ANZSCO 8513 · Food preparation assistants
Kitchen hand salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian kitchen hand is $23,414 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $23,280 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 8513, based on 118,111 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $26,713 | $23,414 | $27,423 |
| Average (mean) | $29,929 | $27,527 | $30,723 |
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 $kitchen hand salary
| Gross salary (median) | $23,414 |
| Income tax | −$134 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$0 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$700 |
| Take-home pay | $23,280 |
| + Employer super | $2,810 |
Related occupations · Food preparation assistants
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Fast food cook | 89,606 | $15,937 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen hand earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian kitchen hand in 2022-23 was $23,414, based on 118,111 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $27,527; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical kitchen hand.
What is a kitchen hand salary after tax?
On the median $23,414 salary for a kitchen hand, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $23,280 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $895 per fortnight or $448 per week.
How much tax does a kitchen hand pay?
On the median $23,414 salary, a kitchen hand in FY2025-26 pays about $134 in total tax — $134 income tax plus $0 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 0.6%.
How many people work as a kitchen hand in Australia?
118,111 Australians lodged a tax return as a kitchen hand in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 8513 on their return.
What is the average vs median kitchen hand salary?
Average (mean): $27,527. Median: $23,414. 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 kitchen hand 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).