Disability support worker salary: award minimums and what they mean
The minimum award rate for a disability support worker (home care disability level 2) is $1,096.60 per week ($28.86 per hour) as of 1 July 2026, with a 15% increase scheduled for December 2026.
Disability support worker salary under the SCHADS Award
If you are looking for the current disability support worker salary in Australia, the starting point is the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (the SCHADS Award). This award covers most employees in the disability support sector, including those providing personal care, domestic assistance, and lifestyle support to people with disabilities.
Minimum award rates from 1 July 2026
The Fair Work Commission sets the minimum weekly wages in the SCHADS Award. For a home care employee providing disability care at level 2, pay point 1, the minimum weekly wage is $1,096.60 as of 1 July 2026. This equates to $28.86 per hour for a full-time employee working 38 ordinary hours. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual hourly rate to $36.08.
These rates are higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour because the award includes additional minimums for the sector. The award also has an equal remuneration order (ERO) for social and community services employees, which adds 23% to the clause minimums for those classifications. However, the home care disability stream does not currently have the ERO applied.
How the award minimum compares with other benchmarks
The award minimum for a level 2 disability support worker is below the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimate of average weekly total earnings for all employees, which was $1,579.20 in May 2026. This gap reflects that the award rate is a legal floor, not a typical salary. Many employers pay above the award, and enterprise agreements can set higher rates.
It is important to distinguish between the legal minimum (the award rate), a survey average (such as from the ABS or industry surveys), and a negotiated salary. The award rate is the minimum an employer must pay, but actual salaries can be higher depending on experience, qualifications, and the employer's policies.
Casual loading and superannuation
When discussing a disability support worker salary, remember that casual employees receive a 25% loading instead of paid leave. The superannuation guarantee requires employers to contribute at least 12% of ordinary time earnings on top of the wage. For a full-time worker on the level 2 minimum, the employer must pay an additional $131.59 per week into super.
Future increases
The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced that from 1 December 2026, home care disability employees covered by the SCHADS Award will receive an initial increase of up to 15% to their minimum award rates. This means the level 2 rate could rise to approximately $1,261 per week ($33.18 per hour) from that date. Further changes to the award are scheduled from 1 October 2027.
What if the award does not apply?
Some disability support workers may be covered by an enterprise agreement or a state reference public sector award. In those cases, the applicable minimum may be different. Always check the specific instrument that covers your employment. If no award or agreement applies, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week) is the fallback, but this is rare in the disability sector.
For more details on how award rates are set and how to find your classification, see our Rate tables and Which minimum wage applies.
Understanding the figures
The rates quoted here are from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated SCHADS Award (MA000100) as amended to 1 September 2026. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides pay guides and tools to check your exact entitlement. Remember that the award minimum is a floor; your actual disability support worker salary may be higher.
For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.
Questions people ask next
What is the casual loading for a disability support worker under the SCHADS Award?
Casual employees are paid a loading of 25% on top of the minimum hourly rate. For a home care disability level 2 pay point 1, the casual hourly rate is $36.08 ($28.86 × 1.25). This loading is in lieu of paid leave entitlements.
How do I progress through pay points in the SCHADS Award?
Progression is not automatic. Employees may move to a higher pay point within their classification after 12 months of continuous employment at that level, provided they demonstrate the required competencies or experience as specified in the classification description.
Does superannuation guarantee apply to disability support workers?
Yes. Employers must make superannuation contributions of at least 12% of ordinary time earnings (as of 2026-27) on top of the minimum wage or salary. This is a separate payment and not included in the hourly or weekly rates shown.
Related guides
- Understanding the support worker salary floor in Australia
The minimum pay floor for support workers varies by award; the national minimum is $26.44/h, but many support workers are covered by awards with higher minimum rates.
- NDIS Support Worker Salary: Minimum Rates, Award Pay and Survey Averages
The legal minimum for an NDIS support worker is either the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) or the higher rate set by the SCHADS Award, with a 2020-21 survey average of $31.28 per hour.
- Aged Care Support Worker Salary: Award Minimums and What You Need to Know
The legal minimum for a direct care support worker under the Aged Care Award is $1,307.80 per week or $34.42 per hour, plus 12% superannuation.
- Social Worker Salary Guide: Award Rates, Minimum Pay, and Median Earnings
The minimum pay for a qualified social worker under the SCHADS Award is $1,616.71 per week ($42.55 per hour) plus 12% super, while the median full-time social worker salary is $2,172 per week ($57 per hour).