Early childhood teacher salary: award rates and where they sit on the salary index

Early childhood teacher salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

When people ask about an early childhood teacher salary, they usually want to know what the job pays and how that compares to other roles. The answer depends on the setting (preschool, school, or long day care), the teacher’s classification, and whether the employer receives the Worker Retention Payment (WRP). This article explains the award minimums, the effect of the WRP, and where these salaries fall on the Salary Index.

Award rates for early childhood teachers

The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 sets minimum wages for teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. The award has five classification levels based on accreditation and experience:

• Level 1: Graduate teacher or those with provisional/conditional registration.
• Level 2: Teacher with proficient accreditation.
• Level 3: Proficient teacher after three years at Level 2.
• Level 4: Proficient teacher after three years at Level 3.
• Level 5: Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher accreditation.

From July 2026, the full-time annual minimum salaries for preschools and schools are:

• Level 1: $75,941
• Level 2: $83,004
• Level 3: $90,362
• Level 4: $97,720
• Level 5: $105,076

For long day care centres, the rates are 4% higher because ordinary hours differ:

• Level 1: $78,979
• Level 2: $86,324
• Level 3: $93,976
• Level 4: $101,629
• Level 5: $109,279

These are the legal minimums. Many employers pay above award, especially in competitive markets.

Worker Retention Payment boosts pay

In December 2024, the Australian Government introduced the Worker Retention Payment (WRP) for eligible early childhood education and care providers. Providers that receive the funding must pass it on as a wage increase. From December 2025, the minimum rate is 15% above the applicable award rate. The Department of Education publishes tables showing the new minimums.

For a Level 1 teacher in a long day care centre, the award hourly rate is $38.02. With the WRP, the minimum becomes $43.73 per hour. Annualised (38 hours × 52 weeks), that’s about $90,826. For a Level 5 teacher in long day care, the WRP minimum is $60.51 per hour, or roughly $125,860 per year.

The WRP applies only to workers in services that receive the payment. Not all early childhood teachers are covered, but the program is widespread.

Where these salaries sit on the Salary Index

The Salary Index compares gross annual earnings to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $108,352 (index 100). Here’s how early childhood teacher salaries line up:

• Award minimum Level 1 (preschool/school): $75,941 → index 70.1
• Award minimum Level 1 (long day care): $78,979 → index 72.9
• Award minimum Level 5 (preschool/school): $105,076 → index 97.0
• Award minimum Level 5 (long day care): $109,279 → index 100.9
• With WRP, Level 1 (long day care): ~$90,826 → index 83.8
• With WRP, Level 5 (long day care): ~$125,860 → index 116.2

So a graduate teacher on the award sits well below the national line, while an experienced teacher with the WRP can exceed it. The education and training industry as a whole has an index of 105.5, meaning average earnings in that sector are slightly above the national line.

What about super and tax?

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee at 12% from July 2026, on top of the salary. For a teacher earning $90,826, that’s an extra $10,899 into super. The super guarantee has a maximum contribution base of $270,830, so most teachers won’t hit that cap.

Take-home pay depends on tax. For a resident earning $90,826 in 2026–27 (excluding Medicare), the tax is roughly:

• $0 on first $18,200
• 15% on next $26,800 = $4,020
• 30% on next $45,826 = $13,748
• Total tax ~$17,768, plus 2% Medicare levy ($1,817).
• Net take-home ~$71,241 per year, or about $5,937 per month.

These are estimates; individual circumstances vary.

Other factors that affect pay

• Location: Salaries can differ by state. The states page shows state indexes from 88.6 (Tasmania) to 109.9 (ACT). Teachers in higher-index states may earn more.
• Enterprise agreements: Some early childhood services have enterprise agreements that pay above award. The Fair Work Commission approved the Early Childhood Education and Care Multi-Employer Enterprise Agreement 2024-2026 for some long day care workers.
• Casual loading: Casual teachers get a loading (usually 25%) instead of paid leave. The award hourly rates for casuals are higher.

How to find your pay on the index

To see where any salary sits, divide the annual gross figure by $108,352 and multiply by 100. For example, a $90,000 salary has an index of 83.1. You can also browse pay guides for different roles.

An early childhood teacher salary is not a single number. It ranges from around $76,000 for a new graduate on award to over $125,000 for an experienced lead teacher with the WRP. On the Salary Index, that’s anywhere from 70 to 116. The national line sits at 100, so many early childhood teachers are below average, but the WRP is helping close the gap.