Waiter / Waitress Average Salary in Sydney 2024
How much money does a person working as Waiter / Waitress make in Sydney?
LOW
15,300
AUD AVERAGE
33,400
AUD HIGH
53,000
AUD
A person working as Waiter / Waitress in Sydney typically earns around 33,400 AUD. Salaries range from 15,300 AUD (lowest) to 53,000 AUD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Waiter / Waitress salaries in Sydney vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Waiter / Waitress Pay Scale and Salaries in Sydney
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
31,600 AUD or more
27,700 to 31,600 AUD
19,100 AUD or less
19,100 to 27,700 AUD
 15,300 AUD |
31,900 AUD |
53,000 AUD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Waiter / Waitress in Sydney range from 15,300 AUD (starting salary) to 53,000 AUD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 31,900 AUD, half of the professionals who work as Waiter / Waitress in Sydney earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Waiter / Waitress in Sydney earn less than 25,700 AUD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 36,700 AUD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Waiter / Waitress in Sydney compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 19,100 AUD to 27,700 AUD. About 20% of salaries are below the 19,100 AUD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 27,700 AUD to 31,600 AUD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 31,600 AUD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Waiter / Waitress / Sydney
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 17,400 AUD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 23,300 AUD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +48% | 34,400 AUD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 41,900 AUD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 45,700 AUD |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 49,500 AUD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Waiter / Waitress and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 17,400 AUD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 23,300 AUD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 34,400 AUD, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 41,900 AUD, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 45,700 AUD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 49,500 AUD, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Waiter / Waitress / Sydney
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Waiter / Waitress.
| High School | 19,900 AUD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +57% | 31,200 AUD |
| Bachelor's Degree | +68% | 52,300 AUD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Waiter / Waitress in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 19,900 AUD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 31,200 AUD, 57% more than the previous level.
Level 3: Bachelor's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 52,300 AUD, 68% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Waiter / Waitress / Sydney
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Waiter / Waitress in Australia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
| Male | 27,900 AUD | |
| Female | +5% | 29,400 AUD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in Australia for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Waiter / Waitress / Sydney
How much are annual salary increments in Sydney for individuals working as Waiter / Waitress? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Waiter / Waitress in Australia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
Australia / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Waiter / Waitress / Australia
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Waiter / Waitress / Sydney
16 AUD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Waiter / Waitress in Sydney is 16 AUD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Waiter / Waitress in Sydney is 7 AUD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering |  -100% | |
| Airbnb Property Manager | 108,000 AUD |  +220% |
| All Rounder | 40,700 AUD | +22% |
| Assistant Executive Housekeeper | 29,800 AUD | -11% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Controller | 61,700 AUD | +85% |
| Assistant Food and Beverage Director | 130,000 AUD | +290% |
| Assistant Hospitality Manager | 143,000 AUD | +330% |
| Assistant Storekeeper | 28,200 AUD | -15% |
| Assistant Tour Manager | 69,000 AUD | +110% |
| Baker and Pastrycook | 36,300 AUD | +9% |
| Bakery Manager | 75,600 AUD | +130% |
| Bakery Superintendent | 51,400 AUD | +54% |
| Banquet Captain | 38,200 AUD | +15% |
| Banquet Manager | 53,900 AUD | +62% |
| Banquet Server | 33,600 AUD | +1% |
| Bar Attendant | 33,400 AUD | +0% |
| Bar Manager | 70,400 AUD | +110% |
| Bar Supervisor | 47,900 AUD | +44% |
| Barista | 40,400 AUD | +21% |
| Bartender | 39,000 AUD | +17% |
| Bellman | 31,600 AUD | -5% |
| Beverage Manager | 78,400 AUD | +140% |
| Bistro Attendant | 34,900 AUD | +5% |
| Buffet Chef | 59,700 AUD | +79% |
| Buffet Host | 34,700 AUD | +4% |
| Buffet Manager | 76,500 AUD | +130% |
