Hospitality salaries · MA000009
Bar Back Salary in Australia
Bar backs are the engine room of a busy bar — restocking, glass-washing and keeping bartenders supplied so service never slows. It’s a fast-paced entry point into bar work.
Fair Work award base rate
Award base — full-time
$26.44/hr
Award base — casual
$33.05/hr
Full-time (annual)
$52,245/yr
MA000009 base rate (classification L1), effective 1 July 2026. Excludes evening, weekend, public-holiday and overtime penalties — verify your classification at fairwork.gov.au.
What bar backs actually earn on Tavro
NO MEDIAN YET
Not enough live bar back listings to publish a median that would mean anything. The award floor above still applies.
Bar Back pay — frequently asked questions
What is the award rate for a bar back in Australia?
Under the Fair Work Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009), the base rate for a bar back is about $26.44/hr full-time, or $33.05/hr casual (which includes the 25% casual loading), as at 1 July 2026. These are base weekday rates — evening, weekend, public-holiday and overtime penalties are paid on top.
How much does a bar back earn per year?
A full-time bar back on the award base rate earns roughly $52,245 per year before penalties, superannuation and overtime. Actual pay varies by venue, experience and hours — on Tavro every listing shows the salary upfront.
Do bar backs get penalty rates?
Yes. The figures above are base rates only. Under MA000009, hospitality staff are generally entitled to higher rates for evenings, weekends, public holidays and overtime. Check your exact entitlements at fairwork.gov.au.
Looking for bar back work?
Every listing shows the salary upfront — no guessing.