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Social Worker salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a social worker is $112,900 per annum, before tax, up $24,000 since 2018.
The employer makes most of the difference: state government departments and hospitals generally pay above community organisations, and public sector agreements set annual increases. Classification matters too, with senior and clinical social work roles sitting well above the entry level. Outside the public sector, many positions sit under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award and are funded on fixed-term contracts, so it is worth asking how prior experience counts towards your starting step.
How to negotiate a higher social worker salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time social worker salary is $112,900; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Casework and client support and Counselling and support work tend to command a premium over general social worker experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Social Worker salary questions
How much do social workers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a social worker is $112,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is social worker pay rising or falling?
The median social worker salary is up $24,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.