How To Set Your Support Worker Hourly Rate

One of the biggest questions independent workers ask when they get started is: what should I charge?

If you work through Careseekers, you set your own rates. You can list an hourly rate on your profile and you can also negotiate based on the job, your experience and what the role involves.

That flexibility is a real advantage, but it can also feel hard at first. Price yourself too low and you may feel stretched or undervalued. Price yourself too high without a clear reason and you may miss out on work that could have been a good fit.

The goal is not to pick a random number. The goal is to choose a rate that reflects the support you offer, the experience you bring, and the kind of work you want to do.

Start with the kind of support you provide

Not every support role is the same, so not every rate should be either.

Before you set your hourly rate, think about the kind of work you want to take on. A role that involves companionship, transport or domestic help may sit differently from a role that includes hands-on personal care, more complex routines, or support that requires stronger experience and confidence.

A good starting question is:
What am I actually offering, and what level of responsibility comes with it?

The clearer you are on that, the easier it is to price your work properly.

Think about your experience, not just your availability

Clients are not only paying for your time. They are also paying for your judgement, your reliability, your communication and your ability to provide support well.

If you have:

• strong aged care or disability support experience
• confidence with more involved support
• additional qualifications
• a track record of reliable, ongoing client relationships
• experience with particular needs or routines

that may justify a higher rate than someone who is newer to support work.

On Careseekers, rate-setting is based on your skills and experience, not a one-size-fits-all number.

Consider the funding context

It is also important to think about how the support will be funded.

On Careseekers, workers are independent and charge their own rates, and clients can negotiate directly with workers to agree on a rate.

If the work is connected to NDIS funding, current NDIS price limits may affect the upper end of what can be charged for some disability supports. The NDIA publishes updated pricing arrangements and price limits, and the current 2025-26 pricing took effect on 24 November 2025.

If the work relates to Support at Home, government price caps are due to apply from 1 July 2026.

That means your rate should not just reflect what feels right to you. It should also make sense for the type of client and funding arrangement involved.

Think beyond the hourly number

When workers first set their rates, they often focus only on what they want to earn per hour. That matters, but it is not the whole picture.

As an independent worker, it also helps to think about:

• travel time
• shorter versus longer shifts
• weekend or evening expectations
• how specialised the role is
• how much preparation or communication the role involves
• how sustainable the work feels over time

You are not just setting a number. You are setting up a way of working that needs to feel workable for you.

Position yourself clearly

Your rate makes more sense to clients when your profile makes your value clear.

If you charge above entry-level rates, your profile should help explain why. That does not mean writing a long sales pitch. It means showing:

• the types of support you provide
• your experience
• your qualifications
• the settings you work in
• the kind of clients you work well with
• what makes your support style strong

A higher rate feels more reasonable when it is backed by a clear, confident profile.

Do not underprice yourself just to get started

It can be tempting to set your rate low at the beginning because you want to get work quickly.

Sometimes that feels safer. But pricing too low can create problems later. It can make the work feel unsustainable, make it harder to raise your rate, and attract roles that are not the right fit for what you actually want to build.

A better approach is to set a rate that feels fair, realistic and defensible, then adjust as you learn more about the type of work you enjoy and the clients you support best.

It is okay for your rate to evolve

Your first rate does not have to be your forever rate.

As you gain experience, complete more support, build strong reviews and become clearer on the work you want to do, your rate may change too.

That is normal.

Many independent workers refine their rates over time based on:

• confidence
• demand
• experience
• the type of clients they support
• the type of work they want more of

The important thing is to start from a thoughtful place rather than guessing.

A simple way to sense-check your rate

Before you finalise your rate, ask yourself:

• Does this reflect the kind of support I provide?
• Does it reflect my experience and confidence?
• Would I feel good doing this work at this rate every week?
• Does my profile clearly support the rate I am asking?
• Would this feel reasonable to the kind of client I want to work with?

If the answer to most of those is yes, you are probably in a good place.

What this looks like on Careseekers

Careseekers is built for independent workers. You set your own rate, choose the work that suits you, and can negotiate directly based on what the role involves. Workers on the platform are independent contractors working under their own ABN.

That means your rate is part of how you position yourself as a worker. It should feel fair to the client, but it should also work for you.

Frequently asked questions

Do I set my own hourly rate on Careseekers?

Yes. On Careseekers, you set your own rate and can also negotiate based on the job. The minimum rate you can enter on the platform is $22 per hour.

Should I charge the same rate for every job?

Not necessarily. Some workers keep one standard rate, while others adjust depending on the job requirements, level of support and funding context.

Can I negotiate my rate with a client?

Yes. Careseekers says workers can negotiate directly with clients to agree on a rate.

Do NDIS price limits matter?

Yes, for some disability support work they can. The NDIA publishes price limits for supports delivered by disability support workers, so it is worth checking the current pricing arrangements if the work is NDIS-funded.

Ready to start building your profile?

If you are setting yourself up as an independent support worker, your hourly rate is one important part of the picture. The right rate should feel fair, sustainable and aligned with the kind of work you want to do.

Join Careseekers
Create Your Worker Profile
Read: How To Become An Independent Support Worker In Australia