Pilates instructor salary: where it sits against the national line
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That is the line this site uses. For a Pilates instructor, pay rarely reaches that line unless you are at the top of the profession or working in a high-paying state.
Recommended pay ranges for Pilates instructors
The Pilates Association Australia publishes recommended rates for studio instruction, developed with reference to awards such as the Fitness Award and the Sporting Organisations Award. For full-time employees working a 38-hour week (with a maximum of 32 hours of instruction), the recommended annual salaries are:
- Level 1: $39,520
- Level 2: $49,400
- Level 3: $59,282
- Level 4: $69,160
- Principal: $79,000
- Trainer: $79,000 and above
These are well below the national full-time average. Even the highest recommended salary ($79,000) is about $29,000 short of the $108,352 line. However, many Pilates instructors work part-time or as contractors. For part-time employees, rates are pro-rata. Contractors can charge $25–$59 per hour for studio instruction, or $35–$120 per session for matwork, depending on level and experience.
Why the gap exists
The gap between Pilates instructor pay and the national average reflects several factors. First, the fitness industry has lower award rates than many professional occupations. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour ($52,255 a year on 38 hours), and award minimums rose 4.75% that year. A Level 1 Pilates instructor on $39,520 is below the minimum wage for a full-time adult? Actually, $39,520 divided by 38 hours and 52 weeks is $20.00 an hour, which is below the national minimum wage. That suggests Level 1 may be intended for junior or trainee roles, or that the recommendation is outdated. The Pilates Association notes that these are recommendations, not binding awards. Actual pay may be higher.
Second, many instructors are not full-time employees. The all-employees median weekly earnings are $1,436 ($74,100 a year), and the median for part-time employees is $769 a week ($40,000 a year) (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). A part-time Pilates instructor earning $30 an hour for 20 hours a week would make $31,200 a year, which is below the all-employees median but consistent with part-time work.
State differences move the figure
The national full-time average masks big state variations. According to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state are:
- New South Wales: $2,108.80 a week ($109,658 a year)
- Victoria: $2,041.10 ($106,137)
- Queensland: $2,039.70 ($106,064)
- South Australia: $1,970.20 ($102,450)
- Western Australia: $2,227.40 ($115,825)
- Tasmania: $1,846.30 ($96,008)
- Northern Territory: $1,984.10 ($103,173)
- Australian Capital Territory: $2,290.20 ($119,090)
A Pilates instructor in Western Australia or the ACT might command higher rates because the local labour market is tighter and the cost of living is higher. Conversely, an instructor in Tasmania or South Australia may find that the recommended rates are more typical. The Pilates Association recommendations are national, but individual studios set pay based on local conditions.
How awards and enterprise agreements affect pay
Some Pilates instructors are covered by enterprise agreements or individual contracts that set pay above the award. The ABS reports that 38.5% of employees have their pay set by individual arrangement, and 34.6% by collective agreement (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). For fitness workers, the Fitness Award 2010 sets minimum rates. The Pilates Association recommendations are higher than award minimums in many cases. For example, the Fitness Award rate for a Level 1 fitness instructor is around $24–$26 an hour, while the Pilates Association recommends $25–$30 for Level 1. At higher levels, the gap widens.
Placing a Pilates instructor salary on the line
If you are a Pilates instructor, you can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average. The tool uses the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026 figure of $2,083.70 a week. For a part-time instructor earning $800 a week, the distance from the line would be significant. For a full-time Principal earning $1,519 a week ($79,000 a year), the distance is about $565 a week below the line.
State and territory comparisons
You can also explore states and territories to see how average earnings differ across Australia. A Pilates instructor in the ACT might find that the local average is $119,090, making the gap even larger if they earn the recommended $79,000. In Tasmania, the state average is $96,008, so the gap is smaller.
The bottom line
Pilates instructor pay is generally below the national full-time average, but it varies by level, employment type, and location. The recommended full-time salaries from the Pilates Association range from $39,520 to $79,000, all below the $108,352 line. Part-time and contract work is common, and many instructors earn less than the all-employees median of $74,100. State differences and award coverage can move the figure, but for most instructors, the line remains out of reach unless they reach the top tier or work in a high-paying state.