General information only — not legal advice. First speak with your employer, then if unsuccessful contact Fair Work or an employment lawyer.
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Hospitality Award Allowances 2025–26

Last updated: March 2026 · Rates effective 1 July 2025 · MA000009

Allowances are extra payments on top of your base rate for specific conditions, skills, or expenses. Under the Hospitality Award, they are one of the most commonly missed entitlements after penalty rates. Many workers don't know they exist — and many employers don't pay them unless asked.

If you work split shifts, use your own tools, hold a first aid certificate, or wear a uniform you launder yourself — this applies to you.

Real example

Scenario: Full-time cook, Level 3. Brings own knives to work every day. Works 5 days per week.

What they were paid: Base rate only — no tool allowance

What should have happened: Tool allowance of $0.00/day (capped at $9.94/week)

Underpayment: ~$9.94/week. ~$517/year — just from one missing allowance.

Why it happens: Employer never accounts for tool allowance. The cook assumes their hourly rate covers everything.

All-purpose vs non-all-purpose allowances

This distinction matters more than most workers realise. It affects how much you're paid on overtime, weekends, and leave.

All-purpose allowances

These are treated as part of your ordinary rate. That means they flow through to overtime, penalty rates, annual leave, and any other calculation based on your base rate. If an all-purpose allowance isn't included in those calculations, every affected hour is underpaid.

Non-all-purpose allowances

These are flat payments for specific conditions — like a meal allowance when overtime is worked. They don't compound into other rates. They're paid when the condition applies and that's it.

Most allowances under the Hospitality Award are non-all-purpose — but it's still essential they're actually being paid.

Hospitality Award allowances 2025 — full list

AllowanceAmountWho it applies toType
Split/broken shift (2–3hr gap)$0.00/dayFT/PT onlyNon-all-purpose
Split/broken shift (>3hr gap)$0.00/dayFT/PT onlyNon-all-purpose
First aid$0.00/week (FT) · $0.00/day (PT/casual)All typesNon-all-purpose
Tool allowance (cooks)$0.00/day (max $9.94/week)All typesNon-all-purpose
Airport travel$0.00/dayAll typesNon-all-purpose
Laundry (catering)$0.00/week (FT) · $0.00/uniform (PT/casual)Catering employeesNon-all-purpose
Meal allowance (overtime)$0.00FT/PT onlyNon-all-purpose
Vehicle (managerial hotel)$0.00/kmManagerial hotel employeesNon-all-purpose

Rates based on the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000009, effective 1 July 2025.

If you meet the conditions for any of these allowances and they're not on your payslip, you're likely being underpaid.

Not sure if your Hospitality Award pay is right?

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⚠️ Common allowance issues

Split shift allowance not paid

If your roster has a gap of 2 hours or more between two periods of work in the same day, you're entitled to the split shift allowance. Many employers treat split shifts as two separate shifts and skip the allowance entirely.

Tool allowance missing for cooks

Cooks who supply and maintain their own knives and tools are entitled to $0.00 per day (up to $9.94/week). This is rarely paid unless the employee specifically asks.

First aid allowance not applied

If you hold a current first aid certificate and your employer requires you to be the designated first aider, you're owed $0.00/week (full-time) or $0.00/day (part-time/casual). Many employers pocket the benefit of having a qualified first aider without paying the allowance.

Meal allowance skipped on overtime

If you're a permanent employee required to work overtime and a meal break falls during that overtime, you're entitled to $0.00. This is frequently missed on busy nights.

These issues rarely happen in isolation — and even one can result in hundreds in underpayments per year.

If any of these sound familiar, check your pay now.

Not sure if your Hospitality Award pay is right?

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Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer refuse to pay allowances if they're not in my contract?

No. Allowances are set by the award, not your contract. If the conditions are met (e.g. you use your own tools, you work a split shift), the allowance is owed regardless of what your contract says.

What is the difference between all-purpose and non-all-purpose allowances?

All-purpose allowances are included in your base rate for calculating overtime, penalty rates, and leave. Non-all-purpose allowances are flat amounts paid only when the specific condition applies — they don't affect other calculations.

Do casual employees get allowances?

Yes. Most allowances apply to casuals. For example, first aid allowance is $2.56/day for casuals, and tool allowance for cooks is $2.03/day regardless of employment type.

Should allowances appear separately on my payslip?

Yes. Employers must itemise allowances on payslips. If your allowances are bundled into a single hourly rate with no breakdown, you have no way of verifying they're actually being paid.

Don't guess — missing allowances add up over time.

Enter your shifts below and see exactly what you should have been paid — including every allowance, penalty rate, and loading you're entitled to.

It takes 2 minutes — and you'll know for certain if you've been underpaid.

Based on official pay rates from the Fair Work Commission (MA000009).

Not sure if your Hospitality Award pay is right?

Enter your shifts and find out in 2 minutes. Free, instant, based on official Fair Work rates.

Check my pay now

No sign-up required

Rates sourced from the Fair Work Commission pay guide for the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 (MA000009), effective 1 July 2025. General information only — not legal advice. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.