Chef Salary Australia

Chef Salary / Wage

Salary and wage information for chefs is compiled regularly by analysis of Australian jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Code (ANZSCO) for chefs is 351311.

Job titles and exact tasks vary in this work and examples of some occupation titles are chef, head chef, chef de partie, apprentice chef, commis chef and second chef.

Food trade workers in 2010 earned an average of $854 a week in ordinary earnings rising to $890 including overtime and worked an average of 39.5 hours a week.*

Chef Salaries / Wages in 2011 – 2012

Job Title Salary / Wage $ Location
Executive Chef 80,000 – 85,000 Sydney
Chef de Partie 20 – 30 per hour Sydney
Sous Chef 60,000 – 65,000 Sydney
Breakfast Chef 35,000 – 40,000 Melbourne
Head Chef 70,000 – 75,000 Melbourne
Sous Chef 50,000 – 55,000 ACT
Apprentice Chef 10 – 20 per hour Sunshine Coast
1st Year Apprentice Chef 15,000 – 20,000 Brisbane
Chef 50,000 – 55,000 Perth
Senior Chef – Remote Location 50,000 – 65,000 Perth


*Data from Australian Bureau of Statistics