§-Career vs cost
Disability support worker: salary vs cost of living
Job Outlook publishes a full-time weekly-earnings figure of $1200 for Aged and Disabled Carers. After estimated PAYG income tax, the 2% Medicare levy and any HECS-HELP compulsory repayment, take-home pay is approximately $981.15 per week.
From gross to take-home
| Component | Annual AUD | Weekly AUD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $62,400 | $1200 |
| Income tax (2024-25 resident scale) | -$9,508 | -$183 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | -$1,248 | -$24 |
| HECS-HELP compulsory repayment | -$624 | -$12 |
| Take-home pay | $51,019.8 | $981.15 |
| Without HECS | $51,643.8 | $993.15 |
Sanity check: income tax 9508 AUD plus Medicare and HECS-HELP repayment of $624 AUD.
Rent as a share of take-home pay
The 30% threshold is the conventional definition of rental stress. Anything below is considered comfortable; anything above squeezes everything else.