What is the SCHADS Level 8 hourly rate in 2026–27?

Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS), Level 8 has three pay points. Pay point 1 is $68.49 per hour, pay point 2 is $69.84, and pay point 3 is $71.19 for full-time and part-time employees. These rates already include the Equal Remuneration Order uplift. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top, making the casual hourly rate $85.61 at pay point 1. Source: and.

How does casual loading affect the SCHADS Level 8 salary?

Casual employees under the SCHADS Award are paid a 25% loading in lieu of paid leave entitlements. For Level 8 pay point 1, the casual hourly rate is $85.61 ($68.49 × 1.25). This loading applies to all ordinary hours, including penalty rates for weekends and public holidays. When converting to an annual figure, a casual working 38 hours every week would earn about $169,179 per year before tax and super, compared to $135,343 for a permanent employee at the same pay point.

What is the annual salary for SCHADS Level 8 after tax and super?

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the 2% Medicare levy, a full-time SCHADS Level 8 pay point 1 employee earning $135,343 per year would pay approximately $34,915 in tax and Medicare, leaving a take-home pay of about $100,428. Superannuation at 12% is paid on top of ordinary earnings, adding $16,241 per year (up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base). These are estimates only; actual amounts depend on individual circumstances. Use our [take-home pay](/topics/take-home) tool for a personalised calculation.

Understanding the SCHADS Level 8 Salary: Hourly to Annual Conversion

A full-time SCHADS Level 8 pay point 1 employee earns $68.49 per hour, or approximately $135,343 per year based on a 38-hour week.

From Hourly to Annual: The SCHADS Level 8 Salary

When you have an hourly rate, the quickest way to estimate your annual pay is to multiply by the number of hours you work each week, then by 52 weeks. For full-time employees under most awards, the standard week is 38 hours. This article uses that assumption to convert the SCHADS Level 8 salary into annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures, and compares it with the National Minimum Wage.

The Formula

Annual gross pay ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time SCHADS Level 8 employee at pay point 1:

$68.49 × 38 hours × 52 weeks = $135,343 per year (rounded).

That figure is before tax, before the Medicare levy, and before superannuation. Super is paid on top of your ordinary earnings at 12% (up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base). So the total cost to an employer is around $151,584 including super.

Fortnightly and Weekly Pay

A full-time SCHADS Level 8 employee at pay point 1 earns $2,602.75 per week (38 hours × $68.49). That means a fortnightly pay of $5,205.50 before any deductions. These figures come from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the SCHADS Award.

How the SCHADS Level 8 Salary Compares with the National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. A casual employee on the minimum wage gets $33.05 per hour including the 25% casual loading.

By contrast, the SCHADS Level 8 salary starts at $68.49 per hour – more than 2.5 times the minimum wage. This reflects the seniority and responsibility of Level 8 roles, which involve broad direction, managerial responsibility for an organisation or its key activities, or senior specialist advice to the board.

Casual Loading and Penalty Rates

If you work as a casual under the SCHADS Award, you receive a 25% loading on top of the base rate. For Level 8 pay point 1, that’s $85.61 per hour. Weekend and public holiday penalties also apply: Saturday ordinary hours are paid at 150% ($102.74), Sunday at 200% ($136.98), and public holidays at 250% ($171.23) for permanent employees. Casual rates are higher again because the loading is included.

Our casual loading page explains how the loading interacts with penalty rates.

Tax and Take-Home Pay

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:

Nil tax on the first $18,200
15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
45% on income above $190,000

Plus the Medicare levy of 2% (single reduction thresholds not confirmed for 2026–27, so we use the 2025–26 figures).

For a SCHADS Level 8 salary of $135,343, the estimated tax is $30,967 plus Medicare of $2,707, total $33,674. That leaves take-home pay of about $101,669. If you salary sacrifice or have a HELP debt, your take-home will be lower.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Employers must pay super guarantee at 12% of ordinary earnings. For a $135,343 salary, that’s $16,241 per year, up to the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Super is not deducted from your pay – it’s an additional cost to the employer and goes into your nominated super fund.

Using the Timesheet Tool

If you want to see your own hourly rate converted to annual pay, including casual loading, use the timesheet on this site. Type your base hourly rate, check the casual loading box if applicable, and the tool shows your weekly, fortnightly, and annual figures. It also estimates tax and super.

Pay Points and Progression

SCHADS Level 8 has three pay points. Under clause 13.3 of the award, an employee becomes eligible for the next pay point after each 12 months of continuous employment, provided they have shown competency and satisfactory performance. So after one year at pay point 1 ($68.49), you may move to pay point 2 ($69.84), and after another year to pay point 3 ($71.19).

Annual salary at pay point 3: $71.19 × 38 × 52 = $140,674.

Reference Tables

For a full list of SCHADS rates across all levels and pay points, see our reference tables. They include the Equal Remuneration Order adjustments that apply to Levels 2–8.

Important Notes

This conversion assumes you work the same number of hours every week, with no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Actual pay may differ if your roster includes weekends, evenings, or public holidays. The SCHADS Award also has specific rules for broken shifts, sleepovers, and overtime that can affect your total earnings.

Always check the current Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for your classification before relying on these figures. The award itself is the legal document that sets your minimum entitlements.

Summary

The SCHADS Level 8 salary is one of the highest under the award, reflecting senior management or specialist roles. A full-time employee at pay point 1 earns $68.49 per hour, $2,602.75 per week, and about $135,343 per year. With super and casual loading, the figures increase significantly. Use our hourly conversion page to compare with other awards or the National Minimum Wage.