How to become a Sommelier
Advises customers and businesses on the matching of wine and other alcoholic beverages with food menu items.
Main tasks
- Curates and updates the wine list for the establishment
- Provides guidance to Chefs and kitchen staff on pairing wines and other alcoholic beverages with menu items
- Decants, presents and pours wines for customers
- Collaborates with vendors and suppliers on the procurement of specific beverages
- Keeps up to date on wines and other beverage releases and seasonal trends
- Tastes and evaluates new wines ensuring they meet the appropriate standards
- Trains front of house staff to ensure customers are recommended wines and other alcoholic beverages that match with food menu items
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Hospitality (SIT30622); Certificate III in Hospitality (Restaurant Front of House) (SIT30722); Certificate IV in Kitchen Management (SIT40521); Certificate III in Wine Industry Operations (FBP30921); Certificate II in Wine Industry Operations (FBP20521); Certificate I in Hospitality (SIT10222)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $69,992 a year
- About 126,500 people work in this job group now, and about 141,100 are projected by 2035. (+11.6%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Sommelier?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Hospitality; Certificate III in Hospitality (Restaurant Front of House).
How much does a Sommelier earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $69,992 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Sommelier a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 126,500 to about 141,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Sommelier?
Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Hospitality; Certificate III in Hospitality (Restaurant Front of House).
Will AI change the work of a Sommelier?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04