How much do you get paid: Aged and Disability Care
The aged and disability care sector in Australia is not only one of the fastest-growing industries — it's also one of the most essential. With an ageing population and a robust National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), demand for care workers is surging. But what about the pay?
In this article, we'll break down how much people earn in key aged and disability care occupations.
We'll look at credible data (largely from government sources) on average salaries for roles ranging from nursing and therapy to support and admin.
We'll also explore industry trends — including whether demand for these jobs will stay high over the next decade — to help you weigh the financial and practical merits of working in this rewarding sector.
A Snapshot of Salaries in Aged & Disability Care
Let's start with a quick overview of typical earnings for the major occupations in aged and disability care. The table below shows approximate median full-time earnings for each major role in the sector (before tax), as reported in recent Australian government and other authoritative third-party data (mostly from 2023–2024). We've also converted weekly pay into an approximate annual salary (assuming 52 weeks of work per year).
| Role | Median weekly pay | Approx. annual salary | vs. national median |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner / Resident Medical OfficerHighly variable; many GPs bill per consultation | $3,750+ | $195,000+ | Above |
| Registered NurseGovernment pay boost of 15% applied from 2023 | $1,721 | ~$89,500 | Above |
| Psychologist / Psychotherapist | $1,615 | ~$84,000 | Above |
| Physiotherapist | $1,558 | ~$81,000 | Above |
| Welfare Support Worker | $1,346 | ~$70,000 | Below |
| Aged and Disability Carer~40% employed full-time; actual earnings often lower | $1,148 | ~$59,700 | Below |
| General Clerk (healthcare) | $1,212 | ~$63,000 | Below |
| Receptionist (Medical / Admin)~57% in part-time roles | $1,058 | ~$55,000 | Below |
| Child CarerHigh part-time rate; union advocacy pushing for increases | $1,000 | ~$52,000 | Below |
| National median (all workers) | $1,700 | ~$88,000 | ABS 2024 benchmark |
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia (ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2023), SEEK Average Salary Data (July 2025), AFR GP Salaries (April 2025).
As shown above, salaries in the care sector vary widely by role. Highly qualified professionals like doctors (GPs) earn well into six figures on average, while front-line care workers and support staff often earn closer to $70k–$90k.
For context, the typical Australian full-time worker earns about $1,700 per week (around $88k per year) as of 2025 (ABS 2024). This means roles such as GPs, registered nurses, and psychologists pay above the national median, whereas jobs like aged care support worker or childcare worker tend to pay below the national average.
What are these roles?
It's worth examining each occupation in a bit more detail, because raw numbers don't tell the whole story. Here's a closer look at the major roles in aged and disability care and what their pay packets look like.
General Practitioners (GPs) and Resident Medical Officers
These are doctors — either fully qualified GPs or hospital junior doctors. It won't surprise you that they top the pay scales in this list, reflecting extensive training and responsibility that comes with being a physician. GPs in community clinics (including those serving aged care residents) generally earn high incomes, though many are not on fixed salaries but rather bill per consultation. Note, salaries in this profession fluctuate significantly. It is not unusual for doctors to be earning over $400,000 per year.
Registered Nurses (RNs)
Nurses are among the better-paid roles in this sector. This makes sense — RNs are highly skilled (usually requiring a Bachelor's degree and registration) and play a critical role in healthcare settings from hospitals to aged care facilities. In aged care specifically, RN salaries can sometimes be lower than hospital nurses, but with government support (like the 15% pay boost for aged care nurses under the 2023 Fair Work decision), wages are improving.
Psychologists and Psychotherapists
Working in mental health and counselling, psychologists (along with counsellors and social workers) are increasingly employed in disability support, mental health services, and community care settings, reflecting growing awareness of mental health in aged and disability care.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists are vital in rehabilitation, aged care (helping seniors maintain mobility), and disability services (therapy for people with injuries or developmental conditions).
Welfare Support Workers
This broad category includes roles such as community workers, family support workers, youth workers, and disability support officers. These professionals are typically employed by non-government organisations (NGOs), local councils, or government agencies. Their work involves coordinating support services, advocating for clients, and offering guidance to individuals and families experiencing hardship or disadvantage. Unlike direct care roles (e.g. aged and disability carers), they focus on social and emotional support, case planning, and connecting people with the services they need. Many roles in this group are salaried and offer relatively stable conditions.
Aged and Disability Carers
These are frontline care workers who provide hands-on personal support to older adults or people with disabilities. Often working in aged care facilities, group homes, or clients' private homes, they assist with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, mobility, meal preparation, and companionship. Common job titles include personal care assistant, aged care worker, or support worker.
It's worth noting that a high proportion of workers in this sector are part-time — only around 40% are employed full-time. As a result, average take-home earnings for many in this role are lower than full-time equivalent figures suggest. While physically and emotionally demanding, this work is deeply valued and has seen increased recognition, including government-backed pay rises in recent years. For many, the greatest reward is the meaningful impact they have on the lives of those they care for.
Receptionists (Medical / Admin in care settings)
Reception and administrative support staff are the backbone of day-to-day operations in any care facility — they handle phone inquiries, appointments, record-keeping and more. This occupation's pay is below the national median, reflecting that it's typically an entry-level role requiring no tertiary qualification (often a high school diploma or certificate in office administration). Many receptionist positions are also part-time (about 57% are part-time roles). While not high-paid, these jobs can offer flexibility and a friendly work environment, and they're plentiful in the healthcare and social assistance industry.
Child Carers
Although child care isn't aged care, it falls under the broad care sector and is often grouped in the same industry. This is one of the lowest median pays on our list — a reflection of historically low wages in early childhood education and care, despite the critical importance of the work. Like aged care, child care roles have high part-time rates and are often award-wage jobs. There has been much discussion in Australia about lifting child care wages, but as of the latest data they remain relatively low. From an economic standpoint, one doesn't choose child care for the money — rather, it's often a passion for working with kids that draws people in. However, the sector's strong union advocacy and government attention (due to skill shortages) could lead to gradual pay improvements.
General Clerks
These are administrative clerical workers who perform a range of office duties. In health and social care organisations, general clerks might handle documentation, billing, data entry, and logistics. If you're detail-oriented and prefer paperwork to direct care, a clerk position in a healthcare setting provides a stable if modest income. Keep in mind that clerical jobs exist in many industries — so their wages aren't specifically tied to aged care funding (and thus haven't seen special boosts like the carers have).
Crucially, none of these figures account for penalty rates or overtime. Many care sector jobs involve shift work (nights, weekends) or irregular hours, which in Australia often come with penalty loadings. For example, an aged care nurse on night shift or a disability carer working Sundays will earn above the base rates. Thus, actual take-home pay can be higher if you're willing to work unsociable hours. On the flip side, many roles are part-time by nature, which can limit total earnings but offer work-life balance or flexibility for those who need it.