Social Worker salary in Australia
Updated 22 July 2026
Take-home on the median Social Worker salary of $85,500 — after $16,438 income tax and $1,710 Medicare levy (2025–26 resident, no HECS, private hospital cover).
National figures · February 2026 · Source: Jobs and Skills Australia (© Commonwealth of Australia), CC BY 4.0
What companies pay
Reported total pay for Social Worker roles by employer — medians include bonuses and other cash compensation, so they sit above base-salary figures.
| Company | Median total pay | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland Health★ 3.8 | $117,000 | $73,000 – $151,000 |
| NSW Department of Health★ 3.3 | $103,414 | $85,100 – $118,200 |
| Northern NSW Local Health District★ 3.6 | $101,827 | $83,000 – $107,100 |
| Berry Street ★ 3.9 | $97,000 | $94,000 – $110,000 |
| SA Health★ 3.8 | $94,750 | $70,164 – $119,150 |
| Queensland Government★ 3.9 | $88,576 | $45,600 – $130,000 |
| Australian Government Services Australia★ 3.3 | $87,000 | $79,379 – $102,650 |
| Government of South Australia★ 3.6 | $86,760 | $71,640 – $99,232 |
| Monash Health★ 3.7 | $85,500 | $68,000 – $111,400 |
| NSW Department of Communities and Justice★ 3.6 | $85,000 | $70,000 – $114,000 |
| Key Assets★ 3.0 | $80,000 | $71,000 – $88,000 |
| The Benevolent Society★ 3.1 | $79,800 | $75,000 – $88,000 |
| Forensicare★ 2.5 | $79,000 | $64,766 – $110,000 |
| Department for Child Protection★ 2.5 | $77,000 | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| South West Sydney Local Health District★ 3.0 | $74,258 | $69,160 – $103,503 |
| Swan Christian Education Association★ 4.6 | $62,713 | $54,345 – $75,687 |
| Hawkesbury District Health Services★ 4.1 | $53,194 | $45,922 – $59,655 |
| Spinecare Chiropractic Castle Plaza★ 3.6 | $50,659 | $36,960 – $74,280 |
| WAYSS★ 3.1 | $48,590 | $40,903 – $56,751 |
Social Worker pay by state
Median base salary and range where enough data exists — every figure labelled with its source.
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory
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Salary figures are market estimates built from third-party data and community submissions — they show what the market pays, not what any individual employer will offer. Take-home figures are 2025–26 estimates for an Australian resident with private hospital cover and no HECS debt. General information only — not financial or tax advice.