McDonald's (Maccas) Pay Rates 2026: Ages 14-21 & Adult

McDonald's crew members in Australia are covered by the Fast Food Industry Award (MA000003). This is the minimum pay standard — McDonald's can pay more, but never less.

The award covers crew members, shift supervisors, and other team members at McDonald's restaurants. Store managers and above may be on individual contracts, but those contracts still can't undercut the award.

Use our fast food worker pay rate tool to check your exact rate.

From 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rates for adult McDonald's workers are:

• Level 1 (crew member — counter, kitchen, drive-through): $27.81/hr
• Level 2 (crew trainer, experienced crew): $29.45/hr
• Level 3 (shift supervisor): $29.91/hr

If you're a casual, add 25% on top: a Level 1 casual crew member gets at least $34.76/hr.

McDonald's employs more under-18s than almost any other Australian employer. Junior rates under the Fast Food Award are a percentage of the adult Level 1 rate:

• Under 16: $11.12/hr (40%)
• 16 years: $13.91/hr (50%)
• 17 years: $16.69/hr (60%)
• 18 years: $19.47/hr (70%)
• 19 years: $22.25/hr (80%)
• 20 years: $25.03/hr (90%)

These rates are low, but they're the legal minimum. If you're getting paid less than these figures, McDonald's is breaking the law. Your rate must increase from the first pay period after your birthday — don't wait for them to notice.

A change for 18-20 year olds starts on 1 December 2026. In the junior rates case (AM2024/24) the Fair Work Commission decided that 18, 19 and 20 year olds under the Fast Food Industry Award who have been with their employer for more than 6 months will move to the full adult rate in steps. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026, an 18 year old goes from 70% to 75% of the adult rate, a 19 year old from 80% to 85%, and a 20 year old from 90% to 95%. Rates then rise 5 percentage points each July and December: 20 year olds reach the full adult rate from 1 July 2027, 19 year olds from 1 July 2028 and 18 year olds from 1 July 2029. Nothing changes for under-18s, or for 18 to 20 year olds in their first 6 months with the employer. Sources: FWC decisions [2026] FWCFB 75 (31 March 2026) and [2026] FWCFB 222 (26 August 2026); updated 3 October 2026. See our junior rates change calculator for what it means for your pay.

Penalty rates for permanent Level 1 McDonald's workers:

• Saturday: 125% — $34.76/hr
• Sunday: 150% — $41.72/hr
• Public holidays: 225% — $62.57/hr
• Late night (10pm–midnight): 115% — $28.44/hr
• After midnight: 130% — $32.15/hr

Casuals get 150% on Saturdays (not 125%), 175% on Sundays, and 250% on public holidays — all calculated on the base rate (not the loaded rate).

If you're doing the closing shift regularly, make sure those late-night penalties are showing up on your payslip.

Shift managers (Level 3) get at least $29.91/hr as a permanent employee. But many McDonald's locations use enterprise agreements that set different rates.

Salaried restaurant managers are typically on individual contracts. The key thing to check: your annual salary must cover every hour you actually work, including penalty rates. If you're doing 50-hour weeks with weekend shifts and your salary doesn't properly compensate for that, you may be underpaid.

McDonald's has faced scrutiny over salaried managers working long hours that effectively bring their hourly rate below the award. If this sounds like you, add up your actual hours and divide your weekly pay by them.

Steps to take:

• Check your payslip against the rates above. Make sure your age bracket and penalty rates are correct
• Screenshot your roster and compare it to your payslip hours. Make sure every shift is accounted for
• Ask for your time records — McDonald's must keep accurate records of your hours
• Raise it in writing with your restaurant manager. Email is best
• Contact Fair Work on 13 13 94 if it doesn't get resolved. They deal with fast food underpayment complaints all the time

You have 6 years to claim underpayment, so even if it happened a while ago, you can still get your money back.