SCHADS award pay rates 2026-27
Every minimum rate under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (MA000100) from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, including the 4.75% annual wage review increase. Base, casual, weekend, shift and public holiday rates for all 23 classifications, sourced from the Fair Work pay guide.
Social and community services levels
The SACS stream covers most disability support workers, case workers, coordinators and managers. Rates below are base hourly for full-time and part-time employees and include the Equal Remuneration Order loading, matching the pay guide. Each level links to its full page with casual, weekend, shift and public holiday rates for every pay point.
| Pay point | Hourly | Casual | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Level 1 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $41.33 | $55.10 | $68.88 | $54,439 |
| 1.2 Level 1 | $28.44 | $35.55 | $42.66 | $56.88 | $71.10 | $56,197 |
| 1.3 Level 1 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $44.18 | $58.90 | $73.63 | $58,193 |
| 2.1 Level 2 | $36.22 | $45.28 | $54.33 | $72.44 | $90.55 | $71,571 |
| 2.2 Level 2 | $37.36 | $46.70 | $56.04 | $74.72 | $93.40 | $73,823 |
| 2.3 Level 2 | $38.50 | $48.13 | $57.75 | $77.00 | $96.25 | $76,076 |
| 2.4 Level 2 | $39.53 | $49.41 | $59.30 | $79.06 | $98.83 | $78,111 |
| 3.1 Level 3 | $40.49 | $50.61 | $60.74 | $80.98 | $101.23 | $80,008 |
| 3.2 Level 3 | $41.66 | $52.08 | $62.49 | $83.32 | $104.15 | $82,320 |
| 3.3 Level 3 | $42.55 | $53.19 | $63.83 | $85.10 | $106.38 | $84,079 |
| 3.4 Level 3 | $43.42 | $54.28 | $65.13 | $86.84 | $108.55 | $85,798 |
| 4.1 Level 4 | $46.70 | $58.38 | $70.05 | $93.40 | $116.75 | $92,279 |
| 4.2 Level 4 | $47.92 | $59.90 | $71.88 | $95.84 | $119.80 | $94,690 |
| 4.3 Level 4 | $49.16 | $61.45 | $73.74 | $98.32 | $122.90 | $97,140 |
| 4.4 Level 4 | $50.25 | $62.81 | $75.38 | $100.50 | $125.63 | $99,294 |
| 5.1 Level 5 | $53.43 | $66.79 | $80.15 | $106.86 | $133.57 | $105,578 |
| 5.2 Level 5 | $54.58 | $68.22 | $81.87 | $109.16 | $136.45 | $107,850 |
| 5.3 Level 5 | $55.85 | $69.81 | $83.78 | $111.70 | $139.63 | $110,360 |
| 6.1 Level 6 | $58.37 | $72.96 | $87.56 | $116.74 | $145.92 | $115,339 |
| 6.2 Level 6 | $59.66 | $74.57 | $89.49 | $119.32 | $149.15 | $117,888 |
| 6.3 Level 6 | $60.95 | $76.19 | $91.43 | $121.90 | $152.38 | $120,437 |
| 7.1 Level 7 | $63.13 | $78.91 | $94.70 | $126.26 | $157.83 | $124,745 |
| 7.2 Level 7 | $64.46 | $80.57 | $96.69 | $128.92 | $161.15 | $127,373 |
| 7.3 Level 7 | $65.77 | $82.21 | $98.66 | $131.54 | $164.43 | $129,962 |
| 8.1 Level 8 | $68.49 | $85.61 | $102.73 | $136.98 | $171.23 | $135,336 |
| 8.2 Level 8 | $69.84 | $87.30 | $104.76 | $139.68 | $174.60 | $138,004 |
| 8.3 Level 8 | $71.19 | $88.99 | $106.79 | $142.38 | $177.98 | $140,671 |
Pay points are written as level.paypoint, so 2.1 is Level 2 pay point 1, the classification most new disability support workers start on. Hourly and annual figures are for full-time and part-time employees; casual adds the 25% loading, and casual weekend rates are higher again (175% Saturday, 225% Sunday), shown on each level page. Annual assumes a 38 hour week over 52 weeks before penalties and superannuation. Which level applies depends on duties and qualifications under Schedule B of the award, not the job title.
