Hospitality salaries
Waitstaff Salary in Australia
Waitstaff are the face of the floor — taking orders, running food and looking after guests from arrival to farewell. It’s one of the most widely available hospitality roles in Australia, in cafés, restaurants, pubs and functions.
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 waitstaffs actually earn on Tavro
Waitstaff pay — frequently asked questions
What is the award rate for a waitstaff in Australia?
Under the Fair Work Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009), the base rate for a waitstaff 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 waitstaff earn per year?
A full-time waitstaff 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 waitstaffs 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 waitstaff work?
Every listing shows the salary upfront — no guessing.