Aged Care Award pay rates 2026
Minimum rates for the Aged Care Award (MA000018) from 1 July 2026: 13 classifications on 13 distinct hourly rates, with casual and weekend rates.
This page sets out the minimum pay rates under the Aged Care Award, organised by classification. For each role you will find the base hourly and weekly minimum, the casual rate, and penalty rates for shift work, weekends and public holidays.
The Aged Care Award covers employees who work in residential aged care homes caring for older people. It applies to personal care workers and direct care staff who assist residents with daily living, along with the general and support employees who keep a facility running: cleaners, laundry and kitchen hands, cooks, food services staff, gardeners, maintenance workers and administrative staff. The classifications separate direct care roles, which progress with qualifications and responsibility, from general support roles graded by skill. Registered and enrolled nurses working in aged care are generally covered by the nursing award.
Pay rates by classification
How the pay scale works
Adult rates in the Aged Care Award run from $27.77 an hour (Aged care employee — general — level 1) to $40.58 (Aged care employee — direct care — level 6 — Team Leader), a spread of $12.81 an hour or 46.1%, $486.50 a week full-time.
The award’s 13 classifications in this dataset share 13 distinct hourly rates.
A casual Aged care employee — general — level 1 is paid $34.71 an hour, 25% above the full-time hourly rate, in place of paid leave.
What changed on 1 July 2026
For the entry classification, Aged care employee — general — level 1:
The hourly rate rose $1.26 (4.8%) from $26.51 on 30 June 2026 to $27.77, and the full-time weekly rate rose $47.90.
Penalty rates
| Day | Aged care | Median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 150% | 2 of 19 |
| Sunday | 175% | 187.5% | 11 of 20 |
| Public holiday | 250% | 250% | 1 of 22 |
The Sunday rate of 175% is lower than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 11th.
Compared with related awards
| Award | Entry classification | Hourly | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Industry Award | Pharmacy assistant level 1 | $27.81 | 150% |
| Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award | Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1 | $27.28 | 200% |
| Health Professionals and Support Services Award | Support services employee level 1 | $26.97 | 150% |
| Nurses Award | Student enrolled nurse — 21 years of age and over | $26.97 | 175% |
| Children's Services Award | Support worker level 1.1 — on commencement | $26.44 | 200% |
The Aged Care Award entry rate is $0.04 an hour lower than the Pharmacy Industry Award entry rate of $27.81.
The Aged Care Award entry rate is $0.49 an hour higher than the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award entry rate of $27.28.
The Aged Care Award entry rate is $0.80 an hour higher than the Health Professionals and Support Services Award entry rate of $26.97.
Allowances
The pay database lists 7 wage-related allowances and 8 expense-related allowances for this award. All-purpose allowances count towards penalty rates, overtime and leave.
| Allowance | Amount | Paid | All-purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leading hand allowance — 2 to 5 employees | $33.54 | per week | yes |
| Leading hand allowance — 6 to 10 employees | $47.85 | per week | yes |
| Leading hand allowance — 11 to 15 employees | $60.41 | per week | yes |
| Leading hand allowance — 16 or more employees | $73.85 | per week | yes |
| Nauseous work allowance — per hour or part thereof | $0.63 | per hour or part thereof | no |
| Nauseous work allowance — minimum payment per week | $3.39 | per week | no |
| Sleepover allowance | $65.31 | per night | no |
| Uniform allowance—the lesser of — uniform allowance—Per shift or part thereof; or | $1.26 | per shift or part thereof | no |
| Uniform allowance—the lesser of — uniform allowance—Per week | $6.41 | per week | no |
| Laundry allowance—the lesser of — laundry—per shift or part thereof | $0.33 | per shift or part thereof | no |
| Laundry allowance—the lesser of — laundry—per week | $1.53 | per week | no |
| Meal allowance—overtime | $17.30 | per occasion | no |
| Further 4 hours’ overtime | $15.60 | per occasion | no |
| Tool allowance—chefs and cooks who are not provided with necessary tools by employer | $13.41 | per week | no |
| Vehicle allowance | $1.01 | per km | no |
Look up a rate
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018), checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.