NDIS Pricing Calculator: PAPL Price Limit vs SCHADS Wage Cost
Work out the real gross margin on an NDIS support: PAPL price limit minus the true SCHADS wage cost (base, loading, super, on-costs). Free worksheet.
What this calculator is for
PAPL vs SCHADS: the two numbers you must never confuse
Building the true cost of an hour: the cost stack
The copy-and-use margin worksheet
Worked example (indicative figures)
Margin across day types
Common mistakes and edge cases
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't the gap between PAPL and the wage just my profit?
Because the gap has to fund superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026), workers compensation, leave or casual loading, non-billable time such as travel and notes, plus supervision, insurance, software and admin. On a standard weekday hour, most of the apparent gap is already committed before any margin remains.
What figure should I use for the PAPL price limit?
Use the current line item from the PAPL that applies to your date of service. Standard weekday daytime assistance was around $70.23/hr under the 2025-26 PAPL, but the 2026-27 PAPL applies from 1 July 2026, so look up the exact item rather than reusing an old number.
What do I pay the worker — the same as the price limit?
No. The price limit is what you may charge; the SCHADS award sets what you must pay, broadly in the ~$31-$44/hr base range depending on level and pay point, before casual loading (25%) or weekend and public-holiday penalties. Never set pay equal to the price limit.
How much margin is 'safe'?
There is no fixed answer, and this page is not financial advice. The point of the worksheet is to see your real net margin per day type, then decide against your own overheads and risk. A thin weekday margin can turn negative on a Sunday once penalty rates apply.
Does the shorter claim window affect my pricing?
It can affect whether you collect what you have costed. A proposed 90-day claim window (was 2 years) is set to apply from 1 December 2026, subject to the Bill, alongside a proposed 7-year record-retention duty. Confirm the final rules, because margin you can't claim in time isn't margin.