What an aged care support worker salary looks like against the national minimum wage

What an aged care support worker salary means in practice

When you search for an aged care support worker salary, you are usually looking at the minimum pay rates set by modern awards. The two main awards covering this work are the Aged Care Award and the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS). Both set minimum hourly rates that are higher than the national minimum wage, but the exact figure depends on the classification, experience, and whether the employee is full-time, part-time, or casual.

Where the aged care support worker salary sits on the Salary Index

The Salary Index compares a gross annual salary to the national benchmark of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 per year (index 100). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $52,255 per year, giving an index of 48.2. An aged care support worker salary under the Aged Care Award typically falls between these two points. For example, a full-time direct care employee at Level 2 (Direct carer) earns $1,307.80 per week, or about $68,006 per year. That works out to an index of roughly 62.8. Even the lowest direct care level (Level 1 introductory) pays $1,239 per week, or about $64,428 per year, index 59.5. So while aged care support workers are paid above the national minimum, their salaries are still below the all-industries average.

Award rates versus the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage is the legal floor for all employees not covered by an award or agreement. From 1 July 2026, it is $26.44 per hour. But the Aged Care Award sets higher minimums. For general aged care employees, the lowest level (Level 1) pays $27.77 per hour for full-time workers. For direct care employees, the rates start at $32.61 per hour. This gap reflects the skill and responsibility involved in personal care work. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides show these rates in detail, including penalty rates for weekends, evenings, and overtime.

Casual loading and superannuation

Casual aged care support workers receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. For a direct care Level 2 casual, that means $43.03 per hour (before penalties). On top of that, employers must pay superannuation guarantee at 12% from 1 July 2026. So the total employment cost is higher than the base salary. When comparing an aged care support worker salary to other roles, remember that the Salary Index uses gross ordinary-time earnings, not including super. The index helps you see where the pay sits relative to the national line, but your take-home pay will also depend on tax and the Medicare levy.

How the index works for aged care support workers

The Salary Index is calculated by dividing the yearly gross salary by the national benchmark ($108,352) and multiplying by 100. For an aged care support worker earning $68,000 per year, the index is 62.8. That means their pay is about 63% of the full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. This is useful for comparing across industries and states. For example, the health care and social assistance industry index is 97.8, but that includes higher-paid professionals like nurses and doctors. Support workers sit lower within that industry.

State-by-state differences

While award rates are national, actual salaries can vary by state. The states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. An aged care support worker in WA might earn more due to market conditions, but the award minimum is the same across Australia. Enterprise agreements or employer discretion can push pay above the award. Always check the specific award classification for your role.

Tax and take-home pay

For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, then 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. An aged care support worker earning $68,000 would pay about $11,167 in tax and Medicare, leaving around $56,833 take-home. That is a rough estimate ignoring HELP repayments or other adjustments. The topics section has more on tax and super.

Why the award matters

The aged care support worker salary is not a single number. It depends on the award classification. The Aged Care Award has two main streams: general employees and direct care employees. Direct care roles (personal carers, assistants in nursing) have higher pay because they involve hands-on care. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database provides the full classification breakdown. From 1 October 2026, changes from the gender-based undervaluation review increased rates for some health professional roles, but direct care workers were already adjusted in previous years.

Summary

An aged care support worker salary is above the national minimum wage but below the all-industries average. The Salary Index gives you a quick way to see where it stands: typically between 55 and 70. If you are comparing job offers or negotiating pay, use the award rates as a baseline and consider super, penalties, and location. The Salary Index lets you benchmark any salary against the national line.