If you are looking for kitchen hand jobs in Australia, hospitality can be a practical way to enter the Australian workforce. Kitchen hands work behind the scenes in restaurants, cafés, hotels, pubs, catering businesses, hospitals and other food-service workplaces.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, around 149,500 people are employed as kitchenhands. The occupation has a high part-time share, with 79% of kitchenhands working part-time.
What Does a Kitchen Hand Do?
A kitchen hand supports chefs, cooks and other kitchen staff with everyday preparation and cleaning tasks. Typical duties include:
- Cleaning kitchens and food preparation areas
- Washing dishes, cooking equipment and utensils
- Preparing and assembling ingredients
- Weighing and checking food supplies
- Preparing simple salads, sandwiches and other food items
- Packing food for service
- Storing kitchen supplies correctly
- Keeping work areas clean and organised
These duties are consistent with the occupation profile published by Jobs and Skills Australia.
Where Can Kitchen Hands Work?
Kitchen hand positions are available across Australia’s hospitality and food-service sector. Common workplaces include:
- Restaurants
- Cafés
- Hotels and resorts
- Pubs and clubs
- Catering companies
- Aged-care facilities
- Hospitals
- Schools and institutions
- Fast-food and takeaway businesses
Jobs and Skills Australia lists kitchenhands among the major occupations employed in Australia’s Accommodation and Food Services industry.
Kitchen Hand Salary in Australia
The latest Jobs and Skills Australia profile reports median full-time earnings of approximately $1,292 per week before tax, based on May 2025 earnings data. The reported median hourly earnings are $33. These figures are statistical guides rather than guaranteed wages for every job, as actual pay can vary according to experience, employer, location, employment arrangement and applicable workplace conditions.
Part-time work is particularly common in this occupation, so applicants should check the hours, pay rate and employment conditions carefully when applying.
Skills Employers Look For
You do not necessarily need extensive professional experience to apply for entry-level kitchen hand positions. Employers commonly value:
- Good physical fitness and stamina
- Reliability and punctuality
- Ability to work quickly during busy periods
- Teamwork
- Good hygiene practices
- Attention to detail
- Willingness to learn
- Ability to follow instructions
- Basic food-preparation skills
Previous experience in a restaurant, café, hotel or catering environment can be an advantage, but entry-level opportunities may also suit people starting a hospitality career.
How to Find Kitchen Hand Jobs in Australia
When searching for jobs online, try keywords such as:
“Kitchen Hand Jobs Australia”, “Kitchenhand Jobs”, “Kitchen Assistant”, “Dishwasher Jobs”, “Kitchen Steward”, and “Hospitality Jobs.”
You can also search by city or state, for example:
- Kitchen hand jobs Sydney
- Kitchen hand jobs Melbourne
- Kitchen hand jobs Brisbane
- Kitchen hand jobs Perth
- Kitchen hand jobs Adelaide
- Kitchen hand jobs Gold Coast
- Kitchen hand jobs regional Australia
For applicants who are new to Australia, it is important to understand the work rights attached to their visa before accepting employment.
How to Prepare Your Resume
A kitchen hand resume should be simple and focused on practical skills. Highlight any experience involving:
- Food preparation
- Dishwashing
- Cleaning
- Kitchen equipment
- Food safety and hygiene
- Stock handling
- Hospitality
- Teamwork
- Working in fast-paced environments
If you have no previous kitchen experience, focus on transferable skills such as reliability, physical work experience, customer service, cleaning, teamwork and your willingness to learn.
Is Kitchen Hand Work a Good Starting Point?
For many people, kitchen hand work can provide valuable experience in the Australian hospitality industry. It can help workers learn professional kitchen procedures, food preparation, hygiene standards and workplace teamwork.
With experience, a kitchen hand may develop skills that can support progression into roles such as cook, chef, café worker or other hospitality positions. Jobs and Skills Australia also identifies chefs, cooks and café workers among occupations within the broader accommodation and food-services industry.
Final Thoughts
Kitchen hand jobs in Australia can be suitable for people looking for entry-level hospitality work, part-time employment or an opportunity to gain Australian workplace experience. The work can be physically demanding and fast-paced, but it can also provide useful skills and experience for a longer-term hospitality career.
Before applying, prepare a clear resume, check the job requirements, confirm your legal work rights and make sure you understand the advertised pay and employment conditions.
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia and Australian Bureau of Statistics data as reported in the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles.