Assistant principal salary and the national full-time average
The assistant principal salary in NSW public schools is published by the NSW Department of Education at $149,059 per year. This figure is for an assistant principal or head teacher on the current award. It is a public sector role and reflects the increased responsibility of school leadership.
To see where this pay sits, we compare it to the national full-time average. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, which is about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52. The assistant principal salary of $149,059 is about 37.5% above that national line.
How it compares to other benchmarks
The national full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey (August 2025), is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100. The assistant principal salary is well above both medians.
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, which works out to about $52,255 per year. The assistant principal salary is nearly three times that.
State and territory comparisons
The national full-time average masks differences across states. The on-site figures from the ABS show:
- New South Wales full-time average: about $109,658
- Victoria full-time average: about $106,137
- Queensland full-time average: about $106,064
- South Australia full-time average: about $102,450
- Western Australia full-time average: about $115,825
- Tasmania full-time average: about $96,008
- Northern Territory full-time average: about $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory full-time average: about $119,090
The NSW assistant principal salary of $149,059 is above every state average, including the ACT's $119,090. However, assistant principal salaries in other states may differ. The NSW Department of Education figure is a specific award rate; other states have their own awards and enterprise agreements.
Tax on an assistant principal salary
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 (to $45,000)
- 30% on the next $90,000 (to $135,000)
- 37% on the next $55,000 (to $190,000)
- 45% above $190,000
On $149,059, the tax before offsets and Medicare levy is approximately:
- $0 on $18,200
- $4,020 on $26,800 at 15%
- $27,000 on $90,000 at 30%
- $5,201.83 on $14,059 at 37% Total tax about $36,221.83. Add the Medicare levy of 2% ($2,981.18) gives total tax and levy of about $39,203. The after-tax amount is roughly $109,856. This is an estimate; individual circumstances vary.
Where to find more
You can place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national full-time average. For state-by-state breakdowns, see the states and territories page. If you are looking at other education roles, the job medians page has median earnings for various occupations.
Important notes
The assistant principal salary quoted here is from the NSW Department of Education and is current as of the latest award. It is a yearly figure before tax. The national full-time average is from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which is published twice a year (May and November). The May 2026 release is the most recent. Medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026.
All figures are in Australian dollars. The national average is for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. It does not include overtime or bonuses. The assistant principal salary is a base salary under the award; additional allowances or performance pay may apply.
If you are an assistant principal in another state or territory, check your local education department or industrial instrument. The figures may differ. The Guides page has more information on how these benchmarks are set.