Aged care worker salary: award minimums and the national average
When you search for an “aged care worker salary” in Australia, the most reliable public figures come from the Fair Work Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018). The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish a separate average for aged care workers, so the award minimums are the best starting point. This page shows those minimums as a year, a week and an hour, and compares them with the national full‑time average from the ABS.
Reading the same pay as a year, a week and an hour
The on‑site tool converts any salary into three views: a yearly figure before tax, a weekly amount (based on 52 weeks) and an hourly rate (based on a 38‑hour week, the standard under the award). For example, the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average is $2,083.70 a week, which works out to about $108,352 a year and about $54.83 an hour. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week and about $52,255 a year.
Award minimums for aged care workers
The Aged Care Award covers general employees, direct care employees and senior food services employees. The minimum weekly wages from 1 September 2026 are:
- General employees (levels 1–7): $1,055.40 to $1,278.60 a week
- Direct care employees (levels 1–6): $1,239.00 to $1,541.90 a week
- Senior food services employees (levels 4–7): $1,287.00 to $1,427.50 a week
The most common classification is Aged care employee – direct care – level 2 – Direct Carer, with a minimum weekly wage of $1,307.80. That equals about $34.42 an hour and about $68,005 a year. Even the highest direct care level (Team Leader at $1,541.90 a week) is well below the national full‑time average of $2,083.70.
How the figures are set
Fair Work Australia sets these minimums through the annual wage review. The 2026 increase was 4.75% for award rates. The ABS collects average weekly earnings from a survey of employers, not from awards. The national average includes all industries and all full‑time adults, so it reflects higher‑paid sectors like mining and professional services. How the figures are set explains the difference between averages, medians and minimums.
State and territory comparisons
The national full‑time average hides big differences between states. For example, Western Australia’s average is about $115,825 a year, while Tasmania’s is about $96,008. An aged care worker on the award minimum would earn less than the state average in every jurisdiction. States and territories shows the full list.
What the award minimums mean in practice
Many aged care workers are paid above the award, especially in unionised workplaces or through enterprise agreements. But the award remains the legal floor. If you are an aged care employee, your pay must be at least the rate for your classification. You can check your classification using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool. The figures here are before tax; the 2026–27 tax rates start at nil for income up to $18,200, then 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000 and 45% above that, plus the 2% Medicare levy.
Where to go next
If you want to see how any salary compares with the national line, Place a salary on the line. For industry‑specific medians, see Industry medians. The ABS publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year, in May and November. The next release is for November 2026.