Minimum pay rates for fast food workers in Australia under the Fast Food Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003)
$27.81
Base rate/hr
$34.76
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for fast food workers is $27.81/hr under the Fast Food Award. Casuals receive $34.76/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Working at Maccas, KFC, Hungry Jack's, or any other fast food joint? You're on the Fast Food Industry Award. This is one of the biggest employers of young workers in Australia. Whether you're on the register, drive-through, or in the kitchen, here's your minimum rate.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Fast Food Employee Level 1 | $27.81 | $34.76 | $54,952.56 |
| Level 2 | Fast Food Employee Level 2 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| Level 3 | Fast Food Employee Level 3 | $29.91 | $37.39 | $59,102.16 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.81 | +$6.95 | $34.76 |
| Level 2 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
| Level 3 | $29.91 | +$7.48 | $37.39 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $27.81/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$34.76/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$41.71/hr
1.5x base
Public Holiday
$62.57/hr
2.25x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.25x | $34.76/hr |
| Sunday | 1.5x | $41.71/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.25x | $62.57/hr |
| Evening (9pm–midnight) | 1.1x | $30.59/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $41.71/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $55.62/hr |
View the complete Fast Food Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Fast Food Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $27.81/hr (or $34.76/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in fast food. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →The minimum base rate for fast food workers is $27.81/hr (Level 1) under the Fast Food Industry Award. Casual workers get $34.76/hr. Level 3 (shift supervisors) earn $29.91/hr base.
Yes. Saturday is 1.25x and Sunday is 1.5x your base rate. Public holidays pay 2.25x. Evening work after 9pm gets an extra 10% loading.
The Fast Food Award has junior rates for workers under 21. A 16-year-old earns about 50% of the adult rate, 17-year-olds get 60%, and it steps up each year until you hit the full adult rate at 21.
No. Fast food outlets are covered by the Fast Food Industry Award (MA000003), while sit-down restaurants fall under the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119). The rates are similar but not identical, particularly for penalty rates.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial or tax advice. Always check your specific award, agreement or contract, or a qualified professional, before you rely on the result.
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