Chef Salary in Melbourne (2026)

Last updated 02/08/2026

Chefs in Melbourne earn a median salary of $79,500 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $62,250 and $85,000. That sits 12% below Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000. Figures are based on 70 jobs advertised in Melbourne in the last 30 days.

▲ High demand Top 12% of roles by listing volume in Melbourne ↑ +22 listings vs last month

ADVERTISED RANGE

$62,250 – $85,000

Median: $79,500

Jun $75k

Jul $79k

↑ Trending up

Based on 2-month data, short-term movement only.

Mid level

$63,086 – $85,000

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 70 job listings for this role and city, 98.6% sourced from Seek.com.au and the rest from government job boards and employer career sites. Of those, 57.1% stated a salary directly. The remaining 42.9% carried a range estimated from the listing, so this median blends advertised and estimated pay. Figures represent what employers advertise and may differ from actual compensation.

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Bottom 10% $62,250 Median $79,500 $85,000 Top 10%

Understanding the Melbourne Market

The median rose $4,500 to $79,000 and listings grew from 48 to 70, the strongest combination of pay and volume growth in Melbourne hospitality this month. Even so, Melbourne sits behind Newcastle, Perth and Sydney at $80,000, so the recovery has not yet closed the national gap. At 57% salary disclosure this is a reasonably well-evidenced figure. The 29% spread running $62,000 to $85,000 shows how compressed chef pay is regardless of venue.

Take Home Pay (based on median $79,500)

Weekly (net)

~$1,185

Monthly (net)

~$5,134

Annual (net)

~$61,606

Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $88,642

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Chef in Melbourne?

Entry is $62,000, which in practice means a qualified chef in a mid-volume kitchen rather than an apprentice. Cook roles at $76,000 and chef de partie at $77,000 overlap heavily with the bottom of this band. Section experience and a Certificate III are what move someone toward the $85,000 ceiling.

Is $79,500 a good salary in Melbourne?

No. At $79,000 a chef earns 11.7% below Melbourne's all-roles median of $90,000, with take-home near $1,185 a week against the highest living costs in this report. The role pays roughly the same in every city, so Melbourne's cost base makes it the hardest place to do it. Sous chef work at $83,000 is the nearest step up.

How much does a Senior Chef make in Melbourne?

The ceiling is $85,000, which is only $2,000 above what sous chefs earn, so seniority inside the chef title is worth very little. Head chef and executive chef roles sit above this range. The compression across chef, chef de partie and sous chef is the clearest signal that progression in this kitchen hierarchy is not financially rewarded.

Other roles in Melbourne

Chef salaries in other cities

City	Median salary	vs Melbourne
Melbourne (this page)	$79,500	0%
Newcastle	$80,000	~same
Perth	$80,000	~same
Sydney	$80,000	~same
Brisbane	$77,500	-3%

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