Home care employees
The home care stream covers workers providing care in people's homes, split since the aged care work value case into disability care levels and higher, named aged care classifications. Full tables with casual and penalty rates are on the home care page.
| Disability care | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.28 | - |
| Level 2 | $28.86 | $29.06 |
| Level 3 | $29.45 | $30.36 |
| Level 4 | $32.13 | $32.77 |
| Level 5 | $34.45 | $35.81 |
| Aged care | Base hourly |
|---|---|
| Introductory | $32.61 |
| Home carer | $34.42 |
| Qualified | $36.23 |
| Senior | $37.68 |
| Specialist | $39.13 |
| Team leader | $40.58 |
Crisis accommodation employees
Four levels covering refuge and supported accommodation work, mirroring SACS levels 3 to 6. Full tables are on the crisis accommodation page.
| Level | Pay point 1 | Pay point 2 | Pay point 3 | Pay point 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $40.49 | $41.66 | $42.55 | $43.42 |
| Level 2 | $46.70 | $47.92 | $49.16 | $50.25 |
| Level 3 | $53.43 | $54.58 | $55.85 | - |
| Level 4 | $58.37 | $59.66 | $60.95 | - |
Penalties and allowances at a glance
| Penalty | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Afternoon shift | 112.5% | - |
| Night shift | 115% | - |
| Allowance | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sleepover (per night) | $62.87 |
| Broken shift, 1 break (per day) | $21.81 |
| Broken shift, 2 breaks (per day) | $28.87 |
| On call, weekday (per 24 hours) | $25.66 |
| Vehicle (per km) | $1.01 |
Casual weekend and public holiday rates are inclusive of the 25% loading. Full rules, overtime and worked examples: penalty rates and allowances.
Download the SCHADS pay rates
Every classification across all four streams, with casual, weekend, public holiday and annual figures, plus the allowances table. Generated from the same data as the pages above, so a printed copy cannot drift from the site.
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official pay guide as a PDF at fairwork.gov.au, and it remains the source of truth. These files carry the same rates with the casual, weekend and annual figures worked out.
Which SCHADS level am I on?
Your level is set by the duties you actually perform, defined in Schedule B of the award, not by your job title. Two people with the same title at different employers can sit on different levels, and a title alone never settles it.
| Level | Typically covers | From |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Routine duties under direct supervision, often administrative or general assistant work. Uncommon for hands-on support work. | $27.55 |
| Level 2 | Personal care, community participation and household support under regular supervision. Where most disability support workers start. | $36.22 |
| Level 3 | Experienced support work with more independent judgement, often a Certificate III or IV the role requires. | $40.49 |
| Level 4 | Senior support workers with specialised duties, new degree-qualified practitioners, case workers, coordinators of small teams. | $46.70 |
| Level 5 | Degree-qualified practitioners with experience, specialist roles and team leaders. Many support coordinators sit here or at Level 4. | $53.43 |
| Level 6 | Senior practitioners and program coordinators, usually with responsibility for staff or budgets. | $58.37 |
| Level 7 | Managers and senior specialists running significant programs or organisational functions. | $63.13 |
| Level 8 | Senior managers accountable for major programs or whole organisations. | $68.49 |
Checking your own pay against the award
- Find your classification on your payslip, contract or letter of engagement. It should name a level and a pay point, such as "Level 2 pay point 1" or "2.1".
- Read the Schedule B description for that level in the award and compare it with what you actually do day to day.
- Check your employment type. Casual work attracts a 25% loading, and casual weekend rates are higher again.
- Compare your hourly rate with the table above, remembering that pay points normally step up after 12 months of service at the same level.
- Check that penalties and allowances are being applied: weekends, public holidays, sleepovers, broken shifts, travel between clients.
If the numbers do not line up, the Fair Work Ombudsman handles pay disputes and underpayment complaints, and can be contacted directly at fairwork.gov.au. Union members can also raise it through their union. Carevo is a connection platform: we publish these rates for reference and do not give payroll, legal or industrial advice, assess classifications, or act on pay disputes. An enterprise agreement can also set different rates, in which case the agreement applies rather than the award, provided it passes the better off overall test.
