Disability support worker salary: What you actually take home after tax and Medicare

Understanding the disability support worker salary under the SCHADS Award

If you work in disability support, your minimum pay is set by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (the SCHADS Award). The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide that lists hourly and weekly rates for each classification. For disability care home care employees, the rates from 1 December 2026 are:

• Level 1, pay point 1: $31.38 per hour / $1,192.30 per week
• Level 2, pay point 1: $33.19 per hour / $1,261.10 per week
• Level 3, pay point 1: $33.87 per hour / $1,287.00 per week
• Level 4, pay point 1: $36.95 per hour / $1,404.20 per week
• Level 5, pay point 1: $39.62 per hour / $1,505.60 per week

These are the base rates. Your actual disability support worker salary may be higher if you have more experience, work weekends or public holidays, or receive allowances. But the starting point for take-home pay is always this gross figure.

National minimum wage vs award rates

The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (from 1 July 2026). All award rates are above that, so if you are covered by the SCHADS Award you are guaranteed at least the higher rate.

Example take-home calculation for a typical disability support worker

Let’s take a Level 3, pay point 1 employee working 38 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. Gross annual salary = $1,287.00 × 52 = $66,924.

Using the 2026–27 tax rates:

• Tax on first $18,200: $0
• Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: 15c per $1 = $4,020
• Tax on $45,001 to $66,924: 30c per $1 = $6,577.20
• Total tax: $10,597.20
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): $0 (income above $66,667)
• Medicare levy: 2% of $66,924 = $1,338.48
• Total deductions: $11,935.68
• Take-home pay: $54,988.32 per year, or about $1,057 per week

This is what reaches your bank account after tax and Medicare. It does not include super, which your employer pays on top (12% from 1 July 2026).

Common mix-ups: gross, package, and take-home

Many job ads say “$70,000 plus super” or “$75,000 package”. The word “package” often includes super, so your gross salary (the amount you pay tax on) is lower. For example, a $75,000 package with 12% super means your gross salary is about $66,964 – similar to the example above. Always clarify whether the figure is base salary or total package.

Salary packaging can also change your take-home. If you salary sacrifice part of your pay for rent or a car, your taxable income drops, so you pay less tax and Medicare. But the award requires that your net pay (after packaging) is not less than the award minimum. See Salary packaging for details.

How super fits in

Your employer must pay super on top of your gross salary. The rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your pay; it’s an extra cost for the employer. So if your disability support worker salary is $66,924, your employer adds $8,030.88 in super. That money goes into your super fund, not your bank account. For more on this, see [Super](/topics/super].

Tax and Medicare levy thresholds to remember

The Australian Taxation Office shows that the Medicare levy applies at 2% once your taxable income exceeds $35,013 (single). Between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. Full-time workers on a typical disability support worker salary will pay the full 2%.

Final word

When you see a disability support worker salary figures, always separate the gross base, the super component, and any packaging. Your take-home is what you can spend. Use the Take-home pay guide to estimate your own numbers. The example above is for illustration only – your actual tax may vary if you have HELP/HECS, a Medicare levy surcharge, or other deductions.