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SCHADS Level 4 Salary: Award Rates and Pay Floors Explained

The SCHADS Level 4 salary ranges from $46.70 per hour (pay point 1) to $50.25 per hour (pay point 4) as of 1 July 2026, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44.

What is the SCHADS Level 4 salary?

The term "SCHADS Level 4 salary" refers to the minimum pay rate for a Level 4 employee under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award). This award covers workers in social and community services, home care, and disability services. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that sets out the minimum rates for each classification.

As of the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the SCHADS Level 4 salary ranges from $46.70 per hour (pay point 1) to $50.25 per hour (pay point 4). The weekly rate for a full-time employee (38 ordinary hours) is between $1,774.74 and $1,909.51. These rates are higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, reflecting the skilled nature of community service work.

How the SCHADS Level 4 salary compares to other pay floors

The SCHADS Level 4 salary is a modern award minimum. It applies to employees whose employer is covered by the award and who are classified at Level 4. The award also has lower levels (Level 1 to 3) and higher levels (Level 5 to 7). The national minimum wage is a backstop: no award rate can fall below it, but award rates are typically higher.

For award-free employees (those not covered by any award or agreement), the national minimum wage applies. For juniors, the rates are a percentage of the adult minimum. For example, a 16-year-old award-free worker receives $12.51 per hour. The SCHADS Level 4 salary is well above these floors.

What about enterprise agreements?

An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate than the SCHADS award minimum. If your employer has a registered agreement, you may receive a SCHADS Level 4 salary above $46.70 per hour. The agreement must pass the better off overall test. Always check your pay slip and compare with the award rate.

Super guarantee on top

Employers must pay super guarantee of 12% on ordinary time earnings. For a SCHADS Level 4 employee on pay point 1, that means an additional $5.60 per hour contributed to super. This is not part of the quoted hourly rate. The Fair Work Ombudsman and the ATO both confirm super is on top.

Upcoming changes from December 2026

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 may affect some Level 4 employees in home care roles. The Fair Work Commission has announced these changes. Check the award for full details.

How the figures work

The rates in this guide come from the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the SCHADS Award, effective 1 July 2026. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage and modern award rates through annual wage reviews. The ABS May 2026 data shows full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, which is higher than the SCHADS Level 4 weekly rate of $1,774.74. This reflects that many community sector workers are paid below the all-industries average, though award rates have increased significantly in recent years.

For more detailed rate tables, see our Rate tables page. To understand how we calculate comparisons, read How the figures work.

Important notes

This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. The SCHADS Level 4 salary is a minimum; your actual pay may be higher if you have a more senior classification, an enterprise agreement, or individual contract. Always check your award coverage and classification with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Questions people ask next

What is the SCHADS Level 4 salary under the award?

Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS), Level 4 employees are paid between $46.70 and $50.25 per hour depending on their pay point (1 to 4). These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, as published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The weekly equivalent ranges from $1,774.74 to $1,909.51 for a 38-hour week. Casual employees also receive a 25% casual loading, making the hourly rate between $58.38 to $62.81. Super guarantee of 12% is paid on top of ordinary time earnings.

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for a full-time employee. The SCHADS Level 4 salary is significantly higher, starting at $46.70 per hour. The award rate is a legal minimum and cannot be less than the national minimum, but an enterprise agreement or individual agreement can require a higher rate. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, introductory award rates, supported wages can be lower. For example, a 20-year-old award-free junior would receive $25.84 per hour, still below SCHADS Level 4. The SCHADS rate is a classification minimum; workers may receive more if their employer applies a higher pay point or an enterprise agreement.

How does the SCHADS Level 4 salary compare to the national minimum wage?

Does the super guarantee apply to the SCHADS Level 4 salary?

Yes. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid by the employer on top of the hourly or weekly rate. For a SCHADS Level 4 employee on pay point 1 ($46.70 per hour), the employer must contribute an additional $5.60 per hour to super. This is not deducted from the wage. The award rate itself does not include super.

Related guides

  1. SCHADS Level 3 Salary: Award Rate and Minimum Pay Guide

    The SCHADS Award Level 3 minimum rate is $40.49 per hour ($1,538.59 per week) from 1 July 2026, well above the national minimum wage.

  2. SCHADS Level 5 Salary: Award Minimums and How They Compare

    The SCHADS Level 5 salary is set by the award; the exact rate is not published in this search, but the national minimum wage floor is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026.

  3. SCHADS Level 8 Salary: Award Minimums and How They Compare

    The SCHADS Award Level 8 minimum salary is not specified in the provided search results; the award sets minimum rates that vary by classification and date of effect.

  4. SCHADS Level 6 Salary: Award Minimum Rates from July 2026

    The SCHADS Award minimum for a Level 6 employee (full-time) is $58.37 per hour or $2,218.02 per week, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.