What is the average salary for a child care worker in Australia?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median weekly earnings for the specific occupation of Child Care Worker (ANZSCO 421111) because it is a 6-digit occupation. However, the broader category of Community and Personal Service Workers had an average hourly total cash earnings of $41.20 for non-managerial employees in May 2025, according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey. For a full-time worker on 38 hours, that would equate to about $1,565 per week or $81,380 per year, but this is an average for the whole group, not child care workers specifically. The actual earnings for child care workers are likely lower due to the high proportion of part-time and casual work.

How does the child care worker salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings was $2,083.70 in May 2026 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings), equivalent to about $108,352 per year. Child care workers are much less likely to work full-time (only 46% do, compared to 64% across all occupations) and the occupation is 97% female. Female full-time workers earn a median of $1,758 per week, well below the national full-time median of $1,887. Given these factors, a typical child care worker's earnings are likely significantly below the national full-time average.

What factors could move a child care worker's pay above the average?

Pay above the average would require working full-time hours (39 hours average for child care workers who work full-time), gaining experience and qualifications to move into higher-level roles such as centre director or educational leader, or working in a state with higher award rates or enterprise agreements. The Children's Services Award 2010 sets minimum rates, but some employers pay above award. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, so any child care worker earning above that is already above the legal floor, but the award rates for qualified educators are higher.

Child care worker salary: how it compares to the national average

Child care worker salary: where it sits against the national average

Child care workers provide care and supervision for children in long day care, occasional care, and other settings. The occupation is classified under ANZSCO 421111 and is part of the broader group of Community and Personal Service Workers. Understanding how child care worker pay compares to the national full-time average requires looking at the available data, which is limited for this specific role.

What the data shows

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish median weekly earnings for the 6-digit occupation of Child Care Worker. The Jobs and Skills Australia profile for this occupation notes that median weekly earnings are not available. However, the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025 provides average hourly total cash earnings for non-managerial Community and Personal Service Workers at $41.20. This is an average across many roles including aged care, disability support, and child care. For a full-time worker on 38 hours, that would be about $1,565 per week or $81,380 per year. But child care workers are less likely to work full-time: only 46% work full-time hours, compared to 64% across all occupations. The average full-time hours for those who do work full-time is 39 hours per week, slightly below the all-occupations average of 44 hours.

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings was $2,083.70 in May 2026 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings), which equates to about $108,352 per year. This is the figure used as the line on this site. The full-time median for all employees is about $1,887 per week ($90,532 per year), and the all-employees median is about $1,436 per week ($74,100 per year). Child care workers, with their high proportion of part-time work and female workforce (97% female), are likely to have earnings below these medians. Female full-time workers have a median weekly earnings of $1,758, while female part-time workers have a median of $796 per week.

What would move pay above or below the average

Several factors influence whether a child care worker's salary is above or below the national full-time average.

Below the average:

Part-time work: Over half of child care workers work part-time hours. Part-time workers earn significantly less per week on average. The all-employees median for part-time workers is $769 per week.
Award reliance: Many child care workers are paid under the Children's Services Award 2010, which sets minimum rates. While the award rates increased by 4.75% from 1 July 2026 (in line with the national minimum wage increase), they still place many workers below the national average.
Gender pay gap: The occupation is 97% female. Female-dominated industries tend to have lower average pay. The gender pay gap in Australia means women earn less on average than men across all occupations.
Age and experience: The median age of child care workers is 34, younger than the all-occupations median of 40. Younger workers typically earn less.

Above the average:

Full-time hours: Child care workers who work full-time (39 hours average) will earn more than part-time colleagues. If they also receive above-award pay, they could approach or exceed the national average.
Qualifications and role: Qualified early childhood teachers or centre directors can earn significantly more. The award has higher pay rates for diploma-qualified educators and above.
Enterprise agreements: Some employers, particularly in the public sector or large chains, have enterprise agreements that pay above award rates.
Location: Pay varies by state and territory. The Australian Capital Territory has the highest full-time average at about $119,090 per year, while Tasmania has the lowest at about $96,008. Child care workers in higher-paying states may earn more.

How the figures are set

The national full-time average is derived from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, conducted in May and November each year. The May 2026 release showed a 3.7% annual increase to $2,083.70 per week. This figure is for full-time adult employees and excludes part-time and junior workers. The median figures come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, which is conducted annually and provides a more detailed picture of earnings distribution. The national minimum wage is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.

For child care workers, the award minimums are higher than the national minimum wage for qualified staff. However, without published median earnings for the occupation, it is difficult to give a precise figure. The best estimate is that a typical child care worker earns between the national minimum wage and the all-employees median of $74,100 per year, with many earning around $60,000 to $70,000 for full-time work.

Where to find more information

If you are a child care worker wanting to see how your salary compares, you can Place a salary on the line to see where you sit relative to the national full-time average. You can also explore Job medians for other occupations or Industry medians to see how the education and training sector compares. For more details on how the figures are calculated, see How the figures are set.

Summary

Child care worker salary data is not published at the specific occupation level, but the available evidence points to earnings below the national full-time average. The high proportion of part-time work, female workforce, and award reliance are key factors keeping pay lower. Full-time work, higher qualifications, and location can lift earnings above the typical level. The national full-time average of $108,352 per year remains a benchmark that few child care workers are likely to reach without moving into management or specialised roles.