Chef salary in Australia
Updated 22 July 2026
Take-home on the median Chef salary of $65,000 — after $9,995 income tax and $1,300 Medicare levy (2026–27 resident, no HECS, private hospital cover).
National figures · February 2026 · Source: Jobs and Skills Australia (© Commonwealth of Australia), CC BY 4.0
What companies pay
Reported total pay for Chef roles by employer — medians include bonuses and other cash compensation, so they sit above base-salary figures.
| Company | Median total pay | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Sodexo★ 3.5 | $91,000 | $65,280 – $106,800 |
| Crown Resorts★ 3.8 | $75,600 | $55,000 – $84,000 |
| Pinnacle People★ 2.8 | $75,088 | $59,280 – $82,597 |
| Compass Group★ 3.5 | $73,000 | $48,300 – $92,000 |
| Merivale★ 3.5 | $67,500 | $55,000 – $80,140 |
| Cater Care (Australia)★ 2.4 | $65,153 | $50,000 – $83,493 |
| Australian Venue Co.★ 3.5 | $63,000 | $50,400 – $85,000 |
| Atlas (Australia)★ 5.0 | $61,256 | $59,280 – $65,208 |
| Rockpool Dining Group★ 3.5 | $60,200 | $50,000 – $70,000 |
| ALH Group★ 2.9 | $60,000 | $50,000 – $73,800 |
| Accor★ 3.9 | $60,000 | $52,897 – $82,000 |
| St John of God Health Care★ 3.7 | $58,759 | $53,934 – $66,448 |
| Bigturn★ 5.0 | $52,500 | $52,500 – $54,500 |
| McDonald's★ 3.6 | $41,496 | $24,502 – $56,514 |
| KFC★ 3.5 | $39,520 | $20,550 – $59,280 |
Chef pay by state
Median base salary and range where enough data exists — every figure labelled with its source.
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
Northern Territory
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Salary figures are market estimates built from third-party data and community submissions — they show what the market pays, not what any individual employer will offer. Take-home figures are 2026–27 estimates for an Australian resident with private hospital cover and no HECS debt. General information only — not financial or tax advice.