Many aged care providers pay under an enterprise agreement rather than the award. An agreement must still pay at least the award rate.
Which award covers aged care workers
Aged care workers employed in residential aged care — nursing homes, hostels, aged care serviced apartments and similar facilities — are covered by the Aged Care Award 2010 [MA000018]. The award defines the aged care industry as accommodation and care services for aged persons in residential facilities.
Personal care workers, assistants in nursing and other staff whose primary role is to provide direct care to residents are classified under the direct care stream (Schedule B.2): level 1 on starting, level 2 after 3 months, level 3 with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), and levels 4 to 6 for senior, specialist and team leader roles.
Cleaners, laundry hands, kitchen staff, cooks, gardeners, drivers and administrative staff are on the general stream (Schedule B.1), which pays less than direct care.
Home care workers — including those caring for older people in their own homes — are not covered by this award. They are paid under the SCHADS Award home care stream; see the disability support worker page. Registered and enrolled nurses in aged care are paid under the Nurses Award aged care stream.
These rates include the increases from the Fair Work Commission's aged care work value case, which introduced the direct care classifications from 1 January 2025. The award text sets no further scheduled work-value increase.
Read the Aged Care Award 2010 [MA000018] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 September 2026), or see every classification on our MA000018 award rates page.
Aged Care Worker award pay rates 2026–27
These rates apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Part-time employees are paid the same hourly rates for the hours they work.
Aged care worker pay rates — direct care stream, 2026–27
Clause 14.3 of the Aged Care Award, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Hourly is the weekly rate divided by 38; casual adds the 25% loading (cl 10.4(b)), matching the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct care level 1 — IntroductoryLess than 3 months' aged care experience | $32.61 | $1,239.00 | $64,428 | $40.76 |
| Direct care level 2 — Direct Carer3 months' or more experience | $34.42 | $1,307.80 | $68,006 | $43.03 |
| Direct care level 3 — QualifiedCertificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent | $36.23 | $1,376.70 | $71,588 | $45.29 |
| Direct care level 4 — SeniorCertificate III plus 4 years at level 3 since 1 January 2025 | $37.68 | $1,431.80 | $74,454 | $47.10 |
| Direct care level 5 — SpecialistCertificate IV in Ageing Support required by the employer | $39.13 | $1,486.80 | $77,314 | $48.91 |
| Direct care level 6 — Team LeaderCertificate IV, supervises and trains direct carers | $40.58 | $1,541.90 | $80,179 | $50.73 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Aged care general stream — cleaning, laundry, kitchen and admin
Clause 14.1. The single most senior food services employee at a facility is paid a higher rate at levels 4 to 7 (cl 14.2), not shown here.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General level 1Entry level: cleaner, laundry hand, food services assistant | $27.77 | $1,055.40 | $54,881 | $34.71 |
| General level 2 | $28.87 | $1,097.20 | $57,054 | $36.09 |
| General level 3Includes cook, receptionist, experienced cleaner | $29.98 | $1,139.40 | $59,249 | $37.48 |
| General level 4 | $30.34 | $1,152.80 | $59,946 | $37.93 |
| General level 5 | $31.36 | $1,191.80 | $61,974 | $39.20 |
| General level 6 | $33.05 | $1,256.00 | $65,312 | $41.31 |
| General level 7 | $33.65 | $1,278.60 | $66,487 | $42.06 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Aged Care Worker penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoon shift starting 10 am to before 1 pm | 110% | 135% |
| Afternoon shift starting 1 pm to before 4 pm | 112.5% | 137.5% |
| Night shift starting 4 pm to before 4 am | 115% | 140% |
| Night shift starting 4 am to before 6 am | 110% | 135% |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 175% | 200% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate. Weekend rates come from cl 23.1 (permanent) and cl 23.2 (casual), and replace both the shift loadings and, for casuals, the 25% loading rather than stacking on them. Shift loadings are cl 26.1; the public holiday figures are the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide's. Part-time and casual staff get shift loadings only when the shift starts before 6 am or finishes after 6 pm (cl 26.1).
Overtime
- Full-time: 150% for the first 2 hours Monday to Friday, then 200%; Saturday and Sunday 200%; public holiday 250% (cl 25.1(a)).
- Part-time: the same rates for hours over 38 a week (76 a fortnight), and for hours over 10 in a day (cl 25.1(b)).
- Overtime rates replace the shift loadings rather than adding to them (cl 25.1(a)(ii)).
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Meal allowance | $17.30 | Overtime of more than an hour after the usual finishing time, unless a meal is supplied; a further $15.60 if overtime exceeds 4 hours (cl 15.4). |
| Uniform allowance | $1.26 per shift or $6.41 per week | Only where the employer agrees to pay it instead of supplying uniforms, whichever is less (cl 15.2(b)). |
| Tool allowance (chefs and cooks) | $13.41 per week | Where the employer does not supply all necessary tools (cl 15.6). |
| Vehicle allowance | $1.05 per km | Temporary rate from 1 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 (cl 15.7(aa)); $1.01 per km otherwise. |
Aged Care Worker pay after tax
On the Direct care level 3 — Qualified rate of $1,376.70 a week, a full-time aged care worker earns $71,588 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $71,588 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$11,996 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,432 |
| Take-home per year | $58,160 |
| Take-home per week | $1,118 |
2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy; no HECS-HELP repayment and no Medicare levy surcharge. Superannuation is paid on top by your employer. For the full breakdown see take-home pay on $70,000 (the nearest step to $71,588), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What aged care workers actually earn
Jobs and Skills Australia puts median full-time earnings for Aged and Disabled Carers (ANZSCO 4231) at $1,761 a week ($46 an hour), against $1,852 a week for all occupations.
Median weekly pay of full-time, non-managerial adult employees before tax and salary sacrifice, from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) as published by Jobs and Skills Australia. It reflects what employers actually pay, including people on enterprise agreements or above-award salaries, so it is a market figure, not a legal minimum.
What this page does not show
- Transitional rates in Schedule I for employees classified in direct care on or before 31 December 2024, or who moved from the Nurses Award.
- Most senior food services employee rates (cl 14.2), apprentice and trainee rates.
- Leading hand allowances, which are a percentage of the standard rate (cl 15.3).
Aged Care Worker pay questions
Pay rates for other jobs
How this page is sourced▼
Every minimum rate was read from the Fair Work Commission's consolidated text of the Aged Care Award 2010, consolidated to 1 September 2026, on 23 September 2026. Casual rates are the award's own published figures wherever it publishes them. Nothing is estimated.
The median comes from Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile and is a market figure, not an entitlement. Take-home figures use the same tax engine as the rest of this site. Award rates change every 1 July, so re-check after the next Annual Wage Review.
Sources & References
- 1Aged Care Award 2010 [MA000018] — consolidated to 1 September 2026— Fair Work Commission
- 2Pay Guide — Aged Care Award [MA000018], published 31 August 2026— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 4Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
- 5
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
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