Minimum pay rates for food manufacturing workers in Australia under the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Award. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award 2020 (MA000073)
$25.74
Base rate/hr
$32.18
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for food manufacturing workers is $25.74/hr under the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Award. Casuals receive $32.18/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Workers in food processing, beverage manufacturing, bakeries, and meat packing are covered by the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award. Shift work is common in this sector, and the award includes specific provisions for cold work, confined spaces, and other conditions typical of food production environments.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Food & Beverage Level 1 | $25.74 | $32.18 | $50,862.24 |
| Level 2 | Food & Beverage Level 2 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $52,245.44 |
| Level 3 | Food & Beverage Level 3 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $53,510.08 |
| Level 4 | Food & Beverage Level 4 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $55,268.72 |
| Level 5 | Food & Beverage Level 5 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing 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 | $25.74 | +$6.44 | $32.18 |
| Level 2 | $26.44 | +$6.61 | $33.05 |
| Level 3 | $27.08 | +$6.77 | $33.85 |
| Level 4 | $27.97 | +$6.99 | $34.96 |
| Level 5 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $25.74/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$38.61/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$51.48/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$64.35/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $38.61/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $51.48/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $64.35/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.15x | $29.60/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.3x | $33.46/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $38.61/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $51.48/hr |
View the complete Food & Beverage Manufacturing Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Food & Beverage Manufacturing Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $25.74/hr (or $32.18/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in food manufacturing. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Real Fair Work decisions and Federal Court penalties in this industry.
The minimum base rate for food manufacturing workers is $25.74/hr (Level 1) under the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award. Casual workers receive $32.18/hr. Qualified tradespeople at Level 5 earn $29.45/hr base.
Yes. Afternoon shifts attract a 15% loading ($29.60/hr for Level 1). Night shifts get a 30% loading ($33.46/hr). These loadings apply in addition to any weekend or public holiday penalties.
Saturday pays 1.5x your base rate, Sunday pays 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x. A Level 1 worker on a Sunday earns $51.48/hr. Saturday overtime after 12pm is double time.
Yes. Workers required to work in freezers or cold rooms below 0°C are entitled to a cold work allowance on top of their base rate. The specific amount depends on the temperature range. Appropriate protective clothing must also be provided at no cost.
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