Social & Community Services Pay Rates 2026-27
Minimum pay rates for social & community services workers in Australia under the SCHADS Award: $27.55/hr at Level 1, $34.44/hr casual, every classification level, penalty rates. Updated 1 July 2026.
Last verified: 2 August 2026Social & Community Services Minimum Pay Rate
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100)
$27.55
Base rate/hr
$34.44
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for social & community services workers is $27.55/hr under the SCHADS Award. Casuals receive $34.44/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2026.
Social workers, case managers, community development workers, and youth workers are covered by the SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services). This award covers a broad range of roles across the community sector. Pay rates vary significantly depending on your qualification level.
Social & Community Services Classification Rates
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | SCHADS Level 1 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $54,438.80 |
| Level 2 | SCHADS Level 2 | $36.22 | $45.28 | $71,570.72 |
| Level 3 | SCHADS Level 3 | $40.49 | $50.61 | $80,008.24 |
| Level 4 | SCHADS Level 4 | $46.70 | $58.38 | $92,279.20 |
| Level 5 | SCHADS Level 5 | $53.43 | $66.79 | $105,577.68 |
| Level 6 | SCHADS Level 6 | $58.37 | $72.96 | $115,339.12 |
| Home Care L1 | Home Care Employee Level 1 | $27.28 | $34.10 | $53,905.28 |
| Home Care L2 | Home Care Employee Level 2 | $28.86 | $36.08 | $57,027.36 |
| Home Care L3 | Home Care Employee Level 3 | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| Home Care L4 | Home Care Employee Level 4 | $32.13 | $40.16 | $63,488.88 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual Social & Community Services Pay Rates
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 | $27.55 | +$6.89 | $34.44 |
| Level 2 | $36.22 | +$9.06 | $45.28 |
| Level 3 | $40.49 | +$10.12 | $50.61 |
| Level 4 | $46.70 | +$11.68 | $58.38 |
| Level 5 | $53.43 | +$13.36 | $66.79 |
| Level 6 | $58.37 | +$14.59 | $72.96 |
| Home Care L1 | $27.28 | +$6.82 | $34.10 |
| Home Care L2 | $28.86 | +$7.22 | $36.08 |
| Home Care L3 | $29.45 | +$7.36 | $36.81 |
| Home Care L4 | $32.13 | +$8.03 | $40.16 |
Social & Community Services Penalty Rates
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $27.55/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$41.33/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$55.10/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$68.88/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $41.33/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $55.10/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $68.88/hr |
| Afternoon shift (finishes after 8pm) | 1.125x | $30.99/hr |
| Night shift (finishes after midnight / starts before 6am) | 1.15x | $31.68/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $41.33/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $55.10/hr |
Full SCHADS Award Details
View the complete SCHADS Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full SCHADS Award Pay Rates →Getting Paid Less Than This?
If your payslip shows less than $27.55/hr (or $34.44/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in social & community services. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Pay Rates by Industry
Social & Community Services Pay Rates FAQ
What is the minimum pay rate for social and community workers in 2026?
The minimum base rate under SCHADS starts at $27.55/hr (Level 1). Social workers with a degree typically come in at Level 4 or above, earning $46.70/hr base ($58.38/hr casual). Pay points increase with experience.
Do community sector workers get penalty rates?
Yes. For permanent employees, Saturday pays 1.5x, Sunday pays 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x your base rate (casuals add their 25% loading on top). Shift workers also get a 12.5% afternoon shift loading (shift finishing after 8pm) and a 15% night shift loading (shift finishing after midnight or starting before 6am).
What classification levels apply under SCHADS?
SCHADS has 8 levels across different streams (social and community services, home care, disability services). Level 1 is entry-level support ($27.55/hr). Level 4 is a degree-qualified professional ($46.70/hr). Level 8 covers senior managers and directors.
Are SCHADS workers often underpaid?
Underpayment is common in the community sector, particularly around unpaid travel time between clients, incorrect classification, and failure to pay overtime for after-hours crisis work. All travel between clients during work hours must be paid.
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