differ, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay.
Source: Fair Work Commission, Modern Awards Pay Database, licensed CC BY 4.0, read 27 Oct 2026 and arranged by The Finance Algorithm. Not endorsed by the Fair Work Commission. Read with the award: if they differ, the award prevails. General information, not legal or payroll advice.