Childcare worker salary: no single figure, but a clear picture
There is no single published median or average salary for a childcare worker in Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not release median weekly earnings for the six‑digit occupation Child Care Worker (ANZSCO 421111) – the Jobs and Skills Australia profile notes that such figures are not produced for six‑digit occupations. That means any precise number you see online is either an estimate, a survey average that includes other roles, or a minimum award rate.
What we do have is a clear set of reference points: the national full‑time average, the award minimums, and the demographic profile of the workforce. These allow us to say where a childcare worker’s pay is likely to sit relative to the line drawn by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings.
The national full‑time average: the line on the graph
The site’s line is the national full‑time adult ordinary‑time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. That figure is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year when multiplied by 52. This is the benchmark against which all salaries on Average line are compared.
For context, the full‑time median (the middle of all full‑time earners) is about $90,532 per year, and the all‑employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38‑hour week.
Where childcare workers sit against that line
Childcare workers are overwhelmingly female (97% of the workforce) and 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.
Because no median earnings are published, we look to the award. The Children’s Services Award 2010 sets minimum rates for employees in long day care, occasional care, and similar settings. In December 2025, the Fair Work Commission’s Expert Panel for pay equity found that the work of children’s services employees had been historically undervalued because of assumptions based on gender. It granted increases to minimum wages, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 March 2026.
The award now has eight classification levels (Children’s Services Employee CSE1 to CSE8). While the exact dollar rates are not reproduced here, the increases were substantial – the Commission described them as justified for work value reasons. Even so, the highest classification under the award is likely to be below the national full‑time average of $108,352. A director of a large centre might approach or exceed that figure, but the typical educator or room leader is paid less.
What would move this pay above or below the average?
Several factors determine whether a childcare worker’s salary rises above or stays below the national line:
Full‑time versus part‑time work
More than half of childcare workers are part‑time. Part‑time earnings are not directly comparable to the full‑time average, but they are almost always lower on a weekly basis. To be measured against the line, a worker needs to be in a full‑time role.
Classification and experience
The award classification depends on qualifications and responsibilities. A Certificate III educator (CSE2 or CSE3) will be at the lower end; a degree‑qualified teacher or centre director (CSE7 or CSE8) will be higher. The March 2026 increases compressed some of the lower levels and lifted the top rates.
Sector: public versus private
The national average for the public sector is higher than the private sector: $2,263.10 per week for full‑time adults in the public sector, compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). Childcare workers employed by local government or community‑managed centres may have better pay and conditions than those in private for‑profit centres.
Gender pay gap
The female full‑time average is $1,934.50 per week, or about $100,594 per year – below the national average. The male full‑time average is $2,399.30 per week, or about $124,764 per year. Because childcare is a female‑dominated occupation, the occupation’s average is pulled down by the broader gender pay gap. The recent award increases are a direct attempt to address that undervaluation.
Overtime and additional hours
Full‑time childcare workers average 39 hours per week. If they work additional hours (e.g., before‑ and after‑school care, or administrative time), their weekly total earnings can rise. However, the award caps hours and requires penalty rates for overtime, so significant extra pay is limited.
How the award increases change the picture
The Fair Work Commission’s decision in December 2025 was a landmark. It recognised that the work of educating and caring for young children had been systematically undervalued. The new classification structure and higher minimum rates mean that entry‑level and experienced educators alike will see a noticeable increase from March 2026.
But even after these increases, the typical childcare worker’s salary is unlikely to reach the national full‑time average. The national average includes many high‑paid occupations such as managers, professionals, and mining workers. Childcare is a caring profession with relatively low pay compared to those fields. The award increases are a step toward closing that gap, but they do not eliminate it.
Using the line to see where you stand
If you are a childcare worker, you can place your salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full‑time average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool uses a 38‑hour week to calculate weekly and hourly equivalents, so you can enter your annual salary before tax and see the distance from the average.
For a deeper look at how the figures are set, including the difference between averages and medians, see How the figures are set.
The bottom line
There is no single “childcare worker salary” figure published by the ABS. The best guide is the award rate, which has recently increased. Most childcare workers earn below the national full‑time average of $108,352 per year, but the gap is narrowing thanks to work value reforms. Full‑time directors and those in the public sector may come closer to the line, while part‑time and lower‑classified educators remain further below.