Social work salary: what you take home after tax and Medicare
The median social work salary is $2,172 per week before tax, which after deductions gives an estimated take-home of about $1,659 per week.
Where the social work salary sits
If you are a social worker in Australia, your pay is well above the national minimum. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for full-time social workers are $2,172 before tax. That works out to $57 an hour. The figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, and covers non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate.
For context, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week. The full-time adult ordinary time average across all occupations is $2,083.70 a week. So the typical social work salary is about 4% above that average and more than double the minimum.
What the award says
Most social workers are covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS). The award sets minimum rates from Level 1 to Level 8. The median $2,172 a week falls between Level 5 pay point 1 ($2,030.20) and Level 6 pay point 1 ($2,218.02). That means many experienced social workers are at Level 6 or above. The award also includes penalty rates for weekends, public holidays, and shift work, which can boost your take-home pay.
Your take-home pay after tax and Medicare
Let’s look at what lands in your bank account. On the median $2,172 a week, your annual salary is $112,944. Using the 2026–27 tax rates:
- Tax on first $18,200: nil
- Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: $4,020
- Tax on $45,001 to $112,944: $20,383
- Total tax before offsets: $24,403
The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) does not apply at this income level. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, which is $2,259. So total deductions are $26,662.
Your estimated take-home pay: $86,282 a year, or $1,659 a week. That is $3,318 a fortnight.
Remember, this is an estimate. It excludes HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, and payroll tax-table rounding. Use our Take-home pay tool for a personalised calculation.
Super and salary packaging
Employer super is 12% from 1 July 2026, but it is not deducted from your take-home pay. The median salary figure is quoted before super. Many social workers also use salary packaging to reduce taxable income, especially in health and community services. This can increase your after-tax amount. See our Salary packaging guide for details.
How the social work salary compares
| Benchmark | Weekly amount |
|---|---|
| National minimum wage | $1,004.90 |
| All employees average | $1,579.20 |
| Full-time adult ordinary time | $2,083.70 |
| Social worker median | $2,172 |
The median social work salary sits above the full-time average. That reflects the skilled nature of the role and the demand for qualified social workers. The industry is dominated by health care and social assistance, and public administration.
What affects your take-home pay
Your actual take-home pay depends on:
- Your award classification and pay point
- Whether you work full-time, part-time, or casual
- Penalty rates and overtime
- Salary packaging arrangements
- Your tax file number declaration and any study loans
For a detailed breakdown, refer to the Tax and Medicare page. You can also check the Minimum wage benchmarks.
Final note
The figures here are based on the latest public data from Jobs and Skills Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman. They are a guide, not a tax assessment. Your individual situation may differ.
Questions
How is the Medicare levy calculated on a social work salary?
The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. For the 2026–27 tax year, the latest published single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Full-time social workers earning above $35,013 pay the full 2% levy. For the median salary of $112,944 a year, the levy is $2,259.
Does the median social work salary include superannuation?
No. The median weekly earnings of $2,172 from Jobs and Skills Australia are before tax and before employer super. The super guarantee rate is 12% from 1 July 2026, so your total employment cost is higher, but super is not part of your take-home pay.
How does the social work salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week. The median social work salary of $2,172 a week is more than double that. It also sits above the full-time adult ordinary time average of $2,083.70 a week.