Fast Food Industry Award 2020 — free pay & rights calculator 2026 | Expert Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the current pay rates under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020?

  From 1 July 2025, Level 1 workers (food prep, serving, cooking) earn AUD $26.55/hour. Level 2 (supervisors) earn AUD $28.12/hour. Level 3 managers earn AUD $28.55–$28.90/hour depending on how many staff they supervise. Junior rates apply for workers under 21, ranging from 40% (under 16) to 90% (age 20) of the adult Level 1 rate. These rates are set under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (MA000003).

• How much redundancy pay am I entitled to under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020?

  The Fast Food Industry Award 2020 does not provide any redundancy pay above the NES minimum under Fair Work Act 2009 Schedule 4. Entitlements range from 4 weeks' pay for 1 year of service up to a maximum of 12 weeks' pay (capped) for 10+ years of service. Casual employees are not entitled to redundancy pay. Small business employers (fewer than 15 employees) are exempt from the NES redundancy obligation.

• How many days annual leave do fast food workers get?

  Full-time fast food workers are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year under the National Employment Standards (NES). Part-time workers accrue leave on a pro-rata basis. The Fast Food Industry Award 2020 provides a leave loading of 17.5% of the ordinary rate, or the applicable penalty rate for the period, whichever is higher. Casual employees do not receive paid annual leave.

• What is the notice period under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020?

  The Fast Food Industry Award 2020 does not provide notice periods above the NES minimum under Fair Work Act 2009 s.117. Minimum notice ranges from 1 week (less than 1 year of service) to 4 weeks (5+ years of service). Employees aged 45 or over with at least 2 years of continuous service are entitled to an extra 1 week on top of the standard notice period.

• How much superannuation does my fast food employer have to pay?

  From 1 July 2025, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings to your nominated superannuation fund under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. The Fast Food Industry Award 2020 does not provide any super contributions above this statutory minimum. You are entitled to choose your own complying super fund under Fair Work Act 2009 s.149A.

• Does the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 provide casual loading?

  Yes. Casual employees under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 receive a 25% casual loading on top of their base hourly rate under NES s.67B (effective 26 August 2022). This loading compensates for the lack of paid leave entitlements and job security. A Level 1 casual worker earns AUD $33.19/hour ($26.55 × 1.25) on ordinary weekday hours from 1 July 2025.

• What are the Sunday penalty rates under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020?

  Sunday penalty rates under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 depend on your classification level. Level 1 workers (full-time/part-time) earn 125% of their base rate on Sundays. Level 2 and Level 3 workers earn 150%. Casual employees receive an additional 25% on top of these rates — so a Level 1 casual earns 150% and a Level 2–3 casual earns 175% on Sundays.

• What is the minimum wage for fast food workers in Australia in 2025-26?

  Under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020, the minimum wage for adult workers from 1 July 2025 is AUD $26.55/hour (Level 1), which is above the National Minimum Wage. Junior workers under 21 earn age-based percentages of the adult Level 1 rate. For example, a 17-year-old earns AUD $15.93/hour (60% of adult Level 1) and a 20-year-old earns AUD $23.90/hour (90% of adult Level 1).

• Can I be made redundant as a casual employee under the Fast Food Industry Award?

  Casual employees generally cannot claim genuine redundancy pay under the Fast Food Industry Award 2020, as casual engagements do not involve ongoing guaranteed employment. However, if you are a long-term casual employee (employed on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months), you may be able to access unfair dismissal protections if your employment is terminated. Contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 1300 724 690 for advice.

• How do long service leave entitlements work for fast food workers?

  Long service leave is set by state and territory legislation, not the Fast Food Industry Award. Qualifying periods range from 7 years (VIC, ACT) to 10 years (NSW, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT). Entitlements range from 6.067 weeks (VIC, ACT) to 13 weeks (SA, NT) after the qualifying period. Use the Long Service Leave tab in the calculator above to estimate your entitlement based on your state and years of service.