Hospitality Pay Rates 2026-27
Minimum pay rates for hospitality workers in Australia under the Hospitality Award: $26.44/hr at Level 1, $33.05/hr casual, every classification level, penalty rates and junior rates by age. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 2 August 2026Hospitality Minimum Pay Rate
Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (MA000009)
$26.44
Base rate/hr
$33.05
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for hospitality workers is $26.44/hr under the Hospitality Award. Casuals receive $33.05/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
If you work in a hotel, bar, cafe, or catering gig, you're covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award. This is one of the most common awards in Australia and covers everything from kitchen hands to bar staff. Here's what you should actually be getting paid.
Hospitality Classification Rates
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Hospitality Level 1 | $26.44 | $33.05 | $52,245.44 |
| Level 2 | Hospitality Level 2 | $27.08 | $33.85 | $53,510.08 |
| Level 3 | Hospitality Level 3 | $27.97 | $34.96 | $55,268.72 |
| Level 4 | Hospitality Level 4 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| Level 5 | Hospitality Level 5 | $31.30 | $39.13 | $61,848.80 |
| Level 6 | Hospitality Level 6 | $32.13 | $40.16 | $63,488.88 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual Hospitality Pay Rates
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 | $26.44 | +$6.61 | $33.05 |
| Level 2 | $27.08 | +$6.77 | $33.85 |
| Level 3 | $27.97 | +$6.99 | $34.96 |
| Level 4 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
| Level 5 | $31.30 | +$7.83 | $39.13 |
| Level 6 | $32.13 | +$8.03 | $40.16 |
Hospitality Junior Rates by Age (Under 21)
Hospitality Award juniors are paid a percentage of the adult rate for their level. Level 1 (junior employees other than office juniors), from 1 July 2026:
| Age | % of adult | Hourly | Casual/hr | Weekly (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 17 | 50% | $13.22 | $16.53 | $502.36 |
| 17 | 60% | $15.86 | $19.83 | $602.68 |
| 18 | 70% | $18.51 | $23.14 | $703.38 |
| 19 | 85% | $22.47 | $28.09 | $853.86 |
| 20 | 100% | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.72 |
| 21+ (adult) | 100% | $26.44 | $33.05 | $1,004.72 |
Source: Fair Work Commission Modern Awards Pay Database (junior rate rows, current from 1 July 2026). Casual = hourly × 1.25. Hospitality juniors reach the full adult rate at 20, a year earlier than retail or fast food. Juniors aged 18 or over who are required to serve alcohol must be paid the adult rate for their level.
Hospitality Penalty Rates
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $26.44/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$33.05/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$39.66/hr
1.5x base
Public Holiday
$59.49/hr
2.25x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.25x | $33.05/hr |
| Sunday | 1.5x | $39.66/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.25x | $59.49/hr |
| Evening (Mon–Fri 7pm–midnight, +$2.95/hr) | 100% + $2.95/hr | $29.39/hr |
| Night (Mon–Fri midnight–7am, +$4.42/hr) | 100% + $4.42/hr | $30.86/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $39.66/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $52.88/hr |
Full Hospitality Award Details
View the complete Hospitality Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Hospitality Award Pay Rates →Related awards that may also apply:
Getting Paid Less Than This?
If your payslip shows less than $26.44/hr (or $33.05/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in hospitality. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Pay Rates by Industry
Hospitality enforcement cases
Real Fair Work decisions and Federal Court penalties in this industry.
Hospitality Pay Rates FAQ
What is the minimum pay rate for hospitality workers in 2026?
The minimum base rate for hospitality workers is $26.44/hr (Level 1) under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award. Casual workers get $33.05/hr with the 25% loading. These rates took effect from 1 July 2026.
Do hospitality workers get penalty rates on weekends?
Yes. Saturday is 1.25x your base rate and Sunday is 1.5x. Public holidays pay 2.25x. So a Level 1 worker on a Sunday earns $39.66/hr base, or even more as a casual.
What award covers cafe and restaurant workers?
Most cafe and bar workers fall under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009). Stand-alone restaurants may fall under the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119) instead. The rates are very similar.
Can my employer pay me a flat rate with no penalties in hospitality?
Only if you're on an annualised salary arrangement that genuinely compensates you for all hours including penalties and overtime. Your employer must do a yearly reconciliation to make sure you haven't been underpaid. If the numbers don't add up, you're owed the difference.
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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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