The average annual salary for Chef jobs in Australia ranges from $60,000 to $75,000.
The average chef salary in Australia is $65,000 per year or $33.33 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $58,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $85,000 per year.
For sure, you'll need to accept that long hours and hard work are still the norm when working as a chef Down Under. But as a trained chef there's real opportunity to make a good living at the same time as progressing the career plan. After all, Australia enjoys the highest minimum wage in the world.
The average cook/chef salary in Australia is $60,000 per year or $30.77 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $55,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $70,257 per year.
Chefs are in such high demand that they have been added to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) National Skills Priority List, along with pastry chefs and bakers. The hospitality industry has not fared well in the era of the pandemic and great resignation.
Getting a Chef job in Australia isn't too hard for Chefs. Australia has lots of pubs, restaurants and holiday destinations that require great Chefs. Our busy cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth are always on the look out for skilled Chefs to work in Australia.
Entry Level Chef Salary. $28,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $37,500 is the 75th percentile.
The average annual salary for Cafe Chef jobs in Australia ranges from $60,000 to $70,000.
You Will Work Long, Difficult Hours
It's not uncommon to work 10 to 12-hour shifts. Because chefs often have a challenging and inconsistent schedule, balancing a culinary career with a personal life can be tough.
Burnout is especially problematic in professional kitchens where chefs are sometimes expected to work up to 12 hours a day, weekends, and often in harsh working conditions.
As with most other industries, the most experienced chefs can usually earn the highest salaries. Here's how Payscale estimates that experience impacts average salaries for executive chefs: Entry level salary – $53,000. Early career (1-4 years) – $55,000.
As a guide, the standard chef position demands 50-plus hours a week, including nights, weekends and holidays. For a chef job in a restaurant, expect to work 7 days a week for 12 to 14 hours each shift. And that's pretty much the industry standard.
Being a chef allows food fans to follow their passion and carve out a career that they love. Not only that, a culinary career will give you: Job satisfaction - it's a hugely rewarding career with plenty of opportunities to excel and experience a great sense of achievement on a daily basis.
Highest Paying Countries for Chefs. Switzerland tops the charts, offering the highest net incomes for chefs. Not that surprising given the Swiss top the world salary charts and taxation is low compared to their Western European peers.
Executive Chef Salary Australia
Based on 2022 neuvoo reporting, an entry-level Executive Chef may start around $80,000. In comparison, Senior Executive Chefs can make up to $107,300. The average wage for the position in Australia is $92,500.
The average annual salary for Breakfast Chef jobs in Australia ranges from $65,000 to $70,000.
The pandemic has significantly affected the sector in Australia, leading to a shortage of skilled chefs. This has resulted in an urgent need for qualified and experienced chefs to fill in the vacancies.
Full-time workers work an average of 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week). Median full-time earnings are $1,250 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593): 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,137.
According to the ABS, the average work week for a chef is estimated at 46 hours. But the reality tells a different story; those working within the industry have claimed to have worked weeks that have exceeded over 70 hours – 24 hours over the estimate.
Job Outlook
Employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 15 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 24,300 openings for chefs and head cooks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Italy, France, Greece, and Spain are typically thought of as the most prestigious countries in Europe to gain experience as a chef. The cuisine of China, Thailand, Japan, and India equally highly regarded in Asia.