Median salary
$72,035
ANZSCO 2725 · Legal, social and welfare professionals
Social worker salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian social worker is $72,035 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $58,196 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$58,196
Fortnightly
$2,238
Tax returns
52,571
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 2725, based on 52,571 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $72,401 | $72,035 | $75,518 |
| Average (mean) | $74,319 | $71,559 | $77,418 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $social worker salary
| Gross salary (median) | $72,035 |
| Income tax | −$12,399 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,441 |
| Take-home pay | $58,196 |
| + Employer super | $8,644 |
See the $72,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $72,035 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Legal, social and welfare professionals
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | 70,952 | $113,532 |
| Psychologist | 25,931 | $72,699 |
| Counsellor | 17,976 | $62,507 |
| Religious leader | 17,699 | $28,818 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social worker earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian social worker in 2022-23 was $72,035, based on 52,571 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $71,559; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical social worker.
What is a social worker salary after tax?
On the median $72,035 salary for a social worker, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $58,196 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $2,238 per fortnight or $1,119 per week.
How much tax does a social worker pay?
On the median $72,035 salary, a social worker in FY2025-26 pays about $13,839 in total tax — $12,399 income tax plus $1,441 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 19.2%.
How many people work as a social worker in Australia?
52,571 Australians lodged a tax return as a social worker in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 2725 on their return.
What is the average vs median social worker salary?
Average (mean): $71,559. Median: $72,035. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical social worker earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).