How to hire a chef in Australia: where they are, what they cost, and when to sponsor

Where to find chefs

What chefs cost in 2026

Award minimums under the Restaurant Industry Award and the Hospitality Industry (General) Award set the floor by classification (cook grades through to chef levels), but around 60 per cent of venues report paying above award, and the market rates for 2026 sit roughly at: commis and cook A$55,000 to A$65,000; chef de partie A$60,000 to A$70,000; sous chef A$70,000 to A$85,000; head chef A$80,000 to A$110,000 and higher in hatted or large venues, plus penalties and super at 12 per cent. State the figure in the ad; chef ads without pay get a fraction of the applications. The full on-costs are set out on what an employee really costs.

Screening and the cook test

1. Define the level and the cuisine before you write a word; an ad for "chef" draws everyone from a kitchen hand to an executive chef.
2. Phone screen on three things: right to work (a VEVO check for any visa holder), availability for your roster, and the one section or cuisine the role turns on.
3. Run a practical cook test of two to three dishes, in your kitchen, with your equipment. It tells you more than any interview.
4. Pay for the trial. Fair Work treats a trial as work unless it is a brief skills demonstration under observation; a full "trial shift" on the pass is paid at the award rate.
5. Check two references by phone, the last two head chefs if possible.
6. Offer in writing with the award classification, pay, roster and super stated. Use the job ad template for the ad itself.

The pool already here

Working Holiday makers (any hours, six months per employer unless an exemption or permission applies), students (48 hours a fortnight in term, unlimited in breaks) and 485 graduates (unrestricted, two to three years) staff a large share of Australian kitchens. Many hold or are completing a Certificate III or IV in Commercial Cookery, and the good ones want a sponsor before their visa ends. SponsorTalent’s onshore filter is built for this search, and who can work for you today sets out the conditions for each visa.

When no local chef applies: sponsorship

Chef (351311) and Cook (351411) are on the Core Skills Occupation List, so a venue with Standard Business Sponsorship can nominate on the 482 for up to four years with the permanent 186 after two, provided the role pays at least A$79,423 and the market rate, and the venue is a full-service operation (the Department’s caveat excludes fast-food, takeaway and limited-service venues). Two ads of 28 days or more on platforms with national reach within four months of lodging are the labour market testing; keep dated screenshots of the ads you have already run. Government charges are A$3,150 for a two-year 482 at small-business rates. Restaurant managers and trade waiters cannot be sponsored on the standard 482 but can be under the Restaurant (Premium Dining) Labour Agreement at qualifying venues. The full picture: hospitality sponsorship, is it worth it, how long it takes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to hire a chef in Australia? Market pay in 2026 runs roughly A$60,000 to A$70,000 for a chef de partie, A$70,000 to A$85,000 for a sous chef and A$80,000 to A$110,000 for a head chef, plus super at 12 per cent and penalties. Recruitment costs range from free boards to a recruiter fee of 15 to 20 per cent of salary.

Can I give a chef an unpaid trial shift? Only a brief demonstration of skills under observation can be unpaid. A trial shift that involves real work on the pass is work and must be paid at the award rate. A two- or three-dish cook test is the safe, informative middle ground.

Can I hire a chef on a Working Holiday visa? Yes. Working Holiday makers can work any hours but only six months with one employer unless an exemption applies or permission is granted before the six months ends. Register with the ATO before the first payment to apply the 15 per cent withholding rate.

Can I sponsor a chef from overseas? Yes. Chef and Cook are on the Core Skills list; the role must pay at least A$79,423 and the market rate, the venue must be full-service, and you need Standard Business Sponsorship and labour market testing. Three to five months onshore, six to eight offshore, at the Department’s September 2026 medians.

Where do chefs who need sponsorship look for jobs? They register on SponsorTalent, where profiles state the visa position, qualification and experience; employers search free and unlock contacts at A$30. Many are already in Australia on student, graduate or Working Holiday visas.