Median salary
$37,168
ANZSCO 3514 · Food trades workers
Cook salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian cook is $37,168 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $34,090 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$34,090
Fortnightly
$1,311
Tax returns
41,251
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 3514, based on 41,251 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $38,570 | $37,168 | $39,993 |
| Average (mean) | $39,737 | $38,011 | $41,141 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $cook salary
| Gross salary (median) | $37,168 |
| Income tax | −$2,335 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$743 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$700 |
| Take-home pay | $34,090 |
| + Employer super | $4,460 |
See the $35,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $37,168 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Food trades workers
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chef | 133,086 | $56,372 |
| Baker or pastrycook | 19,012 | $56,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian cook in 2022-23 was $37,168, based on 41,251 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $38,011; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical cook.
What is a cook salary after tax?
On the median $37,168 salary for a cook, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $34,090 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $1,311 per fortnight or $656 per week.
How much tax does a cook pay?
On the median $37,168 salary, a cook in FY2025-26 pays about $3,078 in total tax — $2,335 income tax plus $743 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 8.3%.
How many people work as a cook in Australia?
41,251 Australians lodged a tax return as a cook in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 3514 on their return.
What is the average vs median cook salary?
Average (mean): $38,011. Median: $37,168. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical cook earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).