Minimum pay rates for fast food workers under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020, including base rates, casual rates, penalty rates, and classification levels.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003)
Fast food workers prepare and serve food in quick service restaurants like McDonald's, KFC, Hungry Jack's, and similar outlets.
$27.81
Base rate/hr
$34.76
Casual rate/hr
Hourly (Full-Time)
$27.81
Hourly (Casual)
$34.76
Weekly (38hrs)
$1,056.78
Annual (Full-Time)
$54,952.56
Fast Food Workers in Australia are generally covered by the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.
Some fast food workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Crew member / team member | $27.81 | $34.76 | $1,056.78 | $54,952.56 |
| Level 2 | Experienced team member | $29.45 | $36.81 | $1,119.10 | $58,193.20 |
| Level 3 | Shift supervisor / trainer | $29.91 | $37.39 | $1,136.58 | $59,102.16 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026. Casual rate includes 25% loading.
Casual fast food workers receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $27.81/hr to $34.76/hr.
The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual fast food worker working 38 hours per week would earn $68,685.76 (before tax and penalty rates).
From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →
Part-time fast food workers receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($27.81/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.
Junior rates: Under 16: 40%. 16 years: 50%. 17 years: 60%. 18 years: 70%. 19 years: 80%. 20 years: 90% of the adult rate.
Junior rates are a percentage of the full adult rate. They are designed to recognise that younger employees may have less experience and training.
Penalty rates apply when fast food workers work on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($27.81/hr base).
Saturday
$34.76/hr
1.25x base
Sunday
$41.71/hr
1.5x base
Public Holiday
$62.57/hr
2.25x base
Casual employees may receive different penalty rate multipliers. Check the full award pay rates for detailed penalty rate tables.
Fast food workers are frequently young and on junior rates. Check that the correct junior percentage is being applied and that penalty rates are paid for weekend and late-night shifts.
If you earn less than $27.81/hr as a full-time or part-time fast food worker, or less than $34.76/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food Worker | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr | $54,952.56 | MA000003 |
| Retail Worker | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr | $54,952.56 | MA000004 |
| Barista | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
| Waiter | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
The minimum hourly rate for a fast food worker in Australia is $27.81/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $34.76/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
Under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003), the minimum wage for a fast food worker starts at $27.81/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,056.78/week or $54,952.56/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
Fast Food Workers in Australia are generally covered by the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some fast food workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
A casual fast food worker receives $34.76/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $27.81/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
Under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020, fast food workers receive: Saturday 1.25x ($34.76/hr), Sunday 1.5x ($41.71/hr), and Public Holiday 2.25x ($62.57/hr) at Level 1 rates.
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