Youth Worker Salary in Australia: Award Rates, Minimum Pay, and What You Need to Know

Youth Worker Salary: What the Search Term Really Means

When someone searches for "youth worker salary" in Australia, they usually want to know the minimum they can expect to be paid. The answer is not a single number—it depends on the award classification, experience, and employer. The legal minimum for most youth workers is set by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award), which covers employees in social and community services, including youth work.

The Legal Minimum Under the SCHADS Award

The SCHADS Award classifies youth workers under Social and Community Services Employee levels. For a Level 2 employee at pay point 1 (entry-level), the minimum weekly wage after the Equal Remuneration Order is $1,376.49 per week, or $36.22 per hour. This rate applies from 1 July 2026. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $45.28 per hour. All rates are before tax, and employers must pay 12% superannuation on top.

These award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and enforced by the Fair Work Ombudsman. They are higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, which only applies to award-free employees.

Separating the Legal Minimum from Other Figures

• Award rate: The legal floor under SCHADS—$36.22/h for Level 2.1.
• Survey average: The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes average earnings for all employees (e.g., $1,579.20 per week in May 2026), but does not provide a dedicated "youth worker" figure. Some industry surveys may exist, but we rely on the award as the authoritative minimum.
• Negotiated salary: Some employers, especially in non-government organisations, pay above the award. Enterprise agreements can also set higher rates, but never lower.

Superannuation: An Employer Payment on Top

Whenever discussing pay, remember that superannuation is an additional cost for employers. The current Super Guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So for a youth worker earning $36.22 per hour, the employer must also contribute $4.35 per hour to a super fund. This is not deducted from the employee's gross pay.

When the National Minimum Wage Applies

The SCHADS Award covers most youth workers in the national system. If you are a youth worker in a state public sector or local government in Western Australia, a state award may apply instead. Always check your specific coverage. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Which minimum wage applies can help.

Common Misunderstandings

A frequent mix-up is confusing the national minimum wage with the award rate. If you are covered by SCHADS, your minimum is the award rate—not the national minimum is only a backstop for award-free workers. Also, junior rates (for employees under 21) under the award may differ from the award's own junior schedule. For award-free youth workers, the national junior percentages (e.g., $12.51/h for a 16-year-old) do not apply if the award has its own rates.

How to Find Your Exact Rate

Use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool or check the SCHADS Award classification definitions. The award has multiple pay points within each level. For example, Level 2 has four pay points, each with increasing minimums. The rates are updated annually on 1 July.

For more details, see our Rate tables and Topics pages.

Three Key Takeaways

1. The legal minimum for a youth worker under SCHADS is $36.22 per hour (Level 2.1) as of July 2026.
2. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top by the employer.
3. Always verify your classification and any applicable allowances or penalty rates.