Your SCHADS Level 4 Salary: What You Actually Take Home After Tax

Understanding Your SCHADS Level 4 Salary

If you work under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award) at Level 4, your minimum hourly rate for 2026–27 is between $46.70 and $50.25, depending on your pay point. This is the schads level 4 salary range for full-time and part-time permanent employees, as published by the Fair Work Ombudsman . Casual workers get a 25% loading, making the casual rate $58.38 to $62.81 per hour .

Your actual take-home pay depends on your classification, hours worked, penalty rates, and tax obligations. This guide explains how to estimate the amount that reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy.

How the SCHADS Level 4 Rate Is Set

The SCHADS Award is reviewed annually by the Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, rates increased by 4.75% following the Annual Wage Review. Additionally, from 1 December 2026, home care disability employees will receive an initial increase of up to 15% to their minimum award rates. The rates quoted here apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.

Level 4 has four pay points. You move to the next pay point after 12 months of continuous employment, provided you show competency and satisfactory performance. The pay points are:

• Pay point 1: $46.70/hour ($1,774.74/week)
• Pay point 2: $47.92/hour ($1,821.07/week)
• Pay point 3: $49.16/hour ($1,867.93/week)
• Pay point 4: $50.25/hour ($1,909.51/week)

These are minimum rates. Your employer may pay above the award, and you may also receive allowances for meals, first aid, transport, on-call, or broken shifts.

Estimating Your Take-Home Pay

To work out your after-tax income, start with your gross annual salary. For a full-time permanent employee at Level 4 pay point 1, the annual base is roughly $92,286 (38 hours × $46.70 × 52 weeks). This is before superannuation, which your employer pays on top (12% from 1 July 2026).

Use the Tax and Medicare guide to apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

• $0–$18,200: Nil
• $18,201–$45,000: 15c per $1 over $18,200
• $45,001–$135,000: $4,020 plus 30c per $1 over $45,000
• $135,001–$190,000: $31,020 plus 37c per $1 over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45c per $1 over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce your tax by up to $700.

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. If your income is below $28,011, you pay no levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, the levy is phased in at 10c per dollar over the lower threshold. Full-time SCHADS Level 4 salaries exceed $35,013, so you will pay the full 2%.

For a $92,286 annual salary, the estimated tax is about $17,866, plus Medicare levy of $1,846, giving a total deduction of $19,712. Your after-tax annual income would be approximately $72,574, or about $1,396 per week. This is a rough estimate; use the Clearance tool for a personalised calculation.

Casual vs Permanent Take-Home

Casual employees earn a higher hourly rate but do not receive paid annual leave, sick leave, or public holiday pay. The 25% loading is intended to compensate for this. When comparing take-home pay, remember that casuals may have less predictable income and no leave entitlements.

Superannuation

Your employer must pay superannuation on top of your salary. For 2026–27, the super guarantee rate is 12%, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an additional benefit. Learn more in the Super guide.

What Affects Your Take-Home Pay?

• Penalty rates: Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, afternoon, and night shifts attract higher pay. For example, a Saturday shift at Level 4 pay point 1 pays $70.05 per hour for permanent employees.
• Allowances: You may receive additional payments for specific duties or conditions.
• Salary packaging: Some employers offer salary sacrifice arrangements, which can reduce your taxable income.
• HELP/HECS debts: If you have a student loan, repayments are deducted from your pay once your income exceeds the threshold.
• Medicare levy surcharge: If you do not have appropriate private hospital cover and your income is above a certain level, you may pay an extra 1–1.5%.

Using the Award Correctly

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate your exact minimum pay. Always check the current award before paying staff or accepting a job. The Modern Awards Pay Database from the Fair Work Commission also contains official rates .

Summary

Your schads level 4 salary is a strong base for calculating your take-home pay. Use the rates above, apply the tax and Medicare rules, and consider your personal circumstances. For a quick estimate, visit the Take-home pay page. Remember, the figures here are for guidance only and are not a tax assessment.