SCHADS Level 5 Pay Rate 2026–27
Current pay rates for Social and Community Services (SACS) Level 5 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 5 rates run from $53.43 to $55.85 per hour across 3 pay points; casuals start at $66.79 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)
- $53.43
- Hourly (pay point 3)
- $55.85
- Casual from
- $66.79 (incl. 25%)
- Approx. annual (full-time)
- $105,570–$110,351
- Saturday / Sunday
- 150% / 200%
- Rates effective
- 1 July 2026 (+4.75% AWR)
Tools & Resources
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What is SCHADS Level 5?
Level 5 in the Social and Community Services (SACS) stream covers program coordination and senior practitioner roles. Under Schedule B, a Level 5 employee works under general direction from senior employees and applies a high level of knowledge and skills to achieve results in line with the organisation's goals. The level involves helping establish the organisation's programs and procedures, and may include supervision, work spanning more than one discipline, and assisting in the preparation of — or preparing — the organisation's budget.
Employees at this level provide expert advice to lower-classified staff and volunteers, set priorities and monitor workflows in their area of responsibility, and may establish work programs in smaller organisations.
Typical Level 5 roles: program coordinators, senior case managers, senior practitioners and specialists providing multi-disciplinary advice.
SCHADS Level 5 pay rates from 1 July 2026 (full-time & part-time)
Minimum rates for full-time and part-time SACS Level 5 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 4 rates. See also Level 6 rates.
| Level 5 | Weekly | Hourly | Saturday (150%) | Sunday (200%) | Public holiday (250%) | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $2,030.20 | $53.43 | $80.15 | $106.86 | $133.58 | $60.11 | $61.44 |
| Pay point 2 | $2,073.91 | $54.58 | $81.87 | $109.16 | $136.45 | $61.40 | $62.77 |
| Pay point 3 | $2,122.13 | $55.85 | $83.78 | $111.70 | $139.63 | $62.83 | $64.23 |
Casual SCHADS Level 5 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 5 (casual) | Hourly | Saturday | Sunday | Public holiday | Afternoon shift | Night shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $66.79 | $93.50 | $120.22 | $146.93 | $73.47 | $74.80 |
| Pay point 2 | $68.23 | $95.52 | $122.81 | $150.10 | $75.05 | $76.41 |
| Pay point 3 | $69.81 | $97.74 | $125.66 | $153.59 | $76.79 | $78.19 |
SCHADS Level 5 annual salary
Annualised, a full-time Level 5 employee earns between approximately $105,570 (pay point 1) and $110,351 (pay point 3) — 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 5 | Weekly rate | Approx. annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | $2,030.20 | $105,570 |
| Pay point 2 | $2,073.91 | $107,843 |
| Pay point 3 | $2,122.13 | $110,351 |
Qualifications and entry pay points
Schedule B of the award sets out the skills, experience and qualifications for Level 5. Typical entry routes:
- Relevant degree with relevant experience
- Associate diploma with substantial experience
- Qualifications in more than one discipline
- Less formal qualifications with specialised skills sufficient to perform at this level, or equivalent experience 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 5 vs Level 4 and Level 6
Level 4 supervises functions within established settings; Level 5 helps establish the programs and procedures themselves, carries budget involvement, and provides expert advice across the organisation. Above it, Level 6 operates under only limited direction and contributes to managing the organisation as a whole.
At senior levels the dollars-per-hour gap between adjacent classifications is large, so a misclassified coordinator or senior practitioner accrues underpayment quickly — on ordinary hours, penalties and overtime alike. CrossVault's Timesheet Validator checks every line of pay against the correct classification rate.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the SCHADS Level 5 hourly rate in 2026?
- From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum full-time/part-time SACS Level 5 rate is $53.43 per hour at pay point 1, rising to $55.85 at pay point 3. These figures include the Equal Remuneration Order.
- What does a casual SCHADS Level 5 employee earn?
- A casual Level 5 pay point 1 employee earns $66.79 per ordinary hour, which includes the 25% casual loading — rising to $93.50 on Saturdays, $120.22 on Sundays and $146.93 on public holidays.
- What is the SCHADS Level 5 annual salary?
- Approximately $105,570 to $110,351 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 5 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 roles are classified at SCHADS Level 5?
- Typical Level 5 roles include program coordinators, senior case managers and senior practitioners. Schedule B characterises the level by high-level knowledge and skills, involvement in establishing programs and procedures, possible budget preparation, and providing expert advice — usually backed by a relevant degree with experience.
- How do I move up from Level 5?
- There are two mechanisms: pay point progression within Level 5 (generally automatic after 12 months of service at a pay point, subject to competency) and reclassification to Level 6 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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