Despite recent slow wages growth in Australia, our wages and conditions — fought for over many decades by the Australian union movement — continue to be some of the best in the world.
As you can see from the tables on this page, in countries where the retail and fast food industries are less unionised and there are fewer government protections, their wages are well below those that we enjoy in this country.
Without your Union, you would most probably be receiving similar remuneration.
It pays to belong to the SDA.
FAST FOOD WAGE RATES – AUSTRALIA AND OVERSEAS
| Country |
Rate per hour (in Australian dollars) |
|---|---|
| AUSTRALIA | |
| Fast Food Industry Award | $18.99 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Fast Food Worker | |
| £7.20 per hour (for all workers aged 25 and over) | $13.81 |
| £6.70 per hour (for all workers aged 21 to 24) | $12.86 |
| £5.30 per hour (for all workers aged 18 to 20) | $10.17 |
| NEW ZEALAND | |
| Fast Food Worker – NZ$15.25 | $14.55 |
| USA | |
| No minimum – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee | 0 |
| Lowest - Georgia and Wyoming US$5.15 per hour | $6.99 |
| Highest - District of Columbia US$10.50 per hour | $14.24 |
| Median Average Wage (Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |
| Fast Food – US$9.17 | $12.44 |
| CANADA | |
| Lowest - British Columbia C$10.45 per hour | $11.02 |
| Median - Manitoba C$11.00 per hour | $11.60 |
| Highest - Nunavut C$13.00 per hour | $13.71 |
| Median Average Wage(from Payscale) | |
| Fast Food Worker – C$10.65 | $11.23 |
RETAIL WAGES – AUSTRALIA AND OVERSEAS
| Country |
Rate per hour (in Australian dollars) |
|---|---|
| AUSTRALIA | |
| General Retail Industry Award | $18.99 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Retail Sales Assistant | |
| £7.20 per hour (for all workers aged 25 and over) | $13.81 |
| £6.70 per hour (for all workers aged 21 to 24) | $12.86 |
| £5.30 per hour (for all workers aged 18 to 20) | $10.17 |
| NEW ZEALAND | |
| Grocery Assistant – NZ$15.25 | $14.55 |
| USA | |
| No minimum – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee | 0 |
| Lowest - Georgia and Wyoming US$5.15 per hour | $6.99 |
| Highest - District of Columbia US$10.50 per hour | $14.24 |
| Median Average Wage (Bureau of Labor Statistics) | |
| Retail Salespersons – US$10.47 | $14.21 |
| CANADA | |
| Lowest - British Columbia C$10.45 per hour | $11.02 |
| Median - Manitoba C$11.00 per hour | $11.60 |
| Highest - Nunavut C$13.00 per hour | $13.71 |
| Median Average Wage(from Payscale) | |
| Retail Sales Assistant – C$11.53 | $12.19 |