How do I calculate my annual chef salary from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52. For a full-time chef working 38 hours per week, the formula is: hourly rate × 38 × 52. For example, a Level 2 cook on $27.08 per hour earns $27.08 × 38 × 52 = $53,526.08 per year before tax and super. If you are casual, add 25% loading to the base rate first.

What is the minimum chef salary under the Hospitality Award in 2026?

The Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 sets minimum rates for cooks. As of 1 July 2026, a Level 2 cook grade 1 (entry-level cook) earns $27.08 per hour, or $1,029.10 per week for a full-time employee. A Level 3 cook grade 2 (cook grade 2) earns $27.97 per hour. A tradesperson cook grade 3 earns $29.45 per hour. These rates are the base; casual employees receive a 25% loading, and superannuation of 12% is paid on top.

How does tax and Medicare affect my annual chef salary?

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% from $45,001 to $135,000, 37% from $135,001 to $190,000, and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For a chef earning $53,526, tax is about $7,197 plus Medicare $1,070, leaving around $45,259 after tax. Super of 12% is paid by the employer on top of your salary, not deducted from your pay.

Chef Salary: Converting Your Hourly Rate to Annual Pay Under the Hospitality Award

For a chef on the Hospitality Award Level 2 (cook grade 1), the minimum hourly rate is $27.08, giving an annual gross of about $53,526 assuming 38 hours per week.

Understanding Your Chef Salary: From Hourly to Annual

If you work as a chef in Australia, your pay is likely covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020. Whether you are a cook grade 1, a tradesperson, or a sous chef, knowing how to convert your hourly rate to an annual salary helps you compare job offers and plan your budget. This guide explains the conversion using the standard 38-hour week, award minimums, casual loading, superannuation, and the tax you can expect to pay.

The Basic Formula: Hourly × Hours × 52

The simplest way to estimate your annual gross pay is to multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work each week, then multiply by 52 weeks. For a full-time employee, the award defines 38 ordinary hours per week. So if your hourly rate is $27.08 (the minimum for a Level 2 cook grade 1), your annual salary is:

$27.08 × 38 × 52 = $53,526.08

This figure assumes you work exactly 38 hours every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no allowances. For part-time or casual work, adjust the weekly hours accordingly. The hourly conversion tool on this site does the maths for you.

Award Rates for Chefs in 2026

The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s award summary show the minimum rates for cooks under the Hospitality Award. From 1 July 2026, the rates are:

**Level 2 (cook grade 1): $27.08 per hour, $1,029.10 per week
Level 3 (cook grade 2): $27.97 per hour, $1,062.90 per week
Level 4 (cook tradesperson grade 3): $29.45 per hour, $1,119.10 per week
Level 5 (cook tradesperson grade 4): $31.30 per hour, $1,189.40 per week
Level 6 (cook tradesperson grade 5): $32.13 per hour, $1,221.10 per week

These are the minimum rates for full-time employees. If you are a casual chef, you must be paid a 25% loading on top of the ordinary hourly rate. For example, a casual Level 2 cook would receive $27.08 × 1.25 = $33.85 per hour. The casual loading page explains how this works.

Fortnightly Pay and Annual Figures

Many hospitality employers pay fortnightly. To find your fortnightly gross pay, multiply your weekly pay by 2. For a full-time Level 2 cook, that is $1,029.10 × 2 = $2,058.20 per fortnight. Over a year, that is 26 fortnightly payments, which still totals $53,526.08. The pay guides on this site include award summaries for quick reference.

Superannuation Is Paid on Top

Your employer must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026). This is on top of your salary, not deducted from your pay. For a chef earning $53,526.08, the employer adds $6,423.13 in super, but only up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. The super is paid into a fund such as HOSTPLUS (as noted in the award). For more details, see super and packaging.

Tax and Medicare on Your Chef Salary

Once you know your annual gross, you can estimate your take-home pay after tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% on the excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: 30% on the excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: 37% on the excess over $135,000
$190,001 and over: 45% on the excess over $190,000

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income (using the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds (the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here). For a chef earning $53,526.08, taxable income is $53,526.08 (assuming no deductions). Tax is approximately:

$0 on first $18,200
15% on $26,800 ($45,000 - $18,200) = $4,020
30% on $8,526.08 ($53,526.08 - $45,000) = $2,557.82 Total tax = $6,577.82 Medicare (2%) = $1,070.52 Total deductions = $7,648.34 Take-home pay ≈ $45,877.74 per year

Use the take-home pay tool for a personalised estimate.

National Minimum Wage vs Award Rates

It is important to distinguish the National Minimum Wage from award rates. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. However, most chefs are covered by the Hospitality Award, which sets higher minimums. For example, a Level 2 cook is paid $27.08, above the national minimum. The minimum wage page has more information.

Using the Timesheet Calculator

The home page of this site is the timesheet. You enter your base hourly rate, and a checkbox adds 25% casual loading on top. Never enter a rate that already includes casual loading. The calculator then shows your annual gross, fortnightly pay, estimated tax, Medicare, and super. It uses the 38-hour week assumption by default, but you can adjust hours.

Summary

Converting a chef salary from hourly to annual is straightforward: multiply by hours per week and 52. Use the award rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission to ensure you are being paid correctly. Remember to factor in casual loading if applicable, and remember that super is paid on top. Tax and Medicare will reduce your take-home pay. This site provides estimates only – see the about the timesheet for more details.