Hospitality Award rates in Australia (2026): Saturday = 125% (full-time/part-time) or 150% (casual). Sunday = 150% (full-time/part-time) or 175% (casual). Public Holidays = 225% (full-time/part-time) or 250% (casual). Casual loading is 25% and is already absorbed into the casual penalty percentages above. Evening work (7pm–midnight, Mon–Fri) adds $2.81/hr flat and night work (midnight–7am) adds $4.22/hr flat — neither is a percentage.
Last reviewed against Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for MA000009 — May 2026
Saturday: 125% (full-time/part-time) · 150% (casual)
Sunday: 150% (full-time/part-time) · 175% (casual)
Public Holiday: 225% (full-time/part-time) · 250% (casual)
Evening loading (7pm–midnight, Mon–Fri): +$2.81/hr flat
Night loading (midnight–7am, Mon–Fri): +$4.22/hr flat
Casual loading: 25% on top of base rate (already included in the casual percentages above)
Casual penalty percentages are higher than full-time and part-time because the 25% casual loading is built into them — stacking the loading on top of the casual rate is double-counting. Evening and night loadings are flat dollar amounts, not percentages.
Base Hourly Rates by Classification Level
The Hospitality Industry (General) Award MA000009 classifies workers into six levels based on their role and experience. Every employee must be correctly classified — defaulting to Level 1 for all staff is itself a breach of the Award if their duties qualify them for a higher level.
| Level | Example Roles | Full-Time (hr) | Casual (hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Food & Bev Attendant Gr 1, Kitchen Hand | $25.85 | $32.31 |
| Level 2 | Cook Grade 1, Food & Bev Attendant Gr 2 | $26.68 | $33.35 |
| Level 3 | Cook Grade 2, Food & Bev Attendant Gr 3 | $27.49 | $34.36 |
| Level 4 | Cook Grade 3, Front Office Gr 3 | $28.12 | $35.15 |
| Level 5 | Cook Grade 4, F&B Supervisor | $29.88 | $37.35 |
| Level 6 | Cook Grade 5 (Tradesperson) | $30.68 | $38.35 |
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate in lieu of paid leave entitlements. This is already included in the casual rates above. It applies to every hour worked — it cannot be averaged or rolled into a flat rate arrangement unless that rate demonstrably exceeds the Award rate on every applicable shift type.
A Level 2 casual working a Sunday evening shift (7pm–11pm):
Base rate: $26.68/hr
+ 25% casual loading = $33.35/hr
× 175% Sunday penalty = $58.36/hr
+ $2.81/hr evening loading = $61.17/hr total
Most venues calculate this at $33.35 × 175% = $58.36 and stop — missing the $2.81/hr evening loading entirely.
Penalty Rates — Weekends & Public Holidays
Penalty rates are calculated as a percentage of the base hourly rate. These apply to all classification levels under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award MA000009.
| When | Full-time / Part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday (ordinary hours) | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 125% | 150% |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% |
| Public Holiday | 225% | 250% |
Casual penalty percentages are higher because the 25% casual loading is already built in. Do not stack the loading on top of these percentages. Public holiday work has a minimum engagement of 4 hours for full-time and part-time, and 2 hours for casuals.
Evening & Night Loadings
Unlike weekend penalties, evening and night work attracts a flat dollar loading per hour — not a percentage multiplier. This distinction is where most hospitality venues make underpayment errors, especially for higher-classified workers where the percentage approach produces a lower result than the correct flat loading.
| Shift Type | Hours (Mon–Fri) | Loading | Level 1 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evening | 7pm – midnight | +$2.81/hr flat | $28.66/hr |
| Night | Midnight – 7am | +$4.22/hr flat | $30.07/hr |
Real scenario: A venue applies a 10% evening loading instead of the correct $2.81/hr flat loading. For a Level 1 worker at $25.85/hr, 10% gives $2.59/hr — which is $0.22/hr short. Across three bar staff working 4-hour evening shifts five nights a week, that's over $700 in underpayment per year. Now multiply across higher classification levels — the gap gets bigger.
Overtime Rates
Overtime under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award MA000009 applies when a full-time employee works beyond their ordinary hours — typically 38 per week, or an average of 38 over a roster cycle.
| Overtime Period | Rate | Level 1 Example |
|---|---|---|
| First 2 hours overtime | 150% | $38.78/hr |
| After 2 hours overtime | 200% | $51.70/hr |
Common Mistakes That Trigger Audits
These are the rate errors that show up most frequently in Fair Work Ombudsman audits and underpayment claims.
For related compliance areas, see our guides on break entitlements under the Hospitality Award, split shift allowance rules, employment contracts for restaurant staff, and casual conversion obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base hourly rate for hospitality workers in Australia in 2026?
What are the weekend penalty rates for hospitality workers in Australia?
What is the evening penalty rate for hospitality workers after 7pm?
What is the public holiday penalty rate for hospitality in Australia?
Is there an easy way to calculate hospitality award rates?
A single miscalculated rate, applied across every shift, every week, for every affected employee — this is how hospitality venues end up with six-figure back-pay liabilities. The Award is complex by design. Fitz HR exists to remove the guesswork.
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