Hospitality Industry (General) Award pay rates 2026
Minimum rates for the Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009) from 1 July 2026: 8 classifications on 8 distinct hourly rates, with casual, weekend and junior rates.
This page sets out the minimum pay rates under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, organised by classification. For each role you will find the base hourly and weekly minimum, the casual rate, penalty rates for weekends and public holidays, and junior rates where they apply.
The Hospitality Industry (General) Award covers hotels, pubs, bars, motels, resorts, caterers, casinos and function centres, along with many cafes and reception venues. It applies to the people who keep these places running: food and beverage attendants, bar staff and baristas, kitchen hands, cooks and chefs, front office and reception staff, porters, gaming and leisure attendants, gardeners, security officers and venue managers. The classifications range from an introductory level for new starters through to trade-qualified cooks and supervisory and managerial roles in a hotel. Restaurants and fast food outlets are generally covered by their own separate awards.
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly | Annual | Casual/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality Employees | ||||
| Introductory level | $25.74 | $978.10 | $50,998 | $32.18 |
| Level 1 — Food and beverage attendant grade 1 and 2 other roles | $26.44 | $1,004.90 | $52,395 | $33.05 |
| Level 2 — Clerical grade 1 and 9 other roles | $27.08 | $1,029.10 | $53,657 | $33.85 |
| Level 3 — Clerical grade 2 and 11 other roles | $27.97 | $1,062.90 | $55,420 | $34.96 |
| Level 4 — Clerical grade 3 and 7 other roles | $29.45 | $1,119.10 | $58,350 | $36.81 |
| Level 5 — Clerical supervisor and 5 other roles | $31.30 | $1,189.40 | $62,015 | $39.13 |
| Level 6 — Cook (tradesperson) grade 5 | $32.13 | $1,221.10 | $63,668 | $40.16 |
| Managerial Staff (Hotels) | ||||
| Managerial staff (Hotels) | $32.19 | — | $63,617 | $40.24 |
How the pay scale works
Adult rates in the Hospitality Industry (General) Award run from $25.74 an hour (Introductory level) to $32.19 (Managerial staff (Hotels)), a spread of $6.45 an hour or 25.1%.
The award’s 8 classifications in this dataset share 8 distinct hourly rates.
A casual Introductory level is paid $32.18 an hour, 25% above the full-time hourly rate, in place of paid leave.
What changed on 1 July 2026
For the entry classification, Introductory level:
The hourly rate rose $1.46 (6%) from $24.28 on 30 June 2026 to $25.74, and the full-time weekly rate rose $55.40.
Penalty rates
| Day | Hospitality | Median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 125% | 150% | 13 of 19 |
| Sunday | 150% | 187.5% | 14 of 20 |
| Public holiday | 225% | 250% | 16 of 22 |
The Saturday rate of 125% is lower than the median of 150% across the 19 awards with a Saturday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 13th.
The Sunday rate of 150% is lower than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 14th.
The public holiday rate of 225% is lower than the median of 250% across the 22 awards with a public holiday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 16th.
Every Hospitality Industry (General) Award penalty rate, by classification
Compared with related awards
| Award | Entry classification | Hourly | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food Industry Award | Fast food employee level 1 | $27.81 | 125% |
| Amusement, Events and Recreation Award | Introductory level employee | $25.74 | 150% |
| Restaurant Industry Award | Introductory Level | $25.74 | 150% |
The Hospitality Industry (General) Award entry rate is $2.07 an hour lower than the Fast Food Industry Award entry rate of $27.81.
Allowances
The pay database lists 35 wage-related allowances and 11 expense-related allowances for this award. All-purpose allowances count towards penalty rates, overtime and leave.
