Assistant Principal Salary: How Awards Set Pay Above the National Minimum Wage
Assistant principal salary in Australia varies by state and award. NSW public schools pay $149,059. Compare to national minimum wage and salary index.
Based on NSW public schools, an assistant principal salary of $149,059 gives a salary index of about 137.6, well above the national average of 100.
What does 'assistant principal salary' mean?
When you search for an assistant principal salary, you are looking at the pay for a senior school leadership role – often called deputy principal or head of school. This is not a classroom teacher’s wage, but a step up into management of staff, curriculum, and school operations. In Australia, assistant principals are employed under state or territory government awards, or by individual private school agreements. Their pay is set well above the national minimum wage, reflecting the responsibility of running a school alongside the principal.
What the search found
The most concrete figure comes from the NSW Department of Education, which lists the salary for an Assistant Principal or Head Teacher at $149,059 per year. That is the rate under the current NSW Teachers Award, effective from October 2025. For context, a graduate teacher in NSW starts at $90,177, and an experienced teacher tops out at $129,536. The assistant principal sits above that, in the leadership tier.
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide for the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award does not cover assistant principals. That award applies to non-teaching staff like administration, cleaners, and boarding supervisors. The highest classification in that award (Level 8) pays $1,772.30 per week, or about $92,160 annually – still below the assistant principal figure. This shows that teaching leadership roles are governed by separate, more generous instruments.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines the occupation (141131 Assistant School Principal) but does not publish salary data. For that, you need to go to each state’s education department or industrial relations body.
How awards set assistant principal pay
Assistant principal salaries are determined by state-based awards or enterprise agreements. In NSW, the Teachers Award uses a seven-step scale for classroom teachers and then separate pay points for leadership roles. The $149,059 figure is for an assistant principal or head teacher – the first level of school leadership. Above that, a deputy principal earns $174,034, a principal $229,435, and an executive principal $245,989.
Other states have similar structures. For example, Victoria’s Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 sets assistant principal salaries around $140,000–$155,000 depending on school size. Queensland’s award is comparable. Private schools often pay more, but those figures are not publicly listed in the same way.
Because assistant principals are covered by state awards, the national minimum wage – set by the Fair Work Commission at $26.44 per hour from July 2026 – is not directly relevant. The national minimum wage is a floor for employees not covered by an award or agreement. Assistant principals are always covered by an award, so their minimum is much higher.
Comparing to the national minimum wage and the salary index
The Salary Index measures how a pay figure compares to full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 per year (index 100). The national minimum wage of $52,255 gives an index of 48.2. An assistant principal on $149,059 has an index of about 137.6 – that is 37.6% above the national average.
To put it another way, an assistant principal earns nearly three times the minimum wage. After tax and Medicare levy (using 2026–27 rates), the take-home pay on $149,059 would be roughly $105,000 per year, assuming no HELP debt or salary sacrifice. That is still well above the average Australian wage.
State variations
Because education is a state responsibility, assistant principal salaries differ across Australia. The states page on Salary Index shows that average earnings vary: NSW index 101.2, Victoria 98, Queensland 97.9, Western Australia 106.9, and the ACT 109.9. Assistant principal pay tends to follow these patterns, with higher salaries in WA and the ACT to reflect higher cost of living and labour market conditions.
For example, the ACT Education Directorate pays assistant principals around $155,000–$165,000. Western Australia’s Department of Education offers similar levels. In Tasmania, where the state index is 88.6, assistant principal salaries are lower – around $130,000–$140,000.
Awards versus the national minimum wage: the bigger picture
The assistant principal salary is a clear example of how awards lift pay far above the legal floor. The national minimum wage exists to protect the lowest-paid workers, but most Australians – especially in professional roles – are covered by awards or agreements that set higher rates. The industries page shows that Education and Training has an index of 105.5, slightly above the national average. Assistant principals are part of that industry, but their leadership role pushes them even higher.
Superannuation is another factor. From July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. On $149,059, that adds $17,887 per year into the assistant principal’s super fund. That is not included in the salary figure but is a significant part of total compensation.
Conclusion
An assistant principal salary in Australia is set by state awards, not the national minimum wage. The best public example is NSW, where the role pays $149,059 – an index of 137.6. This is well above the national average and reflects the responsibility of school leadership. If you are comparing pay across states or sectors, remember to check the relevant award or enterprise agreement. The pay guides on Salary Index can help you understand how awards work, and the topics page covers more on teacher and principal salaries.
Questions people ask
What is the typical assistant principal salary in Australia?
There is no single national figure. In NSW public schools, an assistant principal earns $149,059 per year under the current award. Other states and private schools set their own rates, often comparable but varying with location and experience.
How does assistant principal salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from July 2026 is $52,255 per year (index 48.2). An assistant principal earning $149,059 has a salary index of about 137.6 – nearly three times the minimum wage and well above the national full-time average of $108,352 (index 100).
Are assistant principals covered by the same award as teachers?
Assistant principals are usually covered by the same state teaching award as classroom teachers, but at a higher classification. For example, in NSW they fall under the Teachers Award. They are not covered by the federal Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award, which applies to non-teaching roles.