Restaurant manager salary: awards versus the national minimum wage

What is a restaurant manager salary in Australia?

If you're looking at a restaurant manager salary, the first thing to know is that this role sits somewhere between the award-covered floor and the national median. Unlike a cook or a waiter, a restaurant manager is often not covered by a modern award, so their pay is set by agreement. But we can still use public data to see where the money lands.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that full-time Cafe and Restaurant Managers earn a median of $1,441 per week before tax. That works out to about $74,932 a year. On the Salary Index, where 100 is the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352, that gives an index of 69. That's below the all-occupations median of $1,697 (index 81) and well below the national line. But it's still above the national minimum wage index of 48.

Awards versus the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week (annualised $52,255). That's the absolute floor. But the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119) sets higher minimums for specific jobs. For example, a Level 5 food and beverage supervisor gets $1,135.50 per week ($29.88 per hour). That's still below the median restaurant manager salary, but it shows the award ladder.

A restaurant manager is not a classification in that award. The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides for the Restaurant Industry Award list roles from Introductory level up to Level 6 cook, but no 'manager'. This means many managers are award-free. Their salary is negotiated, often above the award supervisor rate but not always as high as the median.

Where does the money go?

Let's look at take-home pay. On a median restaurant manager salary of $74,932, a resident with the tax-free threshold and 2% Medicare levy would pay about $13,700 in tax and Medicare, leaving around $61,200 net. That's about $1,177 per week in hand. Compare that to the national minimum wage take-home of about $43,500 net ($836 per week). The manager is better off, but not by a huge margin.

Super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, so on $74,932 the employer must contribute $8,992 into super. That's on top of the salary.

Industry and state differences

The Accommodation and Food Services industry has an index of 72.5, which is close to the restaurant manager median of 69. That makes sense – most restaurant managers work in that industry. But state matters. A manager in Western Australia (state index 106.9) might earn more than one in Tasmania (88.6). The states page shows how location shifts the line.

How the index works

The how the index works page explains that the index is your yearly gross salary divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. So a restaurant manager on $74,932 has an index of 69. That's a quick way to see where you sit against the average full-time worker.

What about junior or part-time managers?

Some restaurant managers are young or work part-time. The national minimum wage has junior rates: for example, a 20-year-old gets $25.83 per hour. But a manager role usually requires experience, so junior rates are less common. Part-time managers might earn a pro-rata of the full-time rate.

The bottom line

A restaurant manager salary in Australia is typically around $75,000 a year, which is decent but not high compared to other professions. The award floor for supervisors is about $59,000, so managers are above that. But if you're aiming for the national average, you'd need to earn about $108,000. For more context on how different roles compare, see the industries page.

FAQs

What is the average restaurant manager salary in Australia?

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for Cafe and Restaurant Managers is $1,441, which annualises to about $74,932. This is below the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 (index 100). However, actual salaries vary widely by venue, location, and experience.

Is a restaurant manager covered by an award?

Not always. The Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119) covers food and beverage attendants, cooks, and supervisors, but does not have a specific classification for restaurant managers. Many managers are award-free or covered by a managerial exclusion, meaning their pay is negotiated individually. The award can still be a reference point for lower-level staff.

How does the restaurant manager salary compare to the national minimum wage?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week (index 48.2). The median restaurant manager earns about $37 per hour, which is 40% above the minimum wage. However, some junior or entry-level managers may earn closer to award supervisor rates, which are above the minimum but below the median.