Average Early Childhood Teacher Salary / Wages
Salary and wage information for early childhood teachers is compiled regularly by analysis of Australian jobs advertised in major publications. Salaries are annual unless otherwise stated.
The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Code (ANZSCO) is 241111 for early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers.
Job titles and exact tasks vary in this work and examples of some occupation titles are kindergarten teacher, early childhood teacher and pre-primary school teacher.
This occupation is currently on the Australian Combined Skilled Occupation List, (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, MLTSSL).
The average weekly full-time ordinary earnings in Education and Training in mid 2018 were $1,741, giving an annual income of approximately $90,500. This was 3.5% higher than in mid 2017.*
Data supplied from Indeed over the past 36 months, based on over 1,600 salaries, estimated that the average salary for a preschool teacher was $66,457 per year in Australia.
Early Childhood Teacher Salaries / Wages in 2018
| Job Title | Salary / Wage $ | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Teacher | 30 – 40 per hour | Sydney, New South Wales |
| University Qualified Early Childhood Teacher | 75,000 – 85,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Bachelor of Early Education Leader | 55,000 -65,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Centre Director and Early Childhood Teacher | 68,000 – 88,000 | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Kindergarten Teacher | 67,000 | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Early Childhood Teacher – ECT – Kindergarten | 69,000 – 73,500 | Mildura & Murray, Victoria |
| Diploma Qualified Early Childhood Educator & Casual / Relief Educators | 20 – 30 per hour | Canberra, ACT |
| Permanent Full Time Early Childhood Professional | 70,000 – 75,000 | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Early Childhood Teacher and Senior Educator | 60,000 – 75,000 | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Diploma Qualified & ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) | 55,000 | Perth, Western Australia |
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*Source:ABS
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Hi there.. I can’t seem to find any concrete answers so hoping someone can help me. I am a diploma qualified (uk) nursery Practitioner/ nursery nurse whatever you want to call it and have been qualified and working in this profession since 2014. Is this what they would call an early childhood teacher in Australia? Thanks in advance for any answers you can provide.
Unfortunately not. ECT requires a bachelors degree in early childhood.
You are (very nearly) equivalent to a diploma qualified ECE (Early childhood educator) but would likely be required to complete additional units on indigenous culture to have your qualification recognised as an Australian diploma
I am interested to know why there is such a difference between Queensland and the rest of Australia in how Early Childhood (Bachelor qualified) teachers or as Queensland Day Care centres describe these qualified teachers — Room Leaders. Kindergarten, Early Childhood students are only catered for in child care centres unless you are lucky enough to get a teaching position in a private school. how was this allowed to happen? Has gaining a Degree in Early childhood become a waste of time? My daughter is now 3 years post grad and still being underpaid by her employer. A main component of her job has become as a cleaner for the centre as they don’t employ cleaning staff. What do you suggest? Should she make a complaint against this employer? She is shown no respect what-so-ever. It seems the the Child Care industry in Queensland has been allowed to go backwards in regards to how children are educated and how the qualified people with the responsibility of caring for them are so undervalued and underpaid. She is unhappy and just wants to not only care but also teach now and be valued as a staff member and a qualified one!
Hi!
I’m thinking about the possibility of moving to Australia in the future.
I have a college degree in childhood education from Portugal and I have 8 years of experience as a kindergarten teacher and my pupils have ages between 1 to 6 along these 8 years.
Any information that you can give me regarding my qualifications down there and what I would need to do in order to secure a job would be appreciated.
Best regards
Hi I recently got awarded an ECT certificate approved by Acecqa, however I am not being paid the same salary as the other ECT holders in my centre as I am not working in the kindergarten rooms, however I have been asked to be a room leader? Is this normal? As well as that I have been listed as an unqualified assistant even though i was granted a Diploma certificate 28 Aug to which I appealed and my ECT award October 4th? Am i entitled to be backpaid?
Hi Gina. Did you receive a reply? I am interested to know too. (see comment above )
Would like to see Tasmania’s pay rate. I was on a little over $40,000 for a 4 year qualified ECT. Not worth working for a degree to get that pay down here.
HI. I will be finishing my degree in ECE in NewZealand and is planning to move to Perth with my family and I’m wondering what is the starting rate for a newly graduate in Perth?
Hi I am recently finish my Early Childhood Teacher level 5 course if i want to work in Canberra as a ECE reliever teacher what is the starting rate for this job
I am the ECT at the daycare with bachelor in children,s services and cert 4 in TAA, andwork as a full time director at 34 places in NT.what should be my approximate rate to be getting.
Hi I have just finished my 4 year bachelor or education/primary. Would the wage of an ECT working in a childcare setting with a kinder room be less than that of a kinder setting alone?
Hi
I am a Registered early childhood educator also a Canadian citizen .
also working in Licensed child care since last 5 years .
I have a few questions.
Do my credentials transfer to Australia?
If so how difficult is it to get a work visa?
Can I apply for the job when I get there? or do I need to have a job secure before then?
Thank you for your consideration
To be an early childhood teacher you need to have a 3+ years uni degree. You do not require a degree to work in child care however the pay is less. Most people with early childhood degrees work in formal schools as the pay is better. For this you need at least a 4 year degree.
Do you need a degree in education to work in a formal school or just a 4 year uni. Degree?
Hi,
I am seriously thinking about moving to Australia, I am a Child Minder back here in the UK and have run my own successful business for the last 10 years, I am just wondering how easy it would be for me to get a job as a Early Childhood Teacher, and what is need for me to be able to do this.
Many Thanks.
I too am a Canadian possibly moving to Australia in the future.
I have been in ECE field for 13 years and have had 10 years experience as either an assistant director or director of various child care centres.
Any information that you can share with me regarding my qualifications down there and I would need to do in order to secure a job, that would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!
I am a registered Early Childhood Educator in Canada, with 4 years experience.
I have a few questions.
Do my credentials transfer to Australia?
If so how difficult is it to get a work visa?
Can I apply for the job when I get there? or do I need to have a job secure before then?
Thank you for your consideration