| Butcher and Slaughterer | 28,300 AUD | -15% |
| Cafeteria Assistant | 34,900 AUD | +5% |
| Cafeteria Manager | 63,700 AUD | +91% |
| Cafeteria Supervisor | 48,300 AUD | +45% |
| Cake Decorator | 39,500 AUD | +18% |
| Casino Shift Manager | 115,000 AUD | +240% |
| Chain Store Customer Support | 52,600 AUD | +58% |
| Chef | 62,800 AUD | +88% |
| Chef De Cuisine | 89,200 AUD | +170% |
| Club Manager | 125,000 AUD | +270% |
| Cluster Director | 153,000 AUD | +360% |
| Cluster Revenue Manager | 118,000 AUD | +250% |
| Cocktail Server | 33,500 AUD | +0% |
| Coffee Shop Manager | 112,000 AUD | +240% |
| Concierge | 32,100 AUD | -4% |
| Confectionery Baker | 37,200 AUD | +12% |
| Conference and Sales Coordinator | 59,600 AUD | +79% |
| Conference Services Manager | 77,200 AUD | +130% |
| Cook | 56,400 AUD | +69% |
| Corporate Sous Chef | 90,300 AUD | +170% |
| Corporate Travel Consultant | 91,400 AUD | +170% |
| Croupier | 43,800 AUD | +31% |
| Culinary Assistant | 29,200 AUD | -12% |
| Culinary Associate | 28,800 AUD | -14% |
| Culinary Tour Guide | 77,200 AUD | +130% |
| Demi Chef | 62,800 AUD | +88% |
| Dietary Aide | 65,700 AUD | +97% |
| Dining Room Supervisor | 57,300 AUD | +72% |
| Dishwasher | 25,300 AUD | -24% |
| Duty Manager | 79,000 AUD | +140% |
| Events Coordinator | 49,500 AUD | +48% |
| Executive Chef | 70,700 AUD | +110% |
| Executive Pastry Chef | 58,700 AUD | +76% |
| Fast Food Cook | 52,600 AUD | +58% |
| Fast Food Shift Supervisor | 57,000 AUD | +71% |
| Fine Dining Cook | 91,600 AUD | +170% |
| Fine Dining Restaurant Chef | 96,400 AUD | +190% |
| Fleet Manager | 163,000 AUD | +390% |
| Food and Beverage Manager | 128,000 AUD | +280% |
| Food and Beverage Trend Analyst | 81,600 AUD | +140% |
| Food Consultant | 104,000 AUD | +210% |
| Food Photographer | 63,600 AUD | +91% |
| Food Policy Analyst | 93,100 AUD | +180% |
| Food Safety Auditor | 85,600 AUD | +160% |
| Food Safety Compliance Manager | 97,800 AUD | +190% |
| Food Safety Coordinator | 75,800 AUD | +130% |
| Food Server | 33,600 AUD | +1% |
| Food Service Director | 125,000 AUD | +270% |
| Food Service Manager | 132,000 AUD | +300% |
| Food Service Sales | 79,600 AUD | +140% |
| Food Service Worker | 31,700 AUD | -5% |
| Food Stylist | 54,100 AUD | +62% |
| Food Sustainability Consultant | 94,100 AUD | +180% |
| Front Desk Agent | 38,700 AUD | +16% |
| Front Desk Clerk | 38,500 AUD | +15% |
| Front Office Manager | 72,800 AUD | +120% |
| Gastronomy Consultant | 71,700 AUD | +110% |
| Guest Service Executive | 107,000 AUD | +220% |
| Guest Service Representative | 43,100 AUD | +29% |
| Head Chef | 73,500 AUD | +120% |
| Head Concierge | 49,400 AUD | +48% |
| Hospitality Director | 199,000 AUD | +500% |
| Hospitality Technology Specialist | 81,500 AUD | +140% |
| Hostess / Host | 37,700 AUD | +13% |
| Hotel Desk Clerk | 36,900 AUD | +11% |
| Hotel Maid | 27,100 AUD | -19% |
| Hotel Manager | 182,000 AUD | +450% |
| Hotel Revenue Manager | 114,000 AUD | +240% |
| Hotel Sales Manager | 141,000 AUD | +320% |
| Hotel Service Supervisor | 101,000 AUD | +200% |
| Hotel Staff | 34,400 AUD | +3% |
| Inventory Coordinator | 40,200 AUD | +21% |
| Kitchen Manager | 60,700 AUD | +82% |
| Kitchen Staff | 36,300 AUD | +9% |
| Kitchen Supervisor | 58,300 AUD | +75% |
| Line Cook | 58,100 AUD | +74% |
| Luggage Porter | 26,200 AUD | -21% |
| Molecular Gastronomist | 92,300 AUD | +180% |
| Motel Manager | 108,000 AUD | +220% |
| Pastry Chef | 56,400 AUD | +69% |
| Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant | 36,200 AUD | +9% |
| Personal Chef | 73,800 AUD | +120% |
| Production Operator | 54,600 AUD | +64% |
| Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator | 58,600 AUD | +76% |
| Receptionist | 38,600 AUD | +16% |
| Regional Restaurant Manager | 148,000 AUD | +340% |
| Restaurant Manager | 124,000 AUD | +270% |
| Restaurant Server | 32,600 AUD | -2% |
| Room Reservations Manager | 121,000 AUD | +260% |
| Room Service Manager | 114,000 AUD | +240% |
| Sous Chef | 73,900 AUD | +120% |
| Special Events Coordinator | 72,500 AUD | +120% |
| Supervisor of Food Services | 82,500 AUD | +150% |
| Sustainable Catering Coordinator | 73,700 AUD | +120% |
| Sustainable Tourism Consultant | 81,900 AUD | +150% |
| Tour Consultant | 92,300 AUD | +180% |
| Tour Guide | 61,600 AUD | +85% |
| Tour Manager | 84,200 AUD | +150% |
| Travel Agent | 67,600 AUD | +100% |
| Travel Consultant | 89,200 AUD | +170% |
| Virtual / Augmented Reality Tourism Specialist | 78,700 AUD | +140% |
| Waiter / Waitress | 33,400 AUD | +0% |
| Wedding Planner | 102,000 AUD | +210% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Melbourne | 33,300 AUD |
| Sydney | 33,400 AUD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Australia is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 89,000 AUD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 93,400 AUD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Waiter / Waitress in Sydney?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 31,900 AUD and 36,700 AUD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Waiter / Waitress in Sydney ranges from 15,300 AUD to 25,700 AUD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
