Social Worker salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Social Workers
Last reviewed July 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $113,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 47,400
- Annual employment growth
- +1,700/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +14.6%
- Skills shortage rating
- No national shortage
- Main industry
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Works full-time
- 68%
- Avg full-time hours
- 40 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 32%
- Female share
- 84%
- Median age
- 38 yrs
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025)
What does a social worker do?
Social Workers assess the social needs of individuals, families and groups, assist and empower people to develop and use the skills and resources needed to resolve social and other problems, and further human wellbeing and human rights, social justice and social development.
- Acting as a facilitator between clients in need and community services
- Assessing resources for health, welfare, recreation, housing, employment and other community services
- Providing leadership and assistance for the implementation of pilot projects in community development and self-help, and planning and implementing research projects to address client needs, organisation goals and social policy
- Cooperating with community organisations, social agencies and voluntary groups to improve services and develop new services
- Conducting individual and family case interviews to identify the nature and extent of clients' problems
- Assisting clients to understand and resolve problems by providing information, acting as a mediator and referring them to community and self-help agencies
- Analysing, developing, promoting and implementing social policies through the use of practice experience, research, analytic frameworks, and negotiation skills to respond to social need through a fair, equitable and effective allocation of social resource
- Monitoring the progress of clients by maintaining contact
- Compiling case records and reports
How to become a social worker
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Where social workers are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Social Worker jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Jobs that pay similar to a social worker
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social worker earn in Australia?
The median social worker earns $112,944 per year ($2,172 per week, or about $57/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a social worker?
Most social workers hold a bachelor degree (51.5% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is social worker a job in demand in Australia?
Around 47,400 social workers are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +1,700 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Employment projections: Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Skills shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
The ABS median refers to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate; individual pay varies. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.