Australia continues to have a large hospitality industry, creating employment opportunities for qualified chefs, cooks and other kitchen professionals.
For overseas workers, Australia can also offer employer-sponsored pathways in the hospitality sector. In particular, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs has arrangements that can allow eligible employers to sponsor skilled overseas hospitality workers, including chefs and cooks, under certain visa and labour-agreement arrangements.
However, applicants should understand that a job advertisement does not automatically mean visa sponsorship. The employer, occupation, salary, qualifications, experience and visa requirements all need to be checked before applying.
This guide explains the current salary levels, demand, sponsorship options, requirements and legal application process for cooks and chefs who want to work in Australia in 2026.
Are Chefs and Cooks in Demand in Australia?
Chefs are a significant occupation within Australia’s accommodation and food-services industry.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, approximately 133,400 people are employed as chefs in Australia. The occupation recorded annual employment growth of around 6,100 workers in the latest available profile.
Chefs are employed across Australia’s hospitality industry, particularly in accommodation and food services.
Jobs and Skills Australia’s industry data also lists chefs among the largest employing occupations in Australia’s Accommodation and Food Services industry.
Cooks are also employed across several industries, including:
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Retail Trade
This means opportunities are not limited to traditional restaurants. Cooks can also work in hotels, aged-care facilities, hospitals, catering businesses, cafés and other food-service operations.
Chef vs Cook: What Is the Difference?
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, Australian occupation classifications distinguish between chefs and cooks.
Chef
A chef generally has responsibilities such as:
- Planning menus
- Estimating food and labour costs
- Ordering food supplies
- Preparing and cooking food
- Monitoring food quality
- Managing kitchen procedures
- Training or supervising kitchen staff
- Maintaining food-safety standards
Jobs and Skills Australia classifies chefs under ANZSCO 3513.
Cook
Cooks prepare and cook food according to menus, recipes and workplace procedures.
They can work in:
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Cafés
- Hospitals
- Aged-care facilities
- Catering businesses
- Retail food businesses
Jobs and Skills Australia classifies cooks under ANZSCO 3514.
How Much Do Chefs Earn in Australia?
According to the latest Jobs and Skills Australia profile using ABS May 2025 earnings data, chefs have median full-time earnings of approximately AUD $1,423 per week before tax.
The median hourly earnings figure is AUD $37 per hour, while chefs working full-time average approximately 43 hours per week.
If the weekly median is annualised:
AUD $1,423 × 52 = approximately AUD $73,996 per year
This is an annualised calculation, not a guaranteed salary.
Actual salary can be higher or lower depending on experience, location, employer, position, overtime and other employment conditions.
How Much Do Cooks Earn in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest profile reports median full-time earnings for cooks of approximately AUD $1,432 per week before tax.
The median hourly earnings figure is also approximately AUD $37 per hour, with full-time cooks averaging about 42 hours per week.
Annualising the weekly figure gives:
AUD $1,432 × 52 = approximately AUD $74,464 per year
Again, this is a statistical calculation rather than a guaranteed salary.
Australia Chef and Cook Salary Chart
The following chart uses the Australian Government’s reported median weekly earnings and converts them into approximate annual figures.
| Occupation | Median hourly earnings | Median weekly earnings | Approx. annualised earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chef | AUD $37 | AUD $1,423 | AUD $73,996 |
| Cook | AUD $37 | AUD $1,432 | AUD $74,464 |
Can Chefs and Cooks Get Visa Sponsorship in Australia?
Yes, there are employer-sponsored pathways that can apply to eligible hospitality workers.
One important pathway is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
The Department of Home Affairs explains that this visa allows an approved employer to sponsor a suitably skilled worker for a position where the employer cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. The visa can allow the worker to stay in Australia for up to four years, depending on the stream and circumstances.
Chef and Cook are also included in Australia’s current Core Skills Occupation List, with:
- Chef — ANZSCO 351311
- Cook — ANZSCO 351411
The official Core Skills Occupation List includes both occupations.
This does not mean every chef or cook automatically qualifies for a 482 visa. The applicant must meet the applicable requirements and have an approved sponsor and eligible nominated position.
