Understanding the support worker salary floor in Australia

Understanding the support worker salary floor in Australia

When researching a support worker salary in Australia, the first step is to identify the correct pay floor. Support workers are employed across disability services, aged care, community health, and residential care. The minimum rate they must receive depends on whether they are covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement, or are award-free. This guide explains the legal minimums and how they compare to typical award rates.

National minimum wage as the backstop

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week. This is the absolute minimum for award‑free employees who are not juniors, apprentices, or trainees. For casual award‑free employees, the rate is $33.05 per hour (including the 25% casual loading).

However, most support workers are covered by a modern award, which almost always sets a higher minimum rate. The national minimum wage acts as a safety net: no adult award classification can fall below it, but awards typically exceed it.

Award coverage for support workers

Two major awards cover support worker roles:

• Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award) – applies to disability support workers, home care workers, and community service employees.
• Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 – applies to support services employees in health settings, such as hospital cleaners, kitchen staff, and some patient support roles.

Each award contains multiple classification levels with different minimum rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for each award that list the current minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates.

Health Professionals and Support Services Award example

For support services employees under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award (excluding dental assistants and pathology collectors), the minimum weekly rates from 1 October 2026 are:

• Level 1: $1,024.70 per week ($26.97/h)
• Level 2: $1,065.20 per week ($28.03/h)
• Level 3: $1,106.20 per week ($29.11/h)
• Level 4: $1,119.10 per week ($29.45/h)
• Level 5: $1,157.20 per week ($30.45/h)
• Level 6: $1,219.50 per week ($32.09/h)
• Level 7: $1,241.40 per week ($32.67/h)
• Level 8 (pay point 1): $1,283.50 per week ($33.78/h)
• Level 9 (pay point 1): $1,435.00 per week ($37.76/h)

These rates are higher than the national minimum wage. The classification level depends on the duties, qualifications, and experience of the support worker. For example, a support worker performing basic cleaning and assistance would likely be Level 1 or 2, while a more experienced worker with supervisory duties could be Level 4 or above.

SCHADS Award changes from December 2026

For disability support workers covered by the SCHADS Award, the Fair Work Ombudsman has announced that from 1 December 2026, home care disability employees will receive an initial increase of up to 15% to their minimum award rates. This follows a broader work value case. The exact new rates are not yet published in the search results, but the increase will lift the minimum pay floor significantly. Workers and employers should check the SCHADS Award pay guide on the Fair Work Ombudsman website for the updated figures.

Casual loading and junior rates

Support workers employed casually receive a loading on top of the minimum hourly rate. Under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, the casual loading is 25% (included in the rates shown above for casual employees). Under the SCHADS Award, the casual loading is also typically 25%, but may vary for certain hours.

Junior support workers (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate. For award‑free juniors, the percentages from 1 July 2026 are:

• Under 16: 36.8% ($9.73/h, casual $12.16/h)
• 16: 47.3% ($12.51/h, casual $15.64/h)
• 17: 57.8% ($15.29/h, casual $19.11/h)
• 18: 68.3% ($18.06/h, casual $22.58/h)
• 19: 82.5% ($21.82/h, casual $27.28/h)
• 20: 97.7% ($25.84/h, casual $32.30/h)
• 21 and over: 100% ($26.44/h, casual $33.05/h)

Awards may have their own junior percentage tables, which can differ from the award‑free rates. Always check the applicable award.

Superannuation on top

All minimum rates discussed are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings (including casual loadings). This is an additional cost for the employer and an important part of the total support worker salary package.

How to find the right rate

Because the term “support worker” covers many roles, the best way to determine the correct minimum rate is to:

1. Identify the modern award that covers the job (use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Which minimum wage applies tool).
2. Find the classification level that matches the duties and qualifications.
3. Check the award’s pay guide or the Rate tables on this site for the current minimum.
4. Remember that an enterprise agreement can set a higher rate than the award, but never lower.

If no award applies and no agreement exists, the national minimum wage is the floor. However, this is rare for support workers, as most are covered by either the SCHADS Award or the Health Professionals and Support Services Award.

Summary

The support worker salary in Australia is not a single figure. The legal minimum ranges from the national minimum wage of $26.44/h up to award rates that can exceed $37/h for higher‑level roles. Casual loading, junior percentages, and superannuation must all be factored in. For the most accurate and up‑to‑date information, always refer to the relevant award and the Fair Work Ombudsman’s resources.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.