Catering Worker Pay Rates 2025–26

Last updated: March 2026 · Rates effective 1 July 2025 · MA000119

Catering work under the Restaurant Industry Award is complex — partly because coverage depends on the type of employer. The Restaurant Award applies when catering is incidental to a restaurant business (e.g., a restaurant that also caters private functions and events). If the employer is a dedicated catering company, the Hospitality Award may apply instead.

The most common issue for catering workers: flat "event rates" that ignore weekend and public holiday penalties.

For the full Restaurant Award overview, see the Restaurant Award pay guide.

Which award covers catering workers?

Restaurant that also does catering (catering is part of an existing restaurant business) → Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119).

Dedicated catering company (catering is the primary business) → Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009).

If your employer runs a restaurant and occasionally caters events, functions, or off-site services, the Restaurant Award covers that work.

Real example

Scenario: Casual food & beverage attendant, Level 3, working a Sunday function for a restaurant's catering arm. 6-hour shift. Employer pays a flat "event rate" equal to the ordinary casual rate.

What they were paid: $33.38/hr × 6 hours = $200.28 (flat event rate)

What they should have been paid: Sunday casual L3 $46.73/hr × 6 hours = $280.38

Underpayment: $80.10 on a single Sunday function.

Why it happens: The employer sets a flat "event rate" that doesn't account for the day of the week. Sunday penalty rates are a separate entitlement and must be applied regardless of whether the shift is a regular service or a catered event.

Catering worker pay rates — Restaurant Award 2025

Level	Casual Rate	Saturday (Casual)	Sunday (Casual)	Public Holiday (Casual)
Level 2	$32.31/hr	$38.77/hr	$45.23/hr	$64.62/hr
Level 3	$33.38/hr	$40.06/hr	$46.73/hr	$66.76/hr
Level 4	$35.15/hr	$42.18/hr	$49.21/hr	$70.30/hr

Rates based on the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000119, effective 1 July 2025.

⚠️ Common underpayments for catering workers

Flat "event rate" regardless of day

The most common issue. Employers pay a single rate for catering shifts whether the event falls on a weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday. Weekend and public holiday penalties must still be applied — a catered event on a Sunday is no different from a regular Sunday shift.

Public holiday minimum engagement ignored

Permanent employees have a minimum engagement of 4 hours on a public holiday. Casual employees have a 2-hour minimum. If you're called in for a short catering job on a public holiday, you must be paid for the full minimum engagement period.

Wrong award applied to catering arm

When a restaurant does catering as part of its business, those catering workers are covered by the Restaurant Award. Some employers incorrectly apply the Hospitality Award or no specific award to their catering operations.

Late night loading missed on events past 10pm

Evening events and functions that run past 10pm attract a late night loading for every hour worked between 10pm and midnight. This is frequently overlooked on catering shifts that run late.

Frequently asked questions

I work for a dedicated catering company — which award covers me?

If your employer is primarily a catering company (not a restaurant that also does catering), you're likely covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009), not the Restaurant Award. The Restaurant Award applies when catering is incidental to a restaurant business — for example, a restaurant that occasionally caters private events. Check with the Fair Work Award Finder if you're unsure.

My employer pays an "event rate" of $X per hour — is that legal?

It depends on whether that rate meets the minimum for every hour worked. If any of your hours fall on a Sunday or public holiday, the flat event rate must still meet the Sunday or public holiday minimum rate for your classification level. A flat rate that works on a weekday may fall short on a Sunday. Ask your employer for a written breakdown showing how the rate covers each day's minimum.

What is the casual minimum engagement for catering shifts?

Under the Restaurant Industry Award, casual employees must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 2 hours per shift. If you're called in for a catering function and sent home after 1 hour, you must still be paid for 2 hours. For permanent employees, the minimum engagement is 4 hours.

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Based on official pay rates from the Fair Work Commission (MA000119).

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Rates sourced from the Fair Work Commission pay guide for the Restaurant Industry Award 2020 (MA000119), effective 1 July 2025. General information only — not legal advice. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.