Aged care worker salary in Australia: how much do they earn?
If you are weighing up aged care as a career, pay is usually the sticking point. People tell us they are drawn to the work but worried it does not pay enough to live on.
That deserves a straight answer rather than a brochure one. Here is how pay actually works in this sector, what moves it, and an honest view on whether it stacks up.
First, which award covers you
This is the part almost everyone gets wrong, and it matters because the two awards pay differently.
- Residential aged care, meaning work in a nursing home or care facility, is generally covered by the Aged Care Award.
- Home care, community care and disability support work is generally covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award, usually shortened to SCHADS.
So the same qualification can lead to two different pay structures depending on where you work. Worth knowing before you accept a role.
What the rates look like
Award rates are public, which means you can check them rather than guess.
| What determines it | How it works |
|---|---|
| Your classification level | Set by your duties and experience. Higher levels pay more per hour. |
| Which award applies | Aged Care Award for residential, SCHADS for home care and disability. |
| Employment type | Casual work attracts a loading of 25 per cent in place of leave entitlements. |
| When you work | Evenings, weekends and public holidays attract penalty rates. |
As an indication of scale, SCHADS award rates span roughly $27.55 to $71.19 an hour across all classification levels and employment types, following a 4.75 per cent increase confirmed by the Fair Work Commission on 2 June 2026 and effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Entry level direct support work sits toward the lower end of that range.
These figures are indicative and current as at July 2026. For the exact rate that applies to your classification, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool, which will give you a precise figure rather than an average.
What actually moves your pay
- Penalties and loadings. Two people on the same base rate can take home noticeably different amounts depending on shifts. Weekend and night work changes the picture significantly.
- Classification level. Progressing up a level is the most reliable lift, and holding a relevant qualification is usually part of how you get there.
- Setting. Residential, home care and disability work sit under different awards and different conditions.
- Hours. Part time and casual arrangements are common in this sector, so the hourly rate and the hours available both matter.
Pay has moved recently
Two separate things have pushed aged care pay up. The annual wage review delivered a 4.75 per cent increase to SCHADS award rates from July 2026. Separately, the multi year Aged Care Work Value Case has delivered substantial increases for personal care workers and nurses under the Aged Care Award.
The honest summary: this is a sector where pay has been rising, from a low base, because of a recognised shortage of workers.
So is it worth it if the pay is low?
Here is our genuine view.
If your only goal is maximising income, there are faster paths. We would rather say that than pretend otherwise.
What aged care does offer is work that is consistently available, an entry point that does not require experience or a degree, award protected pay with real penalty rates, and a clear progression ladder. For people who want work that matters and a reliable route into employment without years of study first, it stacks up. For people who find the work draining and are only in it for the money, it does not.
That is the trade off, and it is better to weigh it now than six months in.
What you need to start
The Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) is the standard entry qualification. Practical requirements:
- Work placement: 120 hours of supervised direct support work, with an additional 10 hours if you are not currently employed in the sector.
- Police check is required.
- NDIS worker screening or a Working with Vulnerable People check, depending on your state.
- There is no occupational licence attached to this qualification.
One thing worth deciding early: ageing and disability support are different careers with different work and different awards, even though the qualification covers both. You can study the ageing stream or the disability stream, and choosing deliberately makes the job search clearer later.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to start?
No. There is no experience requirement and no ATAR requirement.
Do you help me find a placement?
Yes, placement support is part of the course. Students consistently tell us this is the part they were most worried about and the part they most valued help with.
Can I study this while working full time?
Yes. Study is online and self paced with no scheduled classes, though the placement hours do need to be arranged around your work.
Where Upskilled fits in
The Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021) is a nationally recognised qualification delivered online, with placement support and trainers you can contact directly. It sits alongside the other Certificate III community services courses if you are still weighing up which entry point fits.
When you are ready to go further, the Certificate IV community services courses are the usual next rung, and the Diploma in community services courses lead towards coordination and case management roles.
Pay figures in this article are indicative, drawn from the Fair Work Commission and award rates current as at July 2026, and vary by employer, classification, state and shift pattern. This is general information, not a guarantee of employment or earnings.
Sources: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2026; SCHADS Award and Aged Care Award rates effective 1 July 2026; Jobs and Skills Australia; My Aged Care (gov.au). Accessed August 2026.
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