Restaurant Industry Labour Agreement
Australia also has a specific Restaurant (premium dining) Industry Labour Agreement.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, this agreement can allow eligible premium-quality dining restaurants to sponsor skilled overseas hospitality workers, including chefs and cooks, under specified arrangements. It can be associated with:
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494)
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), subject to the agreement’s transition requirements
The department states that chefs and cooks can potentially transition to permanent residence after the specified period under the agreement, subject to the applicable requirements.
This is particularly relevant for overseas hospitality professionals looking for an employer-sponsored route.
Salary Requirement for Employer Sponsorship
One of the most important points for applicants is the salary requirement.
For Skills in Demand subclass 482 Core Skills nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD $79,423.
The employer must also meet the applicable Annual Market Salary Rate requirements. The overseas worker generally cannot be paid less than an Australian worker doing equivalent work, subject to the applicable rules.
This means an overseas chef or cook should not assume that a normal AUD $50,000–$60,000 restaurant job automatically qualifies for 482 sponsorship.
The nominated position and salary must meet the immigration requirements applicable to the specific visa and sponsorship arrangement.
Labour agreements can have their own terms and concessions, so applicants should check the exact agreement and visa pathway rather than relying on a generic salary figure.
English Requirements
English-language requirements can apply to the Skills in Demand visa.
For the premium dining Restaurant Industry Labour Agreement, the Department of Home Affairs specifies English requirements for sponsored workers on the subclass 482 pathway. For example, the agreement states an overall IELTS score of at least 5.0, with specified minimum component scores, or an equivalent accepted English test.
Other exemptions or English rules can apply depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants should therefore check the exact requirements for their visa rather than assuming that one English score applies to everyone.
What Qualifications and Experience Do You Need?
Requirements depend on the occupation, employer and visa pathway.
A strong chef or cook application can include:
- Hospitality qualification
- Commercial kitchen experience
- Professional chef/cook experience
- Food-safety knowledge
- Menu preparation experience
- Knowledge of kitchen equipment
- Previous employment references
- English-language ability
- Relevant skills assessment where required
For subclass 482 Core Skills applications, the Department of Home Affairs states that applicants generally need at least one year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, in addition to the other requirements.
How to Apply for Australian Chef or Cook Jobs
Step 1: Prepare Your CV
Create an Australian-style English CV.
Include:
- Full name
- Contact details
- Professional summary
- Chef/cook position
- Years of experience
- Previous employers
- Restaurant/hotel experience
- Cuisine specialties
- Qualifications
- Food-safety training
- References
If you have experience in specific cuisines, mention it clearly.
For example:
Indian Cuisine | Pakistani Cuisine | Chinese Cuisine | Continental | Italian | Arabic | Asian Fusion
Only list cuisines you genuinely have professional experience preparing.
Step 2: Collect Your Documents
Prepare digital copies of:
- Passport
- CV
- Hospitality certificates
- Experience letters
- Employment references
- Food-safety certificates
- English test results if required
- Skills-assessment documents if applicable
Make sure the names and employment dates are consistent across your documents.
Step 3: Search for Australian Employers
Look for:
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Catering companies
- Aged-care providers
- Hospitals
- Hospitality groups
- Regional restaurants
Search for terms such as:
Chef jobs Australia sponsorship
Cook jobs Australia sponsorship
Chef 482 sponsorship
Cook 482 sponsorship
Chef labour agreement Australia
Regional chef jobs Australia
Do not assume that an advertisement mentioning “visa sponsorship” is genuine. Verify the employer and the actual position.
Step 4: Apply Directly
Send your CV through the employer’s official careers page or the application method specified in the job advertisement.
Your application should clearly state:
- Your current location
- Your professional experience
- Your qualification
- Your cuisine specialties
- Your English ability
- Your willingness to relocate
- Your interest in employer sponsorship
Step 5: Attend the Interview
The employer may conduct a video interview.
Expect questions about:
- Kitchen experience
- Menu planning
- Food preparation
- Food safety
- Kitchen management
- Staff supervision
- Cuisine specialties
- Working under pressure
- Availability
- Salary expectations
Some employers may also conduct practical assessments.
Step 6: Employer Sponsorship
If an employer selects you and is willing to sponsor you, the employer must follow the applicable sponsorship and nomination process.
