Minimum pay rates for aged care workers in Australia under the Aged Care Award. Updated 1 July 2025.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018)
$26.51
Base rate/hr
$33.14
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for aged care workers is $26.51/hr under the Aged Care Award. Casuals receive $33.14/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2025.
Aged care workers got a significant pay boost in recent years and the rates keep improving. Whether you're a personal care assistant, activities officer, or residential care worker, you're covered by the Aged Care Award. Here's what the numbers look like right now.
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Aged Care Employee Level 1 | $26.51 | $33.14 | $52,383.76 |
| Level 2 | Aged Care Employee Level 2 | $27.56 | $34.45 | $54,458.56 |
| Level 3 | Aged Care Employee Level 3 | $28.62 | $35.78 | $56,553.12 |
| Level 4 | Aged Care Employee Level 4 | $28.96 | $36.20 | $57,224.96 |
| Level 5 | Aged Care Employee Level 5 | $29.94 | $37.43 | $59,161.44 |
| Level 6 | Aged Care Employee Level 6 | $31.55 | $39.44 | $62,342.80 |
| Level 7 | Aged Care Employee Level 7 | $32.12 | $40.15 | $63,469.12 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2025 under the Aged Care Award 2010. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $26.51 | +$6.63 | $33.14 |
| Level 2 | $27.56 | +$6.89 | $34.45 |
| Level 3 | $28.62 | +$7.16 | $35.78 |
| Level 4 | $28.96 | +$7.24 | $36.20 |
| Level 5 | $29.94 | +$7.49 | $37.43 |
| Level 6 | $31.55 | +$7.89 | $39.44 |
| Level 7 | $32.12 | +$8.03 | $40.15 |
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $26.51/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$39.77/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$46.39/hr
1.75x base
Public Holiday
$66.28/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $39.77/hr |
| Sunday | 1.75x | $46.39/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $66.28/hr |
| Afternoon Shift | 1.125x | $29.82/hr |
| Night Shift | 1.15x | $30.49/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $39.77/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $53.02/hr |
View the complete Aged Care Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Aged Care Award Pay Rates →If your payslip shows less than $26.51/hr (or $33.14/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in aged care. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Real Fair Work decisions and Federal Court penalties in this industry.
The minimum base rate for aged care workers is $24.95/hr (Level 1) under the Aged Care Award. Casual aged care workers receive $31.19/hr including the 25% loading. Higher levels pay up to $31.35/hr base at Level 7.
Yes. Saturday pays 1.5x, Sunday pays 1.75x, and public holidays pay 2.5x your base rate. Afternoon and night shifts also attract shift loadings of 12.5% and 15% respectively.
The Aged Care Award covers personal care workers, assistants, and support staff. Registered and enrolled nurses working in aged care are covered by the Nurses Award, which has higher base rates. Your classification depends on your qualifications.
Yes. Aged care workers received significant increases through the Fair Work Commission's work value case. The 2025-26 rates reflect the annual wage review increase of 3.75%. Further increases are expected as the work value case continues.
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
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