Child care salary in Australia
If you work in child care, your pay is likely to be below the national average. The latest data from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025) puts the median full-time weekly earnings for child carers at $1,341. That is about $69,732 a year before tax – well short of the national full-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) and the national full-time median of $90,532.
Even compared with the all-employees median of $74,100, the typical child care salary is lower. The median hourly rate for child carers is $35, against $47 for all occupations. Only 47% of child carers work full-time hours, so many earn less than the full-time figures suggest.
How the figures are set
The national full-time average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, May 2026. It measures ordinary-time earnings for full-time adults before tax. The line on this site is that figure: $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year on a 52-week year. The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025, which captures the middle point of full-time and all-employees earnings.
The national minimum wage is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Award minimums, including the Children's Services Award 2010, rose by 4.75% in the same review.
Child care salary by state
State full-time averages give context. The national full-time average varies by state, with the Australian Capital Territory highest at $119,090 and Tasmania lowest at $96,008. Child care salaries are unlikely to match these averages, but the gap may be smaller in lower-cost states. See state and territory averages for more detail.
What the award says
The Children's Services Award 2010 sets minimum pay rates for child care workers, including child care centre directors, group leaders, and educators. The Fair Work Commission publishes the Modern Awards Pay Database, which lists the minimum hourly rates, allowances, and penalty rates. For example, a Level 1 child care employee might earn a minimum rate around $26–$28 an hour, depending on the classification. The 4.75% increase from July 2026 applies to all award rates.
Full-time vs part-time
Only 47% of child carers work full-time hours, compared with 69% across all occupations. The average full-time week for child carers is 40 hours, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours. Part-time workers earn proportionally less, and their weekly pay can be well below the median full-time figure. The median hourly rate of $35 is a better guide for part-timers.
How child care salary compares to other occupations
Child care is one of the lower-paid occupations. The median full-time earnings of $1,341 a week are below the national full-time median of $1,741 a week ($90,532 a year). It also sits below many other caring professions, such as aged care or nursing. Browse job medians to see how other roles compare.
Tax on a child care salary
Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates, a child care worker earning $69,732 a year would pay:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
- 30% on the remaining $24,732 ($7,419.60)
- Plus the 2% Medicare levy ($1,394.64)
- Total tax and Medicare: about $12,834, leaving around $56,898 after tax.
A worker on the national minimum wage of $52,255 would pay about $6,691 in tax and Medicare, leaving $45,564.
Where to find more
This site uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings as its benchmark. You can place a salary on the line to see how any wage compares. For industry-specific data, see industry medians. The guides explain how the figures are set and what they mean for your pay.
Key points to remember
- The child care median full-time salary is about $69,700 a year, based on ABS data.
- The national full-time average is $108,352 – a gap of nearly $39,000.
- Many child care workers are part-time, so actual earnings are often lower.
- Award minimums increased by 4.75% from July 2026.
- The national minimum wage is $52,255 a year on 38 hours.
If you are negotiating a child care salary, these benchmarks give you a starting point. The median tells you what a typical worker earns; the award tells you the legal minimum. The national average shows how the occupation sits in the wider economy.