Social Worker Pay Rate 2026-27

At least $85,798 a year ($43.42 an hour) for a graduate with a four year degree in the community sector, under the SCHADS Award, and $68,058 a year ($34.44 an hour) in a health service under the Health Professionals Award. Those are award minimums, the weekly rate times 52 on a 38-hour week, not averages. Social workers in state public hospitals and government departments are paid under state instruments instead, which this site does not publish.

In the community sector, $43.42 an hour, or $1,649.97 a week. Schedule B.3.1(g) of the SCHADS Award says a graduate with a four year degree doing level 3 work starts at no lower than social and community services level 3, pay point 4, and a three year degree graduate at pay point 3, $42.55 an hour. In a health service, a graduate with a four year degree starts at Level 1, AQF Level 7, in the first year (clause 17.1(c) of the Health Professionals Award): $34.44 an hour, or $1,308.80 a week, from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2026.

It depends on the employer. A social worker in a community organisation is covered by the SCHADS Award (MA000100), because its definition of the social and community services sector names social work (clause 3.1) and clause 4.1(b) covers that sector. A social worker employed by a business that delivers health care, such as a private hospital or practice, is covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027), which lists Social Worker in Schedule B. The SCHADS Award does not cover anyone that award covers (clause 4.2(d)). Public hospitals and government departments pay under state and territory instruments.

Yes, in health services. From the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2026, Fair Work Commission determination PR814029 replaced the Health Professionals Award's pay point ladder. A social worker is now classified by the AQF level of the qualification they hold: $34.44 an hour in the first year at AQF Level 7 (a Bachelor of Social Work), $35.19 at AQF Level 8 (with Honours) and $38.02 at AQF Level 9 (a Master of Social Work), rising with years of experience. Before that pay period, a graduate with a four year degree was paid $33.51 an hour at level 1, pay point 3. Anyone on the award on 30 September 2026 is paid at least their old rate (clause J.4.3). SCHADS Award rates for community sector social workers did not change on that date. Every health professional translation is on Health Professional Pay Rise 2026.

Because an equal remuneration order (PR525485) sits over the SCHADS Award's social and community services classifications and lifts them above the minimum weekly wage in clause 15. At level 3, pay point 4, it takes the clause 15.3 minimum of $1,309.50 a week to $1,649.97, 126% of it, and the award makes that the ordinary rate for all purposes. The Health Professionals Award has no equal remuneration order, so a graduate with a four year degree is paid $8.98 an hour less there.

Casual social workers get a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate under both awards. In the community sector that is $54.28 an hour at level 3, pay point 4, worked out from the weekly rate because the SCHADS Award prints no casual rates. In a health service it is $43.05 an hour at Level 1, AQF Level 7, 1st year, a figure the Health Professionals Award prints in Schedule C. The Casual Loading Calculator applies the loading to any other base rate.

Under the Health Professionals Award, yes: a Masters graduate starts at Level 1, AQF Level 9, in the first year (clause 17.1(e)), $38.02 an hour, against $34.44 at AQF Level 7 for a Bachelor of Social Work. The SCHADS Award sets entry points only for three and four year degrees (Schedule B.3.1(g)), so in the community sector the level is set by the work and those two entry points, not by a master's degree as such.

Usually not. Social workers in state public hospitals are paid under their state or territory health award or agreement, and child protection and other government social workers under the public sector instrument for that state or territory. Neither is a modern award, and this site publishes none of those figures, so check the current rates your employer or department publishes.