Personal Care Worker Salary in Adelaide (2026)

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Personal Care Workers in Adelaide earn a median salary of $72,574 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $65,000 and $85,860. That sits 7% below Adelaide's all-roles median of $78,000. Figures are based on 22 jobs advertised on Seek.com.au in Adelaide in the last 30 days.

— Moderate demand 41th percentile by listing volume in Adelaide
💰 Personal Care Worker · Adelaide
ADVERTISED RANGE
$65,000$85,860
Median: $72,574
Mid level $65,000 – $85,860
Overall $65k–$85k Mid $65k–$85k $63k $68k $73k $78k $83k $88k

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from advertised employer bands on Seek.com.au. Figures represent what employers publicly advertise and may differ from actual compensation. Sample size is small — treat figures as indicative.

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Bottom 10%  $65,000 Median  $72,574 $85,860  Top 10%

Understanding the Adelaide Market

Personal Care Workers in Adelaide earned $72,574 at the median in May, sitting 7% below the city's all-roles median. Prior month data is unavailable. The sample is small at 22 listings. The 29% spread ($65,000-$85,860) reflects the range from casual ward-based support roles at the floor to permanent full-time residential aged care or disability support positions with consistent penalty rate loading at the ceiling. Adelaide's care sector is growing and stable.

Take Home Pay (based on median $72,574)

Weekly (net)
~$1,097
Monthly (net)
~$4,756
Annual (net)
~$57,069
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $80,920

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Personal Care Worker in Adelaide?
Personal Care Workers in Adelaide start at around $65,000 at the p10. A Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home, or Disability) is the standard entry requirement for most residential care roles. Reaching the $72,574 median typically takes two to three years of consistent employment and a shift to permanent rather than casual engagement.
Is $72,574 a good salary in Adelaide?
Marginally below market. At $72,574, an Adelaide Personal Care Worker earns 7% below the city's all-roles median. Adelaide is among the most affordable capital cities in Australia, making this income more manageable than the same figure in Sydney or Melbourne. However, the gap between the PCW median and the city average reflects the ongoing wage challenge in Australia's care sector, which depends heavily on government pricing through NDIS and aged care subsidy frameworks.
How much does a Senior Personal Care Worker make in Adelaide?
Experienced Personal Care Workers in Adelaide reach $85,860 at the p90. This ceiling is accessible for workers in supervisory or senior support roles, those with specialist dementia or palliative care training, or those in facilities with strong penalty rate structures. The next career step, typically a Care Coordinator or Team Leader role, usually adds $10-$15k to the base rate.

Other roles in Adelaide

Personal Care Worker salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Adelaide
Adelaide (this page) $72,574
Brisbane $72,762 ~same
Melbourne $70,000 -4%

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