My Restaurant Sunday Pay Looks Wrong — What Should It Be?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000119
If your Sunday rate looks the same as a Tuesday, it's almost certainly wrong. The Restaurant Industry Award sets specific Sunday penalty rates that are significantly higher than ordinary weekday rates — for both permanent and casual employees.
If you work Sundays in a restaurant or standalone café — check your rate now.
The rule
Under the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119):
- Sunday permanent rate: 1.5× the ordinary hourly rate
- Sunday casual rate: a level-dependent higher multiplier applied on top of the casual loading
These rates are mandatory. Your employer cannot pay the weekday rate for Sunday work.
What you should be paid
Casual Level 3 example
- Ordinary casual rate (weekday): $33.38/hr
- Sunday casual rate: $46.73/hr
- Gap per hour: $13.35
On a 6-hour Sunday shift, that's $80.10 missing per shift. Working one Sunday per week: $4,005.00/year underpaid.
Rates based on the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000119, effective 1 July 2025.
What this costs you
A casual Level 3 receiving the weekday rate instead of the Sunday rate on a single 6-hour shift loses roughly $80.10 per shift. Over 50 weeks, that's nearly $4,005.00/year — from one shift type alone. For workers doing multiple Sundays per week, the gap compounds rapidly.
What to check on your payslip
- Is there a separate line item for Sunday hours?
- Is the Sunday hourly rate higher than your weekday rate?
- Does the Sunday rate reflect 1.5× (permanent) or the applicable casual multiplier?
Frequently asked questions
My employer says one rate covers all days — is that allowed?
Only if they can provide written proof that the single rate demonstrably exceeds the highest penalty rate for every shift type you work, including Sundays and public holidays. A flat rate that doesn't clear the Sunday rate is non-compliant.
I've been paid the wrong Sunday rate for 2 years — can I claim it back?
Yes. Under the Fair Work Act you can claim up to 6 years of underpayments. Two years of incorrect Sunday rates on regular shifts adds up to a substantial amount.
Is the Sunday rate the same at all classification levels?
The multiplier is the same (1.5× for permanent), but because the base rate differs at each level, the dollar amount differs. Casual Sunday rates also vary by level because the casual loading is applied before the penalty.
Don't guess — check exactly what your Sunday shifts should pay.
Not sure if your Restaurant Industry Award pay is right?
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General information only. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.