Social Worker salary in Australia
The short answer
Mid-career typically $98,000 — about £50,256.
Indicative planning rate of A$1.95 to £1. Check a live rate before you transfer money.
What do you earn now?
Drag the slider to your current UK salary for an instant uplift estimate.
Your estimated uplift
+$27,800 AUD
about +£14,256 a year moving into a mid-career social worker role.
Where would you earn most?
Ranked by this occupation's salary adjusted for each city's local wage index.
What would housing cost?
In Perth, your top-ranked city for this role.
1-bed rent
A$520/wk
3-bed house
A$750/wk
Median house price
$780,000
Which city actually suits you?
Salary is one input — lifestyle, weather and family fit matter too.
Could you actually move?
Social Worker is on the skilled occupation list — sponsorship is common.
Plan your next step
See how social worker fits Australia's visa pathways.
A direct UK comparison
Gross salary isn't the whole story. Here's what a mid-career salary looks like after tax on each side.
Australia
$98,000
Take-home after Australian income tax and Medicare levy: $75,852 (about £38,898). Employers also pay 11.5% superannuation on top.
United Kingdom
£36,000
Take-home after UK income tax and National Insurance: £29,440.
Indicative planning rate of A$1.95 to £1. Check a live rate before you transfer money.
Registration, recognition and licensing
Skills assessment and registration+
Australian Association of Social Workers assessment.
Will my UK qualification be recognised?+
UK-qualified social workers assess well; remote and child protection roles are the fastest routes.
Honest notes on this occupation+
Remote community roles come with substantial allowances and subsidised housing.