Education assistant salary: Where it sits against the national line
Education assistants (also called teacher aides or education aides) support teachers in classrooms, provide care for children, and assist students with learning needs. Their pay is shaped by a national award, state enterprise agreements, and the fact that most work part-time. This article explains how the education assistant salary compares to the national full-time adult average, and why the figure can move off that line.
The national benchmark
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. In May 2026, full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70. That works out to about $108,352 a year (multiplied by 52). This is the line that Average line uses as the national full-time average.
But education assistants rarely earn that much. The ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,342 for education aides. That is about $69,784 a year – roughly 36% below the national average. The median is a better guide because it is not pulled up by a few very high earners.
The award sets a floor
Most education assistants are covered by the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020. This award sets minimum pay rates for classifications from Level 1 to Level 8. For a full-time employee working 38 hours a week, the minimum weekly rates (from 1 July 2026) are:
- Level 1.1: $1,004.90 ($26.44 per hour)
- Level 1.3: $1,065.20 ($28.03 per hour)
- Level 2.1: $1,073.10 ($28.24 per hour)
- Level 3.1: $1,119.90 ($29.47 per hour)
- Level 4.1: $1,182.10 ($31.11 per hour)
These rates are the legal minimum. Many employers pay above the award, especially in public schools where enterprise agreements often set higher rates. But even the top award level for a typical education assistant (Level 4.1) is only $1,182.10 per week – about $61,469 a year. That is still well below the national average.
Why the national line is higher
The national full-time average includes all full-time adult workers, from CEOs to surgeons. Education assistants are concentrated in lower-paid classifications. The occupation is 87% female, and the gender pay gap in Australia means female-dominated jobs often pay less. Also, only 31% of education aides work full-time hours; the rest work part-time or casually. The national average only counts full-time adults, so part-time education assistants are not in that figure. Their actual take-home pay is even lower.
State differences
State full-time averages vary significantly, as shown in the on-site notes:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
Education assistant award rates are national, so the base pay is similar everywhere. However, state public sector agreements can lift pay. For example, the ACT has a high average partly because of its large public sector and generous enterprise agreements for school support staff. Western Australia’s mining boom pushes up averages across all occupations, but education assistants there may still be on the award unless their school has a specific agreement.
If you work in a state with a high average, your education assistant salary might still be below that state’s line because your occupation is not in the high-paying industries that drive the state average. States and territories page shows how each state’s average compares.
Putting your salary on the line
To see where your education assistant salary sits against the national full-time average, use the Place a salary on the line tool. Enter your annual pre-tax salary, and it will show your weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, plus the distance from the $2,083.70 line.
Remember that the national average is a mean – it includes everyone. Your own pay may be influenced by your classification, years of experience, and whether you work in a public or private school. The award minimums are a starting point; many education assistants earn more through enterprise agreements or individual arrangements.
Key takeaways
- The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
- The median full-time education assistant earns $1,342 per week ($69,784 per year).
- Award minimums range from $1,004.90 to $1,182.10 per week.
- State averages vary, but education assistant pay is set nationally, so location has less impact than occupation.
- Part-time work is common, so actual annual earnings are often lower than full-time figures suggest.
For more context, see Industry medians to compare education with other sectors, or Guides for explanations of how pay is measured.