Welfare Support Worker salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Welfare Support 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 $96,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 94,500
- Annual employment growth
- +3,300/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +6%
- Skills shortage rating
- No national shortage
- Main industry
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Works full-time
- 70%
- Avg full-time hours
- 41 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 30%
- Female share
- 71%
- Median age
- 39 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 welfare support worker do?
Welfare Support Workers provide support, information and advice to clients on emotional, financial, recreational, health, housing and other social welfare matters, and evaluate and coordinate the services of welfare and community service agencies.
- Assessing clients' needs and planning, developing and implementing educational, training and support programs
- Interviewing clients and assessing the nature and extent of difficulties
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress of clients
- Referring clients to agencies that can provide additional help
- Assessing community need and resources for health, welfare, housing, employment, training and other facilities and services
- Liaising with community groups, welfare agencies, government bodies and private businesses about community issues and promoting awareness of community resources and services
- Supporting families and providing education and care for children and disabled persons in adult service units, group housing and government institutions
- Supervising offenders on probation and parole
- Assisting young people to solve social, emotional and financial problems
- Preparing submissions for funding and resources, and reports to government bodies and other agencies
How to become a welfare support worker
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Courses to get started
Where welfare support workers are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Welfare Support Worker jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Jobs that pay similar to a welfare support worker
Frequently asked questions
How much does a welfare support worker earn in Australia?
The median welfare support worker earns $95,888 per year ($1,844 per week, or about $49/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 welfare support worker?
Most welfare support workers hold a bachelor degree (25.8% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is welfare support worker a job in demand in Australia?
Around 94,500 welfare support workers are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +3,300 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.