What is the average social worker salary in Australia?

The most reliable figure for social worker pay is the median full-time weekly earnings of $2,172, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. This equates to about $112,944 per year before tax. It is not an average but a median, meaning half of full-time social workers earn more and half earn less. The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026), so social workers typically earn above the national average.

How does social worker pay compare to the national average?

The median full-time social worker earns $2,172 per week, which is about 4.2% higher than the national full-time adult average of $2,083.70 per week (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). On a yearly basis, that is roughly $112,944 versus $108,352. However, the national average includes all full-time adults across all industries and occupations, while the social worker figure is a median for full-time non-managerial employees. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100 per year, so social workers are well above that as well.

What are the minimum award rates for social workers?

Social workers are often covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS). From 1 December 2026, the minimum weekly rates under this award range from $1,046.90 (Level 1 pay point 1) to $2,398.95 (Level 7 pay point 1). A typical social worker role may fall at Level 4 or 5, where weekly rates are $1,774.74 to $2,122.13. These are minimums; actual pay is often higher, especially for experienced workers or those in senior roles. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week.

Social Worker Salary Australia: Weekly, Yearly & Hourly Pay in 2026

Social Worker Pay in Australia

Social workers in Australia earn a median full-time salary that sits above the national full-time average. The most current data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reported by Jobs and Skills Australia, shows median full-time weekly earnings of $2,172 for social workers (ANZSCO 2725). That works out to roughly $112,944 per year before tax, assuming a 52-week year. The median hourly rate is $57.

How It Compares to the National Average

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026), or about $108,352 per year. Social workers therefore earn about 4.2% more than the average full-time worker. The gap is even wider when compared to the all-employees median of about $74,100 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

It is important to note that the social worker figure is a median, not an average. The median is less affected by very high or very low salaries, so it gives a better sense of what a typical full-time social worker earns. The national average, by contrast, includes all full-time adults, including managers and executives, which can pull the average up.

Reading the Same Pay as a Year, Week, and Hour

If you earn the median social worker salary, here is how it breaks down:

Yearly: $112,944 (52 weeks × $2,172)
Weekly: $2,172
Hourly: $57 (based on a 38-hour week, though the average full-time hours for social workers is 40 hours per week, according to Jobs and Skills Australia)

Using a 38-hour week (the standard used by Fair Work for the national minimum wage), the hourly equivalent would be about $57.16. The ABS median hourly figure of $57 is based on actual hours worked.

Award Minimums for Social Workers

Many social workers are employed under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS). The award sets minimum pay rates that vary by classification level. From 1 December 2026, the weekly rates for common levels are:

Level 4, pay point 1: $1,774.74 per week ($46.70 per hour)
Level 4, pay point 4: $1,909.51 per week ($50.25 per hour)
Level 5, pay point 1: $2,030.20 per week ($53.43 per hour)
Level 5, pay point 3: $2,122.13 per week ($55.85 per hour)

These are minimums. The median of $2,172 is above the top of Level 5, suggesting many social workers are classified at Level 6 or above, or receive over-award payments.

State and Territory Differences

The national full-time average varies by state, and social worker pay may follow similar patterns. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026) gives these full-time adult ordinary time averages (annualised):

New South Wales: $109,658
Victoria: $106,137
Queensland: $106,064
South Australia: $102,450
Western Australia: $115,825
Tasmania: $96,008
Northern Territory: $103,173
Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

Social workers in states with higher overall averages, such as the ACT and WA, may earn more than the national median, while those in Tasmania and SA may earn less. However, occupation-specific state data is not published.

How the Figures Are Set

The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, released twice a year (May and November). The social worker median comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which is conducted every two years. The most recent data is from May 2025. Award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual wage reviews. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour.

What This Means for Your Pay

If you are a social worker, your salary is likely above the national average. To see exactly where your pay sits on the line, you can place a salary on the line. For comparisons across different jobs, visit the job medians page. You can also explore how your industry compares on the industry medians page.

Tax on a Social Worker Salary

For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

Nil up to $18,200
15% from $18,201 to $45,000
30% from $45,001 to $135,000
37% from $135,001 to $190,000
45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). On a salary of $112,944, the tax would be roughly $27,092 plus Medicare, leaving about $83,500 after tax. This is an estimate only.

Summary

Social workers in Australia earn a median full-time salary of $2,172 per week, or about $112,944 per year. This is above the national full-time average of $2,083.70 per week. Award minimums under the SCHADS award range from about $1,047 to $2,399 per week, depending on level. The figures are based on the most recent ABS data and Fair Work determinations.