Where does an NDIS support worker salary sit?
If you are an NDIS support worker, your pay is likely set by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) or an enterprise agreement. The award provides minimum hourly rates that vary by classification. For a home care employee at Level 2 (home carer), the minimum is $34.42 per hour from 1 December 2026, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide. A qualified worker at Level 3 earns $36.23 per hour, and more senior roles such as Level 5 pay point 2 reach $40.58 per hour.
These award rates are the legal floor. Many NDIS support workers earn above the minimum, especially if they have experience or qualifications. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the median hourly total cash earnings for community and personal service workers was **$41.20 per hour in May 2025. That median is a useful benchmark for a typical NDIS support worker.
The national full-time average reference
The site’s reference is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average: $2,083.70 per week or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). This is the line that all salaries on this site are measured against. For a 38-hour week, that works out to $54.83 per hour.
A support worker on the award minimum of $34.42 per hour earns about 63% of the national average. Even at the median hourly rate of $41.20, the weekly pay of $1,565.60 is still 25% below the average. This gap reflects the fact that community and personal service workers are among the lower-paid occupations in Australia.
A take-home pay sketch
To see how these figures translate into actual income, consider a single resident with no dependents claiming the tax-free threshold. Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy), here are approximate annual take-home amounts:
- Award minimum ($68,014): Tax ~$10,492, Medicare ~$1,360, take-home ~$56,162.
- Median hourly ($81,411): Tax ~$13,734, Medicare ~$1,628, take-home ~$66,049.
- National average ($108,352): Tax ~$22,773, Medicare ~$2,167, take-home ~$83,412.
These are rough estimates. Actual take-home pay will vary with deductions, HELP repayments, and other factors. The point is that an NDIS support worker on award rates takes home significantly less than the average worker.
How the figures are set
The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which is published twice a year (May and November). The May 2026 figure is used here. Medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025). Award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review and published by the Fair Work Ombudsman. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 a year on a 38-hour week.
For more detail on how these benchmarks are calculated, see How the figures are set. You can also Place a salary on the line to see how any income compares to the national average.
State comparisons
If you work in different states, the full-time average varies. For example, the average in New South Wales is about $109,658 a year, in Victoria $106,137, and in Western Australia $115,825. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest average at $119,090. These differences reflect local labour markets and industry mix. See States and territories for more.
The bottom line
An NDIS support worker salary is typically below the national full-time average, but the award provides a solid minimum. With experience and qualifications, many workers earn above the award rate. The median hourly rate for the occupation group suggests typical pay is around $41 per hour, still below the average but a meaningful step up from the minimum.