Multiple factors influence the salary of childcare workers in Australia. The Children’s Service Award 2010 outlines how much Certificate III and Diploma childcare workers are paid. This includes the minimum wage each childcare worker will receive in their respective positions and additional allowances. The Education Services (Teachers) Award covers graduate childcare teachers, outlining casual and permanent employment rates.
In December 2024, the Australian Government supported a wage increase for the early childhood education and care workforce. Over the next two years, wage increases will come be:
- 10% on top of the current national award rate
- 15% above the current national award rate in the second year
Pay guides are correct as on July 2025.
Within this blog, we’ve outlined the different childcare worker pay rates in Australia. You can see what you can earn in the childcare industry, along with allowances you may be able to receive in your role.
Table of contents
Childcare worker salary by job role
The childcare industry has multiple career pathways, all with different pay grades. The salary you receive will depend on your experience, role and qualifications.
Trainee childcare educators
You can work as an early childhood educator whilst you work towards your qualification; however, your minimum wage will be lower. Before you obtain your Certificate III, you will be paid as a Level 1.1 with a minimum hourly rate $24.95 or $948.00 per week (based on a full-time permanent role).
Certificate III in Children's Services or Early Childhood Education
To qualify as an early childhood educator, you need at least a Certificate III in Children’s Services or Early Childhood Education. Once acquired, you can start work in an entry-level childcare educator role, earning a minimum hourly rate of $25.71 or $977.00 per week (based on a full-time permanent role).
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
For those who have completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, a more in-depth level of study compared to Certificate III, the pay scale moves from level 2.1 to 3.4. A childcare worker with this qualification will receive a minimum hourly rate of $31.66 an hour or $1203.10 a week (based on a full-time permanent role.
In the award shown below, the pay point you receive attributes to the qualification you have. For example, if you acquire an AQECQA Diploma Level 5 starts at Level 5.A1 - where ‘A’ indicates a qualification at this level, but without the relevant work experience.
Bachelor of Early Education or Education (Early Childhood)
Bachelor of Early Education or Education (Early Childhood) holders are classed as early education teachers. Permanent employees are expected to earn an average salary of between $85,000 and $95,000 per year, dependent on experience, working on a full-time basis.
You can expect a salary increase if you decide to go into childcare management. To do this, you will need to have a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and/or experience working in this role. The minimum wage you will receive will vary.
Assistant director and day care coordinator
For assistant directors and day care coordinators who hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, you can expect to be paid a minimum wage of $34.63 an hour, or $1316.10 a week. The daily tasks can include:
- Planning and implementing activities for children
- Promoting children's safety and reviewing policies and procedures
- Devising care programs
- Involvement in training and education of staff
Centre director
If you wish to progress in the management space, you can become a centre director. The salary for this role starts at $39.94 per hour or $1517.60 per week. After two years of employment, this can increase to $40.93 per hour or $1555.40 per week (based on a full-time permanent role).
The duties and responsibilities of centre directors include:
- Quality assurance of standards in the centre
- Maintaining minimum staff-to-child ratios
- Communicating with children, parents and families
- Ensuring children’s records are up to date
- Professional development of all team members
- Knowledge of all frameworks, such as the Early Years Framework, that surround the childcare industry.
Want to know more about job roles in the childcare industry? Find out about the role of an early childhood educator and how to get started.
The childcare industry offers flexibility to work on a casual or permanent basis. If you opt for a casual childcare role, you can work on a schedule that suits your lifestyle and needs. Often, these workers will accept work placements on short notice, filling in sick or annual leave gaps. Alternatively, if you aim to gain experience and improve your career prospects, you may opt for a permanent role. This can be on a full-time or part-time basis, where you are paid annually.
Here is a comprehensive guide to childcare worker salaries, allowing you to calculate how much you could get paid as a childcare worker.
