SCHADS Level 3 Pay Rate 2026–27
Current pay rates for Social and Community Services (SACS) Level 3 under the SCHADS Award (MA000100), effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 — including the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Full-time and part-time Level 3 rates run from $40.49 to $43.42 per hour across 4 pay points; casuals start at $50.61 per hour including the 25% loading. These rates already include the Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) — they are the final payable minimums.
Quick Facts
- Hourly (pay point 1)
- $40.49
- Hourly (pay point 4)
- $43.42
- Casual from
- $50.61 (incl. 25%)
- Approx. annual (full-time)
- $80,007–$85,798
- Saturday / Sunday
- 150% / 200%
- Rates effective
- 1 July 2026 (+4.75% AWR)
Tools & Resources
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What is SCHADS Level 3?
Level 3 in the Social and Community Services (SACS) stream covers experienced and senior support workers. Under Schedule B, a Level 3 employee works under general direction applying well-established procedures, solves problems of limited difficulty using knowledge and judgment gained through qualifications or experience, and has genuine scope to exercise initiative. Employees at this level may supervise lower-classified staff or volunteers in their day-to-day work — including managing the day-to-day operations of a group residential facility for people with disability.
Schedule B sets degree-based entry points at this level: graduates with a relevant three-year degree commence at no lower than pay point 3, and four-year degree graduates at no lower than pay point 4.
Typical Level 3 roles: senior disability support workers, house seniors and shift leaders, coordinators of small residential settings, degree-qualified caseworkers at entry.
SCHADS Level 3 pay rates from 1 July 2026 (full-time & part-time)
Minimum rates for full-time and part-time SACS Level 3 employees. Penalty rates shown are for ordinary hours worked on those days; afternoon shift (finishes after 8pm Mon–Fri) adds 12.5% and night shift adds 15%, applied to the whole shift. Compare: Level 2 rates. See also Level 4 rates.
| Level 3 | Weekly | Hourly | Saturday (150%) | Sunday (200%) | Public holiday (250%) | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $1,538.59 | $40.49 | $60.74 | $80.98 | $101.23 | $45.55 | $46.56 |
| Pay point 2 | $1,582.94 | $41.66 | $62.49 | $83.32 | $104.15 | $46.87 | $47.91 |
| Pay point 3 | $1,616.71 | $42.55 | $63.83 | $85.10 | $106.38 | $47.87 | $48.93 |
| Pay point 4 | $1,649.97 | $43.42 | $65.13 | $86.84 | $108.55 | $48.85 | $49.93 |
Casual SCHADS Level 3 rates (including 25% loading)
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. The rates below already include it. For how the loading interacts with weekend penalties, see our casual loading guide.
| Level 3 (casual) | Hourly | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $50.61 | $70.86 | $91.10 | $111.35 | $55.67 | $56.69 |
| Pay point 2 | $52.08 | $72.91 | $93.74 | $114.57 | $57.28 | $58.32 |
| Pay point 3 | $53.19 | $74.46 | $95.74 | $117.01 | $58.51 | $59.57 |
| Pay point 4 | $54.28 | $75.99 | $97.70 | $119.41 | $59.70 | $60.79 |
SCHADS Level 3 annual salary
Annualised, a full-time Level 3 employee earns between approximately $80,007 (pay point 1) and $85,798 (pay point 4) — calculated as the weekly rate × 52 for a 38-hour week, before any weekend penalties, shift loadings, overtime or allowances. In practice, rostered weekend and shift work can lift actual earnings well above the base salary.
| Level 3 | Weekly rate | Approx. annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $1,538.59 | $80,007 |
| Pay point 2 | $1,582.94 | $82,313 |
| Pay point 3 | $1,616.71 | $84,069 |
| Pay point 4 | $1,649.97 | $85,798 |
Qualifications and entry pay points
Schedule B of the award sets out the skills, experience and qualifications for Level 3. Typical entry routes:
- Relevant three-year degree — entry at pay point 3 or higher
- Relevant four-year degree — entry at pay point 4
- Associate diploma with relevant experience
- Relevant certificate with relevant experience, or an equivalent level of expertise attained through previous appointments, service and/or study
Within the level, employees generally progress one pay point after each 12 months of service at that point, subject to demonstrated competency — see our pay point progression guide.
Level 3 vs Level 2 and Level 4: the boundaries
Below Level 3, Level 2 work is routine and closely guided by established procedures. What marks Level 3 out is judgment and initiative: solving problems, setting goals for your own program of work, and supervising others day-to-day. Above it, Level 4 adds responsibility for whole functions, specialist expertise, and setting outcomes where procedures don't yet exist.
Misclassification at these boundaries is one of the most common — and expensive — SCHADS payroll errors, because the wrong base rate flows through every penalty, overtime hour and allowance. CrossVault's Timesheet Validator checks pay against classification on every timesheet line.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the SCHADS Level 3 hourly rate in 2026?
- From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum full-time/part-time SACS Level 3 rate is $40.49 per hour at pay point 1, rising to $43.42 at pay point 4. These figures include the Equal Remuneration Order.
- What does a casual SCHADS Level 3 employee earn?
- A casual Level 3 pay point 1 employee earns $50.61 per ordinary hour, which includes the 25% casual loading — rising to $70.86 on Saturdays, $91.10 on Sundays and $111.35 on public holidays.
- What is the SCHADS Level 3 annual salary?
- Approximately $80,007 to $85,798 a year for full-time work, depending on pay point (weekly rate × 52, 38-hour week). Weekend penalties, shift loadings, overtime and allowances are paid on top of this base.
- Is the SCHADS Level 3 pay rate different in NSW, Victoria or Queensland?
- No. The SCHADS Award is a national modern award, so the minimum rates for each classification are identical in every state and territory. Employers can pay above the minimum, and an enterprise agreement can set different (but not lower overall) terms.
- What is the difference between SCHADS Level 2 and Level 3?
- Level 2 work follows established routines under general guidance. Level 3 involves working under general direction with genuine scope for initiative, solving problems using judgment, and often supervising lower-classified staff day-to-day. The difference is duties and autonomy, not years of service — and classification follows the work actually performed.
- How do I move up from Level 3?
- There are two mechanisms: pay point progression within Level 3 (generally automatic after 12 months of service at a pay point, subject to competency) and reclassification to Level 4 when your actual duties match the higher level's Schedule B descriptors. Classification follows the work you actually perform, not your job title.
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