In this guide
Award pay is not the NDIS price cap
The SCHADS award sets the minimum a worker must be paid. The NDIS Pricing Schedule caps what a provider can charge a participant's plan. The two are set by different bodies, the Fair Work Commission and the NDIA, and the gap between them covers superannuation, leave, training, supervision, insurance and overheads.
Providers working out what to charge can compare a worker's fully loaded award cost against the price cap for the matching support item with the NDIS pay rate calculator. Workers estimating take-home pay across a mixed roster can use the income calculator. For the NDIS-specific explanation of award pay versus provider charge limits, read the NDIS support worker pay rates guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SCHADS award?
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100) sets minimum pay and conditions for most Australian disability support workers, in-home aged care workers, social and community services staff and crisis accommodation workers. It covers four streams, each with its own classification levels and pay points.
What was the SCHADS pay increase in 2026?
4.75%, from the Fair Work Commission's 2026 annual wage review. The new rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
What is the SCHADS Level 2 pay rate in 2026?
Social and community services Level 2 pay point 1 is $36.22 per hour for full-time and part-time employees, and $45.28 per hour for casuals including the 25% loading. Level 2 is the most common entry classification for disability support workers.
What do most disability support workers get paid under SCHADS?
Most disability support workers are classified at social and community services Level 2 or 3, so from 1 July 2026 base rates commonly fall between $36.22 and $43.42 per hour before casual loading and penalties. The classification depends on duties and qualifications under Schedule B of the award.
What are the SCHADS weekend and public holiday rates?
Saturday is 150% of the base rate, Sunday 200% and public holidays 250% for full-time and part-time employees. Casual rates are inclusive of the 25% loading: 175%, 225% and 275% respectively.
What is the SCHADS sleepover allowance?
$62.87 per sleepover from 1 July 2026, paid on top of hourly rates for any work performed during the night.
What is the minimum shift length under SCHADS?
3 hours for social and community services employees (except disability services work) and 2 hours for everyone else, including home care employees and SACS employees doing disability work. It applies to part-time and casual employees.
What is the SCHADS annual salary by level?
At pay point 1 on a full-time 38 hour week, Level 1 is about $54,439 a year, Level 2 about $71,571, Level 4 about $92,279 and Level 8 about $135,336. Those are base figures over 52 weeks before penalties, overtime, allowances and superannuation, so anyone working weekends or nights earns more. The table above gives the annual figure for every pay point.
Are SCHADS pay rates different in QLD, NSW or Victoria?
No. The SCHADS award is a national instrument, so its minimum rates are identical in every state and territory, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. An employer can pay above the award or have an enterprise agreement with different rates, but the award minimum itself does not vary by location.
What is the difference between SCHADS 2.1 and 2.2?
Both are Level 2, at different pay points: 2.1 is $36.22 per hour and 2.2 is $37.36. Pay points step up with service within the same level, usually after 12 months, and do not require a change of duties. Moving from Level 2 to Level 3 is a different thing: that is reclassification against the duties in Schedule B of the award.
Is the SCHADS award rate what NDIS providers charge?
No. The award sets the minimum a worker must be paid. What a provider can charge an NDIS plan is capped separately by the NDIS Pricing Schedule, which builds workforce costs on top of award rates. The gap between the two covers super, leave, training, supervision and overheads.
Sources
- Pay guides, Fair Work Ombudsman. Hosts the pay guide for the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award [MA000100], published 24 June 2026, effective 1 July 2026.
- MA000100 award text, Fair Work Commission. The full award, including the classification definitions in its schedules.
- Annual wage review, Fair Work Ombudsman. The 2026 decision behind the 4.75% increase.
Every rate on this page is rendered from Carevo's structured copy of the Fair Work pay guide, with casual and penalty rates derived from the award loadings and reconciled against the published tables. Data effective . These are award minimums, not payroll advice. Read how we research and check our content.
Carevo is an NDIS and aged care connection platform, not a provider or an employer of support workers. The award also covers family day care employees, not shown here; see the Fair Work pay guide for those rates.