Jobs and Skills Australia does not publish a median earnings figure for youth workers (the profile is marked N/A because of high statistical error), so this page shows award minimums only. Many youth services pay under enterprise agreements, which must leave employees better off overall than the award.
The SCHADS Award has no junior rates, so the age percentages that apply to some jobs do not apply here.
Which award covers youth workers
Youth workers employed by community organisations, youth services, youth refuges and similar non-government providers are covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 — the SCHADS Award [MA000100]. The award's definition of the social and community services sector includes youth work by name.
The award has no classification called youth worker. It grades roles in the Social and community services stream (Schedule B) by qualification and responsibility. A youth worker with a relevant certificate is appointed at Level 2; with a Certificate IV the minimum is pay point 2, and a diploma commences at pay point 2 too. A youth worker who supervises staff or volunteers, including managing the day-to-day operations of a group of residential facilities for persons with a disability, is at Level 3, where a three-year degree commences no lower than pay point 3 and a four-year degree no lower than pay point 4.
Rates for Levels 2 and up already include the Equal Remuneration Order uplift, which the award says forms part of ordinary pay for all purposes. Level 1 carries no uplift and is for entry-level work under close direction.
State government youth justice and child protection workers are generally employed under state public sector awards or agreements rather than this award, so use this page for community sector youth work only.
Read the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 [MA000100] on the Fair Work Commission’s site (consolidated to 1 September 2026), or see every classification on our MA000100 award rates page.
Youth 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.
Youth worker pay rates — Social and community services stream, 2026–27
SCHADS Award Schedule B, Levels 2 to 4, as published (including the Equal Remuneration Order). Casual is the hourly rate plus the 25% loading.
| Classification | Hourly | Weekly (38 hrs) | Annual | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 pay point 1Relevant certificate | $36.22 | $1,376.49 | $71,577 | $45.28 |
| Level 2 pay point 2Certificate IV starts here; diploma commences here | $37.36 | $1,419.79 | $73,829 | $46.70 |
| Level 2 pay point 3 | $38.50 | $1,462.96 | $76,074 | $48.13 |
| Level 2 pay point 4 | $39.53 | $1,501.95 | $78,101 | $49.41 |
| Level 3 pay point 1Supervising staff or volunteers | $40.49 | $1,538.59 | $80,007 | $50.61 |
| Level 3 pay point 2 | $41.66 | $1,582.94 | $82,313 | $52.08 |
| Level 3 pay point 3Three-year degree commences here at the earliest | $42.55 | $1,616.71 | $84,069 | $53.19 |
| Level 3 pay point 4Four-year degree commences here at the earliest | $43.42 | $1,649.97 | $85,798 | $54.28 |
| Level 4 pay point 1Qualified in a discipline, supervising various functions | $46.70 | $1,774.74 | $92,286 | $58.38 |
| Level 4 pay point 2 | $47.92 | $1,821.07 | $94,696 | $59.90 |
| Level 4 pay point 3 | $49.16 | $1,867.93 | $97,132 | $61.45 |
| Level 4 pay point 4 | $50.25 | $1,909.51 | $99,295 | $62.81 |
Annual is the weekly rate × 52, before tax and before superannuation. Casual hourly includes the 25% casual loading.
Youth Worker penalty rates and overtime
| When you work | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 200% | 225% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
| Afternoon shift | 112.5% | — |
| Night shift | 115% | — |
Percentages of the minimum hourly rate. Casual weekend and public holiday rates include the 25% loading. Weekend rates replace shift loadings rather than adding to them (cl 26.2). Youth refuges and residential programs run around the clock, so these penalties matter more here than in most community roles.
Overtime
- Time and a half for the first 2 hours of overtime Monday to Saturday, then double time (cl 28.1(a)(i)).
- Sunday overtime is double time and public holiday overtime is double time and a half.
- Overtime rates replace, rather than add to, shift premiums and weekend penalties.
Work out a shift with penalties or overtime using the overtime pay calculator.
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Sleepover allowance | $62.87 per sleepover | 4.9% of the standard rate (cl 25.7(d)); relevant to residential youth programs. |
| Broken shift allowance | $21.81 (one break) or $28.87 (two breaks) | Per broken shift. |
| Vehicle allowance | $1.05 per km (1 Sep 2026 – 28 Feb 2027) | When you are required and authorised to use your own car for work, such as outreach. A temporary rate under cl 20.7(aa) (PR813674); the ordinary rate of $1.01 per km applies again from 1 March 2027. |
Youth Worker pay after tax
On the Level 2 pay point 2 rate of $1,419.79 a week, a full-time youth worker earns $73,829 a year before tax.
| Gross annual pay | $73,829 |
|---|---|
| Income tax (after LITO) | −$12,669 |
| Medicare levy | −$1,477 |
| Take-home per year | $59,683 |
| Take-home per week | $1,148 |
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 $75,000 (the nearest step to $73,829), or put in your own hours with the weekly pay calculator.
What this page does not show
- State government youth justice, youth detention and child protection pay, which comes from state public sector awards and agreements.
- Crisis accommodation and family day care streams, and trainee rates.
- Enterprise agreement rates at individual youth services.
Youth 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 Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, consolidated to 1 September 2026, on 5 October 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
- 1
- 2Pay guides for modern awards— Fair Work Ombudsman
- 3Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision [2026] FWCFB 3500— Fair Work Commission
Last verified: 5 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
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