Aged care pay rates from 1 July 2026 under the Aged Care Award 2010: personal care workers and other direct care employees, and general staff such as cleaners, laundry and kitchen workers, full-time, part-time and casual.
An aged care direct carer (Level 2) gets $34.42 an hour, or $43.03 as a casual, about $68,006 a year full-time ($2,143 a fortnight after tax).
Direct care employees (personal care workers)
| Classification | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 - Introductory | $32.61 | $40.76 | $1,239.00 | $64,428 | $2,051 |
| Level 2 - Direct carer | $34.42 | $43.03 | $1,307.80 | $68,006 | $2,143 |
| Level 3 - Qualified | $36.23 | $45.29 | $1,376.70 | $71,588 | $2,237 |
| Level 4 - Senior | $37.68 | $47.10 | $1,431.80 | $74,454 | $2,312 |
| Level 5 - Specialist | $39.13 | $48.91 | $1,486.80 | $77,314 | $2,387 |
| Level 6 - Team leader | $40.58 | $50.73 | $1,541.90 | $80,179 | $2,462 |
Weekend and public holiday rates
| Classification | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday | Casual public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 - Introductory | $48.92 | $57.07 | $81.53 | $57.07 | $65.22 | $89.68 |
| Level 2 - Direct carer | $51.63 | $60.24 | $86.05 | $60.24 | $68.84 | $94.66 |
| Level 3 - Qualified | $54.35 | $63.40 | $90.58 | $63.40 | $72.46 | $99.63 |
| Level 4 - Senior | $56.52 | $65.94 | $94.20 | $65.94 | $75.36 | $103.62 |
| Level 5 - Specialist | $58.70 | $68.48 | $97.83 | $68.48 | $78.26 | $107.61 |
| Level 6 - Team leader | $60.87 | $71.02 | $101.45 | $71.02 | $81.16 | $111.60 |
General employees (cleaning, laundry, kitchen, maintenance, admin)
| Classification | Hourly | Casual hourly | Weekly | Year (52 weeks) | Take-home per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $27.77 | $34.71 | $1,055.40 | $54,881 | $1,807 |
| Level 2 | $28.87 | $36.09 | $1,097.20 | $57,054 | $1,862 |
| Level 3 | $29.98 | $37.48 | $1,139.40 | $59,249 | $1,918 |
| Level 4 | $30.34 | $37.93 | $1,152.80 | $59,946 | $1,936 |
| Level 5 | $31.36 | $39.20 | $1,191.80 | $61,974 | $1,988 |
| Level 6 | $33.05 | $41.31 | $1,256.00 | $65,312 | $2,074 |
| Level 7 | $33.65 | $42.06 | $1,278.60 | $66,487 | $2,104 |
Weekend and public holiday rates
| Classification | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Casual Saturday | Casual Sunday | Casual public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $41.66 | $48.60 | $69.43 | $48.60 | $55.54 | $76.37 |
| Level 2 | $43.31 | $50.52 | $72.18 | $50.52 | $57.74 | $79.39 |
| Level 3 | $44.97 | $52.47 | $74.95 | $52.47 | $59.96 | $82.45 |
| Level 4 | $45.51 | $53.10 | $75.85 | $53.10 | $60.68 | $83.44 |
| Level 5 | $47.04 | $54.88 | $78.40 | $54.88 | $62.72 | $86.24 |
| Level 6 | $49.58 | $57.84 | $82.63 | $57.84 | $66.10 | $90.89 |
| Level 7 | $50.48 | $58.89 | $84.13 | $58.89 | $67.30 | $92.54 |
Adult rates for a 38-hour week. Part-time employees get the full-time hourly rates. Casual rates include the 25% loading. A year is the weekly rate × 52.
How it works
- The Aged Care Award 2010 covers residential aged care. Home care workers are under the SCHADS award; see SCHADS pay rates.
- Registered and enrolled nurses in aged care are covered by the Nurses Award or an enterprise agreement, not these rates.
- Many providers have enterprise agreements that pay above the award. Super is paid on top.
Common questions
How much do aged care workers get paid?
Under the Aged Care Award 2010, a direct care worker (personal care worker or assistant in nursing) gets $32.61 to $40.58 an hour from 1 July 2026. A Level 2 direct carer gets $34.42 ($1,307.80 a week, about $68,006 a year), or $43.03 as a casual.
How much does a personal care worker earn?
$34.42 an hour at Level 2 (Direct carer) and $36.23 at Level 3 (Qualified), full-time or part-time.
What are aged care weekend rates?
Direct care employees get 150% on Saturdays and 175% on Sundays ($51.63 and $60.24 at Level 2); casuals get $60.24 and $68.84.
What do aged care cleaners and kitchen staff get?
General employees start at $27.77 an hour (Level 1) and go up to $33.65 (Level 7).
Did aged care pay go up?
Yes. Aged care award rates rose in several stages after the Fair Work Commission's work value case, and again with each Annual Wage Review. The rates here are from 1 July 2026.
See also enrolled nurse pay, weekend pay rates and the casual loading calculator.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide MA000018 (published 31 July 2026), Aged Care Award 2010 [MA000018]. Take-home pay: ATO tax rates. Checked 2026-10-22. General information only.