If you run a quick-service restaurant, takeaway shop, burger chain, pizza store, or similar workplace, the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003) sets the minimum pay rates and conditions for many employees.
Important for 2026: the Award text is consolidated up to 23 January 2026, but the latest minimum pay rates shown in the Award tables are the 1 July 2025 rates (the next increase is typically set by the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review, usually applying from 1 July each year).
What is the Fast Food Award (MA000003)?
The Fast Food Award is a modern award that sets minimum wages and conditions for employees in the fast food industry—covering things like:
- base pay rates (by level)
- casual loading
- overtime rules
- penalty rates (late nights, weekends, public holidays)
- allowances (meal, laundry, cold work, vehicle, etc.)
*Always check whether an employee is instead covered by an enterprise agreement*Who does the Fast Food Award cover?
It generally applies to businesses and employees in fast food operations. The safest approach is to confirm coverage and classification inside the Award, because the correct “level” is what drives the minimum rate.
What are the pay rates for Fast Food Award in 2026?
Adult minimum hourly rates (from 1 July 2025):
- Level 1: $26.55/hr (weekly $1008.90)
- Level 2: $28.12/hr (weekly $1068.40)
- Level 3 (in charge of one or no person): $28.55/hr (weekly $1084.90)
- Level 3 (in charge of 2+ people): $28.90/hr (weekly $1098.20)
- Juniors: the Award sets junior percentages of the applicable adult rate (e.g., under 16 = 40%, 16 = 50%, … 20 = 90%, 21 = 100%).
- Casuals: must be paid the minimum hourly rate plus 25% casual loading.
Penalty rates (ordinary hours)
Penalty rates apply when employees work ordinary hours at certain times/days.
Full-time & part-time (ordinary hours):
-
Mon–Fri 10pm–midnight: 110%
Mon–Fri midnight–6am: 115%
Saturday: 125%
Sunday (Level 1): 125%
Sunday (Level 2 & 3): 150%
Public holiday: 225%
Casual penalty rates (ordinary hours) are higher because they include the 25% loading:
- Mon–Fri 10pm–midnight: 135%
- Mon–Fri midnight–6am: 140%
- Saturday: 150%
- Sunday (Level 1): 150%
- Sunday (Level 2 & 3): 175%
- Public holiday: 250%
What are the overtime rates?
Overtime applies when employees work outside overtime triggers set in the Award (including for casuals, e.g., beyond 38 hours/week or 11 hours/day in certain cases).
Full-time & part-time overtime rates:
- Mon–Sat first 2 hours: 150%
- Mon–Sat after 2 hours: 200%
- Sunday (all overtime): 200%
- Public holiday (all overtime): 250%
Casual overtime rates (includes 25% loading):
- Mon–Sat first 2 hours: 175%
- Mon–Sat after 2 hours: 225%
- Sunday (all overtime): 225%
- Public holiday (all overtime): 275%
What are the allowances or entitlements for Fast Food Award in 2026?
These are paid on top of wages (and on top of penalties where relevant), when the conditions are met.
Wage-related allowances
- Broken Hill (County of Yancowinna): $45.73 per week
- Cold work allowance: $0.37/hr
- Cold chamber below 0°C (additional): +$0.56/hr (total $0.93/hr)
Expense-related allowances (and reimbursements)
- Meal allowance (overtime >1 hour, without 24 hours’ notice, and can’t reasonably go home): $16.65
- Further meal allowance (if that overtime is >4 hours): $15.04
- Laundry / special clothing (if employee launders): $6.25/week (full-time) or $1.25/shift (part-time/casual)
- Motor vehicle allowance (use own vehicle): $0.52/km (delivery-primarily) or $0.98/km (other)
- Working at another site: pay extra travel time (Mon–Sat at minimum hourly rate; Sun/public holiday at 150%) and reimburse excess fares
- Late night/early morning transport reimbursement: if finishing after 10pm or starting before 7am and usual transport isn’t available (reimburse reasonable commercial passenger vehicle costs)
What compliance mistakes should employers look out for?
- Casual minimum engagement: 3 consecutive hours minimum.
- Breaks depend on shift length (e.g., 5+ hours requires an unpaid meal break of 30–60 mins).
- Annual leave loading: when annual leave applies, the loading is the greater of 17.5% or the relevant weekend penalty amount the employee would have received.
FAQs About the Fast Food Award
Q1: What’s the minimum adult hourly rate under the Fast Food Award in 2026?
A1: As at 26 Feb 2026, the latest rates published in the Award tables are the 1 July 2025 rates (e.g., Level 1 $26.55/hr).
Q2: Do casual penalty rates already include the 25% loading?
A2: Yes, casual penalty rates are calculated by adding the casual loading to the full-time/part-time penalty rates.
Q3: What’s the public holiday penalty rate?
A3: For ordinary hours: 225% (full-time/part-time) and 250% (casual).
Q4: What’s overtime for a casual?
A4: Overtime is paid when a casual works beyond Award overtime triggers (including over 38 hours/week or over 11 hours/day in the clause), paid at the overtime table rates.
Q5: What are the key allowances employers forget?
A5: Most missed: meal allowance ($16.65 / $15.04), laundry ($6.25/week or $1.25/shift), cold work (up to $0.93/hr), and vehicle ($0.52–$0.98/km)—all with specific conditions.
Read more
Fast Food Award Pay Rates & Updates
2025 Fast Food Award Pay Rates: Compliance Guide
Updated Fast Food Industry Award Pay Rates 2024: What You Need to Know
