Hospitality salaries
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
$25.61/hr
Award base — casual
$32.01/hr
Full-time (annual)
$50,605/yr
MA000009 base rate (classification L2), effective 1 July 2025. Excludes evening, weekend, public-holiday and overtime penalties — verify your classification at fairwork.gov.au.
What bar backs actually earn on Tavro
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 $25.61/hr full-time, or $32.01/hr casual (which includes the 25% casual loading), as at 1 July 2025. 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 $50,605 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.