Introduction
If you work in social or community services under the SCHADS award, you might be wondering how a Level 8 salary stacks up against the national full-time average. This article explains where the national line sits, how award rates are set, and why your actual pay can differ depending on your state or employer.
The national full-time average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. For May 2026, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that comes to about $108,352 per year. This is the figure this site uses as the line – the benchmark for comparing any salary.
It’s important to distinguish this average from medians. The full-time median is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The average is pulled higher by high earners, so most full-time workers earn less than $108,352.
SCHADS Level 8 and award rates
The SCHADS award covers social, community, home care and disability services. It has multiple levels, with Level 8 being a senior classification. The precise minimum rate for SCHADS Level 8 is not available in the search results provided. Fair Work’s Modern Awards Pay Database contains the calculated rates, including allowances and penalty rates, updated after each Annual Wage Review. The 2026 review increased award minimums by 4.75%, effective from 1 July 2026.
Award rates are minimums. They are typically lower than the national full-time average because many employees earn above the award through enterprise agreements or individual arrangements. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Even a senior award classification like Level 8 is likely to be below the $108,352 line, though it will be significantly above the minimum.
State variations
Where you work matters. The ABS provides state-by-state full-time averages (original, May 2026):
- 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
If you are on a SCHADS Level 8 rate in Tasmania, the gap to the national average is larger than if you are in the ACT. But remember, the award rate itself is the same nationally – it’s the local labour market that influences whether employers pay above the minimum.
How the line works
This site compares any salary to the national full-time average. You can place a salary on the line to see its weekly and hourly equivalents on a 38-hour week, and how far it sits from the average. You can also explore states and territories to see how averages differ around Australia.
The line is not a target or a recommendation. It’s a benchmark. If your SCHADS Level 8 salary is below the line, that’s typical for award-based roles. If it’s above, you may be in a well-paying region or have negotiated above the minimum.
Conclusion
A SCHADS Level 8 salary is set by a federal award, so its minimum is the same everywhere. But the national full-time average of $108,352 is a useful reference point. Most award rates sit below this line, and state differences in actual pay reflect local conditions, not the award itself. For the exact SCHADS Level 8 rate, consult Fair Work’s Modern Awards Pay Database or the award document.