In an industry known for its diverse working arrangements and beloved café culture, the Australian Tax Office (ATO) has released new data revealing the average taxable incomes of baristas, café workers, and hospitality managers across the country. These insights, sourced from the 2021-22 tax year, offer a snapshot of wages in Australia’s bustling café and restaurant sectors, where job types vary widely from casual shifts to full-time roles.
The ATO’s latest figures indicate that baristas in Australia earned an average taxable income of $30,465, while café workers averaged $26,367. It’s important to note, however, that these figures do not specify whether individuals were employed on a full-time, part-time, or casual basis—common distinctions in the hospitality industry that significantly impact annual earnings.
At the management level, café and restaurant managers reported an average taxable income of $54,449, suggesting a more stable, higher-income role in the industry. By contrast, the national average taxable income for Australians across all sectors stood at $72,327, with a median of $53,041—a useful context that highlights hospitality incomes are generally below the national average.
Income Disparities: Gender, Roles, and Hours Worked
Australia’s café sector appears to have a predominantly female workforce, with ATO data revealing that nearly three-quarters of baristas (28,512 out of 38,734) are women. Female baristas earned an average taxable income of $29,543, slightly lower than their male counterparts, who averaged $33,036. Similarly, among café workers, the average taxable income for women was $26,261, close to the $26,760 reported by male workers.
In café and restaurant management roles, a significant wage gap exists. Female managers averaged a taxable income of $49,067, whereas male managers earned $61,709 on average—a difference likely influenced by a range of factors, including hours worked, seniority, and regional variances in pay scales.
Hospitality Roles: Average Earnings by Position
The data highlights the diverse earning potential across roles in the hospitality industry. Bar attendants, for example, earned an average of $35,770—nearly $10,000 more than the average for drinks waiters, who brought in $26,934. These earnings reflect the various duties and potential hourly rates tied to each position, as well as possible tips and overtime.
The ATO’s statistics underline that while both genders are equally represented among Australia’s 66,161 bar attendants, men typically earned more ($37,070) than women ($34,513), mirroring a common trend of income disparity observed across the hospitality sector. Drinks waiters, on the other hand, are predominantly female (102,585 women to 35,562 men), with women averaging $26,442 compared to $28,351 for men.
Missing Data: Café Owners’ Incomes
One detail notably absent from the report is the average taxable income of café owners, whose earnings vary widely based on factors such as business scale, location, and operational costs. Given the variability in revenue and expenses, the income of café owners is likely more complex and could fall outside the scope of ATO’s general data reporting.
How Complete is the Data?
The ATO compiled these statistics based on individual income tax returns processed by October 31, 2023. While this dataset provides a strong indication of hospitality earnings, it may not capture the full spectrum, as not all tax returns may have been filed or processed by the cutoff date.
This insight into Australia’s café and hospitality sector illuminates the varied earnings potential within the industry, offering a window into the financial realities of roles ranging from barista to café manager. As café culture remains a key part of the Australian lifestyle, this latest data offers valuable perspective for industry professionals, job seekers, and policymakers alike, sparking further discussion on wages, gender gaps, and the overall economic standing of the hospitality workforce.
