Support Worker Pay Rate: Wage, Salary or Hourly Rate?
26 October 2026
An independent support worker is not paid a wage or a salary. They run their own business and charge for their services, so what matters is a rate, and it has to cover their own costs. This guide explains how that works, what a rate has to cover, and where employee pay differs.
Wage, salary or rate: what the words mean
A wage or salary is what an employer pays an employee. A rate is the price a contractor puts on their services. The Australian Government's business.gov.au says contractors run their own business and sell their services to others. It also says contractors may negotiate their own fees and working arrangements.
It describes employees differently: they work in someone else's business, and the employer controls how, where and when they do their work. Which one a particular support worker is depends on the arrangement. Our comparison of working independently and working through an agency goes into more detail.
Who sets the rate
Independent support workers on CareVicinity are independent contractors; CareVicinity does not employ or assign them as staff.
The support worker sets their own hourly rate; that is the amount the client/coordinator pays.
CareVicinity charges support workers a 12.5% platform fee. Care seekers and coordinators pay no platform fee.
Worked examples of how payouts work are on a separate page about rates and payments.
What a rate has to cover
An hourly rate is not take-home pay. A contractor's costs come out of it, and some things an employer would arrange are the contractor's to arrange.
business.gov.au says contractors should get their own income protection insurance, as hirers do not generally cover them for paid sick leave or workers compensation. It also says that, on top of that, contractors should consider liability insurance to cover damage or injuries a contractor causes to people or property while working.
On super, business.gov.au says contractors who do not get super from a hirer can pay personal super contributions to a fund of their choice.
These come into it too, according to business.gov.au:
Contractors should check their eligibility before they register for an Australian Business Number (ABN), and some, such as labour hire workers, are not eligible.
A hirer may legally withhold the top rate of tax from a contractor's pay if the contractor does not give them an ABN when they start a job.
You must register for GST if your business has a GST turnover of $75,000 or more.
Contractors registered for GST must add GST to the price of their services.
Ask a registered adviser how these apply to your own income.
If you are an employee
business.gov.au also says that a business incorrectly telling an employee they are a contractor is called sham contracting, and that this is illegal. If you think that is happening to you, it says you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Questions to ask before you settle on a rate
Nothing here is a rate recommendation. These questions help you work out your own:
Which costs do I pay myself, such as insurance, travel between clients and admin time?
Am I registered for GST, and is it added to my price?
How many paid hours do I realistically expect in a week?
Who will I talk to about tax and super before I start?
When you are ready to set up, our guide on becoming an independent support worker covers the steps.
FAQ
How much does a support worker charge per hour?
It depends on the support worker. The support worker sets their own hourly rate; that is the amount the client/coordinator pays. Care seekers and coordinators can browse and search the support-worker pool.
Do independent support workers get paid sick leave?
business.gov.au says hirers do not generally cover contractors for paid sick leave, and that contractors should get their own income protection insurance. That is general guidance, so confirm what applies to you with an adviser.
Is an independent support worker paid a wage or a salary?
No. business.gov.au says contractors may negotiate their own fees and working arrangements. Whether a particular arrangement is contracting or something else depends on the facts of that arrangement.