For subclass 482, the employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate an eligible position. The applicant must also meet the visa’s skills, English and other requirements.
The employer and worker should follow the official Department of Home Affairs process.
Step 7: Lodge the Visa Application
After the required nomination and supporting steps are completed, the worker can proceed with the relevant visa application.
Do not work in Australia until you have the appropriate work rights.
Your visa conditions should be checked carefully before beginning employment.
Which Australian States Have Many Chef Jobs?
Chefs are employed across Australia.
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that chef employment is distributed particularly across:
- New South Wales — 30.1%
- Victoria — 27.1%
- Queensland — 20.9%
- Western Australia — 11.3%
- South Australia — 5.4%
- Tasmania — 2.1%
- Northern Territory — 1.5%
- Australian Capital Territory — 1.8%
These figures describe the distribution of employed chefs, not the percentage of current vacancies.
Regional areas can also be relevant because regional employer-sponsored pathways may provide access to occupations and arrangements that differ from metropolitan options. Australia’s Home Affairs department notes that regional migration programs can provide access to a broader range of occupations.
Why Regional Australia Can Be Worth Considering
Applicants often focus only on Sydney or Melbourne.
However, hospitality jobs also exist in regional towns, resorts and tourism areas.
A regional employer may have difficulty finding suitable local workers and may therefore consider overseas recruitment where the relevant visa and sponsorship requirements are satisfied.
Applicants should therefore search nationally rather than restricting themselves to Australia’s largest cities.
How to Avoid Chef Job and Visa Scams
International hospitality workers should be particularly careful with agents and recruiters.
Be suspicious of anyone promising:
“Guaranteed Australia chef visa.”
“Pay us and your sponsorship is guaranteed.”
“Australia will give you a free job and visa.”
“No experience required but salary is AUD $100,000.”
“Pay the employer directly for sponsorship.”
A legitimate job should have a genuine employer, a genuine position, clear employment terms and a legal immigration pathway.
Australian immigration and sponsorship rules also contain requirements designed to ensure overseas workers are not paid less than Australian workers in equivalent roles.
What Salary Should You Look For?
Based on current government earnings data, approximately AUD $37/hour is the median hourly earnings figure reported for both chefs and cooks.
The median full-time weekly earnings figures are approximately AUD $1,423 for chefs and AUD $1,432 for cooks.
For a sponsorship-focused job search, however, applicants should look beyond salary alone.
Check:
- Guaranteed annual salary
- Weekly hours
- Overtime
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Superannuation
- Location
- Visa pathway
- Employer sponsorship
- Contract length
- Career progression
A higher salary is not automatically a better employment package if the cost of living is significantly higher.
Final Checklist for Overseas Chefs and Cooks
Before accepting an Australian job, verify:
- Is the employer genuine?
- Is the restaurant or hospitality business legitimate?
- Is the job actually available?
- Does the employer sponsor overseas workers?
- Which visa pathway applies?
- Is the occupation eligible?
- Does the salary meet the applicable visa requirements?
- Do you have the required experience?
- Do you meet the English requirements?
- Is a skills assessment required?
- Is the job regional?
- What are the working hours?
- What is the overtime arrangement?
- Is accommodation included?
- Are all employment terms in writing?
Conclusion
Australia remains an important market for experienced chefs and cooks. Government labour-market data shows around 133,400 people employed as chefs, while chefs and cooks are both significant occupations within Australia’s accommodation and food-services industry.
Current government earnings data puts median full-time weekly earnings at around AUD $1,423 for chefs and AUD $1,432 for cooks, equivalent to roughly AUD $74,000 per year when simply annualised.
For overseas workers, the opportunity is particularly relevant because Chef (351311) and Cook (351411) are included in Australia’s Core Skills Occupation List, while the premium-dining Restaurant Industry Labour Agreement provides an additional employer-sponsored framework for eligible hospitality businesses.
The most important step is to find a genuine employer first and then determine which visa pathway applies.
Applicants should never assume that every chef or cook vacancy offers sponsorship, and they should never pay an unverified agent simply because someone promises a guaranteed Australian visa.
For the latest rules, salary thresholds and sponsorship requirements, applicants should always check the official Australian Department of Home Affairs and Jobs and Skills Australia information before applying.