Age care worker salary: where does it sit?
Age care workers provide essential support to older and disabled Australians. Their pay is shaped by the award that covers the industry, the state or territory they work in, and whether they work full-time or part-time. The national full-time average – the line used on this site – is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. That figure comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026.
For age care workers, the most recent published median is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. The median full-time weekly earnings for an Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 4231) was $1,761. That works out to about $91,572 a year on a 38-hour week. That is roughly $16,780 below the national full-time average. The median hourly rate for the occupation was $46, compared with $47 for all occupations.
Age care work is heavily female-dominated – 73% of workers are women – and the median age is 41. Only 40% of workers in the occupation work full-time hours, compared with 69% across all jobs. That part-time share can pull down average weekly earnings when measured across all employees, but the full-time median gives a clearer picture for those in permanent roles.
Why awards matter
The pay floor for age care workers is set by the Aged Care Award 2010, which covers personal care workers, support workers, and other direct care roles. The award has multiple classification levels, from a Level 1 entry-level worker to more senior roles with additional responsibilities. From 1 July 2026, Fair Work increased all award minimum rates by 4.75%. That means the lowest rate in the award is now higher than the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, but still well below the national full-time average.
Because the award sets minimums, many employers pay above the award to attract and retain staff. Enterprise agreements can also lift pay. However, the median of $1,761 suggests that the typical full-time age care worker earns above the award minimum but still below the national average. The gap reflects the relatively lower pay in the care sector compared with industries like mining, professional services, or public administration.
Why states and territories move the figure
The national full-time average hides big differences between states. The ABS publishes state-level averages for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For May 2026, the figures were:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 per week (about $109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
An age care worker in Tasmania earning the national occupation median of $1,761 would be only about $85 below the Tasmanian full-time average. In the ACT, the same worker would be more than $500 below the territory average. That means the distance from the national line can feel very different depending on where you live.
State differences also reflect the mix of public and private sector employment. The public sector pays higher average earnings across the board – $2,263.10 per week for full-time ordinary-time earnings, compared with $2,034.10 in the private sector. Age care workers are more likely to be in the private sector (including not-for-profit providers), which may contribute to the gap.
How this site uses the line
Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares with the national full-time average. The site also shows the all-employees median ($74,100 a year) and the national minimum wage ($52,255) so you can see where you sit across the whole earnings distribution. The line is the ABS full-time average, not a median or a minimum. It is updated twice a year, in May and November.
States and territories gives the full breakdown of averages by location, so you can compare your state against the national figure. For age care workers, the state average may be a more relevant benchmark than the national one, especially if you work in a lower-wage state like Tasmania or South Australia.
Other factors that affect age care worker pay
Beyond awards and location, experience and qualifications matter. The Aged Care Award has higher rates for workers with a relevant certificate III or IV, and for those who have completed additional training. Shift loadings, weekend penalties, and public holiday rates can also lift weekly earnings. Part-time workers will see lower weekly totals, but their hourly rate should still meet the award minimum.
The gender composition of the workforce also plays a role. Women's full-time average earnings nationally are about $100,594 a year, compared with men's $113,412. Because age care is predominantly female, the occupation's median sits closer to the female average than the male average.
Summary
An age care worker's salary is influenced by the award classification, the state or territory, and whether the role is full-time or part-time. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a useful benchmark, but it is not the whole story. The median full-time age care worker earns about $91,572, which is below the line. However, in a lower-wage state like Tasmania, that gap narrows considerably. Understanding these nuances helps you see where your pay really sits.
How the figures are set explains the sources and methods behind the numbers. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey is the foundation, and the occupation medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey. Fair Work sets the minimum wage and award rates. All figures are before tax and include salary sacrifice.