SCHADS home care Level 5 pay rates 2026–27.
Personal care and domestic assistance delivered in a client's own home.
Home care rates shown apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026.
Full-time and part-time
Casual (includes 25% loading)
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman MA000100 pay guide (published 18 September 2026). Checked 27 September 2026.
About this level
Personal care and domestic assistance delivered in a client's own home.
An 8-hour shift at pay point 1
| Day | Permanent | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday | $316.96 | $396.24 |
| Weekday afternoon | $356.56 | $435.84 |
| Saturday | $475.44 | $554.72 |
| Sunday | $633.92 | $713.20 |
| Public holiday | $792.40 | $871.68 |
SCHADS home care Level 5 explained
Home care Level 5 at a glance
The level has 2 pay points, from $39.62 to $40.58 an hour. Under clause 13.3, an employee becomes eligible for the next pay point after each 12 months of continuous employment, if they have shown competency and satisfactory performance. These are the home care disability rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026, after the Fair Work Commission's initial increase of up to 15%. Earlier pay periods use the lower 1 July 2026 rates.
A worked 38-hour week at home care Level 5, pay point 1
Here is what a home care Level 5 employee at pay point 1 earns for a common mix of shifts: three weekday day shifts, a weekday afternoon shift finishing after 8pm, and a Saturday. No overtime, no public holiday, no allowances.
| Shifts | Hours | Permanent | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday–Wednesday day shifts (3 × 8h) | 24 | $39.62 × 24 = $950.88 | $49.53 × 24 = $1,188.72 |
| Thursday afternoon shift (finishes 10pm) | 6 | $44.57 × 6 = $267.42 | $54.48 × 6 = $326.88 |
| Saturday day shift | 8 | $59.43 × 8 = $475.44 | $69.34 × 8 = $554.72 |
| Week total | 38 | $1,693.74 | $2,070.32 |
The same 38 hours worked as weekday day shifts pays $1,505.60. The afternoon loading and the Saturday rate add $188.14 for a permanent employee. The casual total is higher because the 25% loading is paid instead of leave entitlements. To price a different week, including overtime, broken shifts and sleepovers, open the SCHADS pay calculator at home care Level 5.
Compared with neighbouring levels
PP = pay point. Source: FWO MA000100 pay guide.
Level 4 starts at $36.95 an hour. This is the highest level in the home care disability stream. Pay points reward experience within a level, but moving to a higher level only happens by promotion or reclassification when the duties change (clause 13.3(b)). See all levels on the SCHADS pay rates page.
Who is home care Level 5?
A care coordinator, foreperson or maintenance supervisor who coordinates resources or does specialist work.
- Accountable for the quality, cost and timeliness of the programs and work plans they control (E.5.1).
- Pay point 1 is marked in the award as the degree or diploma rate; entry skills are beyond a TAFE certificate or associate diploma alone (E.5.6).
The home care schedule applies to personal care, domestic assistance or home maintenance for a person with a disability in a private residence. Support in group homes or community settings usually falls under the SACS stream instead, where a Certificate III worker is Level 2.
A plain-English summary of the award's classification schedule, not legal advice. A new classification structure is due to start from the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2027.
References
Sources checked 4 October 2026.
- Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 [MA000100] (consolidated award) — Fair Work Commission, incorporating amendments to 1 September 2026 (PR813674)
- Pay Guide — Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award [MA000100] — Fair Work Ombudsman, published 18 September 2026, effective first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026
- Changes to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award — Fair Work Ombudsman, 21 September 2026
- Annual Wage Review 2026 — Fair Work Commission
Frequently asked
What is the SCHADS home care Level 5 hourly rate in 2026–27?+
Pay point 1: $39.62; Pay point 2: $40.58 an hour for full-time and part-time employees. Casuals receive a 25% loading on top.
What does a SCHADS home care Level 5 casual earn on a Saturday or Sunday?+
At pay point 1, a casual earns $69.34 an hour on Saturday, $89.15 on Sunday and $108.96 on a public holiday.
How does a worker move up a pay point within Level 5?+
Pay points reflect experience and skill within the level. Under the award, progression generally happens after 12 months of competent service at a pay point, subject to the classification criteria — check the award's classification schedule and any enterprise agreement for the exact rules.
What is the SCHADS home care Level 5 annual salary?+
A full-time home care Level 5 employee earns at least $1,505.60 a week at pay point 1, about $78,291.20 a year (weekly rate × 52), rising to $1,541.90 a week (about $80,178.80) at pay point 2. That's before penalty rates, overtime, allowances and superannuation.
How much does a home care Level 5 worker earn in a 38-hour week with a Saturday shift?+
At pay point 1, a permanent employee working 24 weekday day hours, a 6-hour weekday afternoon shift and an 8-hour Saturday shift earns $1,693.74 for the week, compared with $1,505.60 for 38 weekday day hours.
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