Permanent childcare worker salary guide (including Certificate III and Diploma qualified professionals)
| Classification |
|
Minimum weekly rate |
Minimum hourly rate |
|
|
$ |
$ |
| Children's service employee |
|
|
|
| Level 1.1 |
On commencement |
948.00 |
24.95 |
| Level 2.1 (Certificate III) |
On commencement |
977.00 |
25.71 |
| Level 2.2 |
After 1 year |
1009.10 |
26.56 |
| Level 3.A1 |
On commencement |
1052.00 |
27.68 |
| Level 3.A2 |
After 1 year |
1068.40 |
28.12 |
| Level 3.1 |
On commencement |
1068.40 |
28.12 |
| Level 3.2 |
After 1 year |
1105.30 |
29.09 |
| Level 3.3 |
After 2 years |
1140.10 |
30.00 |
| Level 3.4 (Diploma) |
|
1203.10 |
31.66 |
| Level 4.A1 |
On commencement |
1140.10 |
30.00 |
| Level 4.A2 |
After 1 year |
1156.00 |
30.42 |
| Level 4.A3 |
After 2 years |
1171.70 |
30.83 |
| Level 4.A4 |
After 3 years |
1188.20 |
31.27 |
| Level 4.A5 |
After 4 years |
1204.00 |
31.68 |
| Level 4.1 |
On commencement |
1258.60 |
33.12 |
| Level 4.2 |
After 1 year |
1277.80 |
33.63 |
| Level 4.3 |
After 2 years |
1296.90 |
34.13 |
| Level 5.A1 (Assistant director/daycare coordinator) |
On commencement |
1316.10 |
34.63 |
| Level 5.A2 |
After 1 year |
1335.20 |
35.14 |
| Level 5.A3 |
After 2 years |
1354.10 |
35.63 |
| Level 5.1 |
On commencement |
1316.10 |
34.63 |
| Level 5.2 |
After 1 year |
1335.20 |
35.14 |
| Level 5.3 |
After 2 years |
1354.10 |
35.63 |
| Level 5.4 |
|
1359.00 |
35.76 |
| Level 6.A1 |
On commencement |
1517.60 |
39.94 |
| Level 6.A2 |
After 1 year |
1536.60 |
40.44 |
| Level 6.A3 |
After 2 years |
1555.40 |
40.93 |
| Children's service employee (Director) |
|
|
|
| Level 6.1 |
On commencement |
1517.60 |
39.94 |
| Level 6.2 |
After 1 year |
1536.60 |
40.44 |
| Level 6.3 |
After 2 years |
1555.40 |
40.93 |
| Level 6.4 |
On commencement |
1613.50 |
42.46 |
| Level 6.5 |
After 1 year |
1628.30 |
42.85 |
| Level 6.6 |
After 2 years |
1647.70 |
43.36 |
| Level 6.7 |
On commencement |
1667.40 |
43.88 |
| Level 6.8 |
After 1 year |
1686.40 |
44.38 |
| Level 6.9 |
After 2 years |
1705.50 |
44.88 |
Casual childcare workers will receive a higher hourly pay rate that includes casual loading. For more information, head to the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Graduate childcare teacher salary guide
| Classification |
Criteria |
Minimum weekly rate - preschools and schools |
Minimum annual salary - preschools and schools (full-time employee) |
Minimum weekly rate - long daycare centres (full-time employee) |
Minimum annual rate - long daycare centres (full-time employee) |
|
|
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
| Level 1 |
Graduate teacher and all other teachers (as defined) including those holding provisional or conditional accreditation/registration |
1389.40 |
72,497 |
1444.90 |
75.397 |
| Level 2 |
Teacher with proficient accreditation/registration or equivalent |
1518.60 |
79,240 |
1579.30 |
82.410 |
| Level 3 |
Teacher with proficient accreditation/registration or equivalent after 3 years’ satisfactory teaching service at Level 2 |
1653.20 |
86,264 |
1719.30 |
89,175 |
| Level 4 |
Teacher with proficient accreditation/registration or equivalent after 3 years’ satisfactory teaching service at Level 3 |
1787.80 |
93,289 |
1859.40 |
97,021 |
| Level 5 |
Teacher with Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher accreditation /registration or equivalent |
1922.40 |
100,311 |
1999.30 |
104,323 |
For casual and part-time childcare teachers:
- Part-time workers will be paid on a pro-rata basis
- Casual teachers will receive their assigned weekly rate divided by five plus 25% for a full day's work, and their assigned weekly rate divided by 10 plus 25% for a half day’s work.
A lot of childcare workers are employed on a casual basis, so additional allowances apply to certain roles. A breakdown of some of these allowances and what they could mean for your childcare worker salary, are below:
Broken shift allowance
If you work two shifts in one day, you’ll get paid 1.91% of your standard rate per day when a broken shift is worked.
Clothing and equipment allowance
If an employer requires you to wear specific clothing, they must reimburse the cost if you buy the items yourself. This also extends to protective clothing, such as sunhats and sunscreen.
If you’re asked to launder your clothes, you’ll receive an allowance of $9.49 per week or $1.90 per day, or if the uniform does not require ironing, the allowance will be $5.98 per week or $1.20 per day.
Excess fares allowance
If you’re asked to work away from your usual place of work, you’ll be paid an allowance of $16.86 per day to compensate for travel costs. This doesn’t apply if the employer provides transport free of charge.
First aid allowance
If you’re classed as below a Level 3, are required to administer first aid and hold a recognised current first aid certificate, then you’ll be paid an allowance of 1.13% of your standard rate per day. If you’re employed in out-of-school-hours care, you’ll receive an allowance of 0.15% of your standard rate per day.
Meal allowance
If you’re required to work a minimum of two hours overtime without being notified the previous day, the employer will supply you with a meal or an allowance of $15.48. Meal allowances will not be paid if you can reasonably travel home within the period allowed.
Qualifications allowance
If you’re an assistant director or director and hold a Graduate Certificate in Childcare Management or equivalent, you’ll be paid an all-purpose allowance of 5% of the weekly rate of an assistant director (Level 5.4).
Use of vehicle allowance
If an employer requests you use your own vehicle to perform your duties, you’ll be paid an allowance of $0.99 per km for a car, and $0.33 per km for a motorbike.
Educational leader allowance
If you’re required to discharge the responsibilities of an educational leader under Regulation 118 of the Education and Care Services National Regulation 2011, an allowance of $4567.31 will be paid per year. If you work less than five days per week, the allowance will be paid on a pro-rata basis, calculated by the number of weeks you work in this position.
Not all of these allowances will apply to your role. Refer to the Children Service’s Award or the Education (Service) Teachers Award to find out what allowances you could be eligible to receive.
Get started with childcare job opportunities today
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