Median salary
$15,937
ANZSCO 8511 · Food preparation assistants
Fast food cook salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian fast food cook is $15,937 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $15,937 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$15,937
Fortnightly
$613
Tax returns
89,606
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 8511, based on 89,606 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $18,101 | $15,937 | $18,223 |
| Average (mean) | $22,722 | $21,078 | $23,173 |
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 $fast food cook salary
| Gross salary (median) | $15,937 |
| Income tax | −$0 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$0 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$700 |
| Take-home pay | $15,937 |
| + Employer super | $1,912 |
See the $30,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $15,937 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Food preparation assistants
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen hand | 118,111 | $23,414 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fast food cook earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian fast food cook in 2022-23 was $15,937, based on 89,606 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $21,078; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical fast food cook.
What is a fast food cook salary after tax?
On the median $15,937 salary for a fast food cook, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $15,937 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $613 per fortnight or $306 per week.
How much tax does a fast food cook pay?
On the median $15,937 salary, a fast food cook in FY2025-26 pays about $0 in total tax — $0 income tax plus $0 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 0.0%.
How many people work as a fast food cook in Australia?
89,606 Australians lodged a tax return as a fast food cook in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 8511 on their return.
What is the average vs median fast food cook salary?
Average (mean): $21,078. Median: $15,937. 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 fast food 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).