Professional social work developed and evolved in the United States, although the traditions and notions about poverty were derived from England's experience and the Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601. The first higher education program for social work in the United States was established in 1898. In Australia, the profession of social work took a course parallel to that of the United States. This study examined and compared social work qualifications and salaries of Australian and American social workers to determine if a significant difference exists between social workers in the two countries. The annual membership questionnaire of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), with minor changes, was used for survey research in Australia. Data from Australian social workers (N=340) were compared to membership data from American social workers (N=26,338). The results showed a statistically significant difference between salaries for Bachelor of Social Work level social workers in Australia and the United States, with Australians earning more. The salary differences between the Master of Social Work and Doctor of Social Work levels, however, were not statistically significant. (ABL)