Disability support worker pay under the SCHADS Award
A disability support worker in Australia is covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award). The Fair Work pay guide published on 18 September 2026 sets minimum rates that apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026. For a disability support worker at Level 2 pay point 1, the hourly rate is $33.19, which translates to $1,261.10 per week on a 38-hour week, or about $65,577 per year. Higher classifications, such as Level 3 pay point 1 at $33.87 per hour, or Level 4 at $36.95, reflect increased responsibility or qualifications.
How this compares to the national full-time average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. This is the line used by Average line. A disability support worker on the minimum award rate earns roughly 60% of that average. The full-time median is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year. The award rate for disability support workers is above the national minimum, reflecting the specialised nature of the work.
A resident take-home sketch
For a single resident with no dependents, the 2026-27 tax rates apply: nil up to $18,200, 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, 45% above. Medicare levy is 2% before reductions. On $65,597 per year, tax is about $9,517 plus Medicare $1,312, leaving about $54,748 per year, about $1,053 per week. This is a rough estimate. Actual take-home for the average $108,352 is about $79,200 after tax and Medicare, leaving about $73,200 per year.
State and territory comparisons
State full-time averages vary: New South Wales about $109,658, Victoria about $106,137, Queensland about $106,064, South Australia about $102,450, Western Australia about $115,825, Tasmania about $96,008, Northern Territory about $103,173, Australian Capital Territory about $119,090. A disability support worker on the award minimum would be below all state averages.
Where to find more information
For more on how the figures set, see How the figures are set. For state averages, see States and territories. For median by occupation, see Job medians. For industry median by industry, see Industry medians. For guides, see Guides. To place a salary on the line, see Place a salary on the line. About this site, see About this site.
Conclusion
The disability support worker salary under award minimum is about $65,577 per year, well below the national full-time average of $108,352. The take-home after tax and Medicare for a single resident is about $54,748 per year. Actual pay may be higher due to enterprise agreements or individual arrangements.