SCHADS Level 4 Pay Rate 2026–27
Current pay rates for Social and Community Services (SACS) Level 4 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 4 rates run from $46.70 to $50.25 per hour across 4 pay points; casuals start at $58.38 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)
- $46.70
- Hourly (pay point 4)
- $50.25
- Casual from
- $58.38 (incl. 25%)
- Approx. annual (full-time)
- $92,286–$99,295
- Saturday / Sunday
- 150% / 200%
- Rates effective
- 1 July 2026 (+4.75% AWR)
Tools & Resources
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SCHADS AI Assistant
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Timesheet Validator
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What is SCHADS Level 4?
Level 4 in the Social and Community Services (SACS) stream is where coordination, team leadership and specialist work begins. Under Schedule B, a Level 4 employee works under general direction, applying knowledge and skills gained through qualifications and/or previous experience in a discipline. Positions may involve a substantial component of supervision of functions or complex activities, or the provision of specialist expertise or advice in the employee's discipline.
Employees at this level are expected to contribute to establishing procedures in their field, and to set outcomes and further develop work methods where general work procedures are not defined — a step beyond applying existing procedures well.
Typical Level 4 roles: team leaders, roster and service coordinators, case managers, specialist practitioners.
SCHADS Level 4 pay rates from 1 July 2026 (full-time & part-time)
Minimum rates for full-time and part-time SACS Level 4 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 3 rates. See also Level 5 rates.
| Level 4 | Weekly | Hourly | Saturday (150%) | Sunday (200%) | Public holiday (250%) | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $1,774.74 | $46.70 | $70.05 | $93.40 | $116.75 | $52.54 | $53.71 |
| Pay point 2 | $1,821.07 | $47.92 | $71.88 | $95.84 | $119.80 | $53.91 | $55.11 |
| Pay point 3 | $1,867.93 | $49.16 | $73.74 | $98.32 | $122.90 | $55.31 | $56.53 |
| Pay point 4 | $1,909.51 | $50.25 | $75.38 | $100.50 | $125.63 | $56.53 | $57.79 |
Casual SCHADS Level 4 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 4 (casual) | Hourly | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $58.38 | $81.73 | $105.08 | $128.43 | $64.21 | $65.38 |
| Pay point 2 | $59.90 | $83.86 | $107.82 | $131.78 | $65.89 | $67.09 |
| Pay point 3 | $61.45 | $86.03 | $110.61 | $135.19 | $67.60 | $68.82 |
| Pay point 4 | $62.81 | $87.94 | $113.06 | $138.19 | $69.09 | $70.35 |
SCHADS Level 4 annual salary
Annualised, a full-time Level 4 employee earns between approximately $92,286 (pay point 1) and $99,295 (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 4 | Weekly rate | Approx. annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $1,774.74 | $92,286 |
| Pay point 2 | $1,821.07 | $94,696 |
| Pay point 3 | $1,867.93 | $97,132 |
| Pay point 4 | $1,909.51 | $99,295 |
Qualifications and entry pay points
Schedule B of the award sets out the skills, experience and qualifications for Level 4. Typical entry routes:
- Relevant four-year degree with one year of relevant experience
- Three-year degree with two years of relevant experience
- Associate diploma with relevant experience
- Lesser formal qualifications with substantial years of 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 4 vs Level 3: the team-leader line
The most litigated classification boundary in the sector sits between Level 3 and Level 4. A Level 3 employee may supervise others' day-to-day work within established procedures; a Level 4 employee runs a function — supervising a team or complex activities, providing specialist advice, and setting outcomes where procedures don't exist. An experienced support worker who has drifted into rostering the team, managing a program area or carrying a complex caseload while still being paid at Level 3 (or even Level 2) is the classic SCHADS underpayment.
Because the base rate drives every penalty and overtime calculation, that error compounds on every hour worked. CrossVault's Timesheet Validator flags pay that doesn't match classification before it becomes a six-figure back-pay bill.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the SCHADS Level 4 hourly rate in 2026?
- From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum full-time/part-time SACS Level 4 rate is $46.70 per hour at pay point 1, rising to $50.25 at pay point 4. These figures include the Equal Remuneration Order.
- What does a casual SCHADS Level 4 employee earn?
- A casual Level 4 pay point 1 employee earns $58.38 per ordinary hour, which includes the 25% casual loading — rising to $81.73 on Saturdays, $105.08 on Sundays and $128.43 on public holidays.
- What is the SCHADS Level 4 annual salary?
- Approximately $92,286 to $99,295 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 4 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 SCHADS level is a team leader?
- Team leaders, coordinators and case managers are typically SACS Level 4. Schedule B describes Level 4 as involving a substantial component of supervision, specialist expertise, and setting outcomes where procedures are not defined. A 'senior support worker' who genuinely runs a team or program area may be doing Level 4 work regardless of their job title.
- How do I move up from Level 4?
- There are two mechanisms: pay point progression within Level 4 (generally automatic after 12 months of service at a pay point, subject to competency) and reclassification to Level 5 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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