| Allowance | Amount | Paid | All-purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fork-lift driver allowance | $0.44 | per hour | yes |
| Fork-lift driver allowance—Part-time or casual fork-lift driver—prior to 23 January 2020 (see C.1.2 for the rate from 23 January 2020) | $3.36 | per day | yes |
| Fork-lift driver allowance—Part-time or casual maximum payment—prior to 23 January 2020 (see C.1.2 for the rate from 23 January 2020) | $16.79 | per week | yes |
| First aid allowance—Full-time employee | $13.43 | per week | no |
| First aid allowance—Part-time or casual employee | $2.69 | per day | no |
| First aid allowance—Part-time or casual maximum payment | $13.43 | per week | no |
| Airport catering—supervisory allowance—Up to 5 employees | $22.38 | per week | yes |
| Airport catering—supervisory allowance—6 to 10 employees | $30.78 | per week | yes |
| Airport catering—supervisory allowance—11 to 20 employees | $34.69 | per week | yes |
| Airport catering—supervisory allowance—More than 20 employees | $58.19 | per week | yes |
| Split shift allowance—2 hours and up to 3 hours | $3.69 | per day | no |
| Split shift allowance—More than 3 hours | $5.60 | per day | no |
| Overnight stay allowance—outside ordinary business operating hours | $67.15 | per overnight stay period | no |
| Penalty—Monday to Friday—7.00 pm to midnight | $2.95 | per hour or part thereof | no |
| Penalty—Monday to Friday—midnight to 7.00 am | $4.42 | per hour or part thereof | no |
| 25% of standard weekly rate — deductions - Single room and 3 meals a day | $279.78 | per week | no |
| 97.5% of 25% of standard weekly rate — deductions - Shared room and 3 meals a day | $272.79 | per week | no |
| 95% of 25% of standard weekly rate — deductions - Single room only, no meals | $265.79 | per week | no |
| 92.5% of 25% of standard weekly rate — deductions - Shared room only, no meals | $258.80 | per week | no |
| 55% — deductions - Single room and 3 meals a day - 16 years of age | $153.88 | per week | no |
| 70% — deductions - Single room and 3 meals a day - 17 years of age | $195.85 | per week | no |
| 80% — deductions - Single room and 3 meals a day - 18 years of age | $223.82 | per week | no |
| 90% — deductions - Single room and 3 meals a day - 19 years of age | $251.80 | per week | no |
| 55% — deductions - Shared room and 3 meals a day - 16 years of age | $150.03 | per week | no |
| 70% — deductions - Shared room and 3 meals a day - 17 years of age | $190.95 | per week | no |
| 80% — deductions - Shared room and 3 meals a day - 18 years of age | $218.23 | per week | no |
| 90% — deductions - Shared room and 3 meals a day - 19 years of age | $245.51 | per week | no |
| 55% — deductions - Single room only; no meals - 16 years of age | $146.18 | per week | no |
| 70% — deductions - Single room only; no meals - 17 years of age | $186.05 | per week | no |
| 80% — deductions - Single room only; no meals - 18 years of age | $212.63 | per week | no |
| 90% — deductions - Single room only; no meals - 19 years of age | $239.21 | per week | no |
| 55% — deductions - Shared room only; no meals - 16 years of age | $142.34 | per week | no |
| 70% — deductions - Shared room only; no meals - 17 years of age | $181.16 | per week | no |
| 80% — deductions - Shared room only; no meals - 18 years of age | $207.04 | per week | no |
| 90% — deductions - Shared room only; no meals - 19 years of age | $232.92 | per week | no |
| Meal allowance—overtime of more than 2 hours without required notice | $17.42 | per occasion | no |
| Meal allowance—overtime of 2 hours or less and employee provides meal | $17.42 | per occasion | no |
| Clothing, equipment and tools—where a cook or apprentice cook is required to use their own tools—Per day or part day | $2.03 | per day or part day | no |
| Clothing, equipment and tools—where a cook or apprentice cook is required to use their own tools—Per week (maximum) | $9.94 | per week | no |
| Uniform/laundry allowance—catering employees, including airport catering employees—Full-time employees | $6.16 | per week | no |
| Uniform/laundry allowance—catering employees, including airport catering employees—Part-time and casual employees | $2.10 | per uniform laundered | no |
| Laundry allowance—motel employees—Per uniform | $2.46 | per uniform laundered | no |
| Laundry allowance—motel employees—Per week (maximum) | $7.65 | per week | no |
| Motor vehicle allowance | $1.01 | per km | no |
| Travel allowance—airport catering employees | $8.65 | per day of attendance | no |
| – — deductions - A meal - Same rate all ages | $10.55 | per meal | no |
Look up a rate
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (MA000009), checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.