Ask what aged care workers earn in Australia and the answer depends entirely on who is asking and why. The government cites award rates. Agencies advertise competitive pay. The actual take-home figure for most workers sits well below what clients are charged for their labour. Here is the honest breakdown.
Award rates in 2026
Under the Aged Care Award 2010, a Level 1 support worker earns a base of $25.41 per hour permanent, or $31.76 per hour casual with the 25% loading. Following the Work Value Case determinations and the October 2025 direct care increase, rates have risen meaningfully -- but they remain the legal minimum, not a liveable wage for independent workers covering their own super, tax and expenses.
What agency workers actually take home
Most aged care workers in Australia find work through an agency or approved provider. PayScale data for 2026 shows the average aged care support worker takes home $26.80 to $30.99 per hour depending on experience. That is what reaches the worker. The family or government package may be paying the agency $85 to $115 per hour for the same person.
The three real tiers of aged care pay in Australia
- Award minimum, facility or approved provider: $25 to $32 per hour. The legal floor. Most residential and home care package workers sit in this range.
- Agency support worker, private market: $30 to $38 per hour. Higher than award but still well below what the client pays. The agency takes the difference.
- Independent contractor through a flat-fee platform: $55 to $120 per hour depending on role. The gap between what the client pays and what the worker receives is a flat $20, not a percentage.
What Enrolled and Registered Nurses earn
Enrolled Nurses in aged care facilities earn approximately $38 to $45 per hour under enterprise agreements. Registered Nurses start at around $38 per hour at Level 1, rising to $55 or more with experience. In private in-home care through a flat-fee platform, ENs keep $80 per hour and RNs keep $120 per hour. The same AHPRA registration. Dramatically different income.
What a full week of in-home work pays
- Support Worker, 38 hours per week: $2,090 per week take-home
- Enrolled Nurse, 38 hours per week: $3,040 per week take-home
- Registered Nurse, 38 hours per week: $4,560 per week take-home
The honest comparison
A Registered Nurse earning $45 per hour in a facility is doing the same clinical work as an RN earning $120 per hour through a private platform. The qualification is identical. The work is similar. The difference is entirely structural. The flat-fee platform model means the worker keeps what the work is actually worth.
When you get paid
Through Nest & Nurture Elder Care, pay is released every Wednesday for all sessions completed and verified in the prior week. The family pays at booking. You do not chase invoices, wait on 30-day cycles or manage billing.
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