Highest paying teaching jobs in Australia

Key Takeaways 

• The average teacher salary in Australia ranges from $100k to $105k per year. 
• Early childhood educators earn between $65k-$75k, while early childhood teachers and kindergarten teachers earn $85k-$100k. 
• Primary and high school teachers generally make $100k-$105k, with tertiary educators earning significantly more, lecturers at $120k-$130k and deans at $140k-$160k. 
• The highest-paying cities for teachers are Broome & Kimberley ($130k), Gosford & Central Coast ($115k), and Shepparton & Goulburn Valley ($113k). 
• The top-paying states are the Northern Territory ($110k), ACT ($109k), and New South Wales ($106k), offering stronger salaries due to higher demand and regional incentives. 

Australia’s education and training sector is one of the country’s most diverse and in-demand industries, covering early childhood education, schooling, vocational training, and higher education. With growing needs across all levels, teachers play an increasingly important role in shaping future generations, supporting student wellbeing, and driving academic and professional development. 

Because the industry includes such a wide range of roles, teacher salary expectations can vary significantly. Early childhood educators, primary school teachers, high school teachers, lecturers, university academics, and support staff all fall within the sector, each with different responsibilities, qualification requirements, and pay scales. 

This guide breaks down the highest-paying jobs in education and training, using the latest SEEK salary data to help you understand which roles offer the strongest earning potential. Whether you're new to teaching or planning your next career move, this salary overview will show where the most rewarding opportunities are in Australia’s education sector. 

• Highest paying teacher jobs in Australia 
• How much do teachers earn in Australia 
• Highest paid teachers 
• Explore more teacher salaries in Australia 

Highest paying teacher jobs in Australia 

The highest-paying teacher jobs in Australia vary across early childhood, primary and secondary education, and tertiary education. Using the latest SEEK salary data, the table below highlights the top-earning roles in the education sector, along with their average annual salaries. This will give you a quick overview of where teachers and educators are earning the most today. 

 
How much do teachers earn in Australia 

The average teacher salary in Australia ranges from $100k to $105k per year, based on current SEEK data. Actual earnings vary depending on the type of school, years of experience, qualifications, and whether teachers work in public, private, or specialised education environments. 

Location also plays a major role in determining the average teacher salary in Australia, with regional and remote areas often offering higher pay to attract qualified educators. While salaries remain strong across most states and territories, a few stand out for offering the highest earning potential. 

Top-paying cities for teachers: 

• Broome & Kimberley: $130k
• Gosford & Central Coast: $115k
• Shepparton & Goulburn Valley: $113k 

These regions consistently offer above-average salaries, largely due to strong demand for teachers and the additional incentives provided for working in regional communities. 

Top-paying states for teachers: 

• Northern Territory: $110k 
• Australian Capital Territory: $109k
• New South Wales: $106k 

These states lead the country in teacher pay, reflecting a combination of higher staffing needs, regional allowances, and competitive government pay scales. Teachers open to relocating to these areas often find stronger salary packages and more rapid career progression opportunities. 

Highest paid teachers 

Based on SEEK salary data, the highest-paid educators typically work in tertiary institutions where specialised expertise commands higher pay, while school-based teachers also earn competitive salaries in senior or specialist roles. Here’s how each key position compares: 

Teacher Aide Salary & Education Support salary 

Teacher aides work closely with classroom teachers to support student learning, manage classroom activities, and assist children requiring additional support. Education Support helps support a wider range of professionals, including education advisers, inclusion specialists, and support officers. 

• Average salary: AUD $65k-$75k per year 
• Higher pay is often seen in special education settings and roles requiring specialised behavioural or inclusion training. 

Early Childhood Educator salary 

Early childhood educators support qualified teachers, facilitate play-based learning, and assist with children’s daily developmental needs. 

• Average salary: AUD $65k-$75k per year 
• Higher salaries apply to diploma-qualified educators and those working in high-demand centres. 

Early Childhood Teacher salary 

Early childhood teachers specialise in early learning, children’s development, and school-readiness programs across long-day care, kindergarten, and community education settings. 

• Average salary: AUD $85k-$100k per year 
• Salaries increase with experience, advanced qualifications, and leadership roles within early learning centres. 

Kindergarten Teacher salary 

Kindergarten teachers deliver structured programs preparing children for their first year of school. Their work involves lesson planning, developmental assessments, and early literacy and numeracy. 

• Average salary: AUD $85k-$100k per year 
• Pay varies by employer type, with community kindergartens and not-for-profit centres often offering stronger salary bands. 

Primary School Teacher salary 

Primary teachers support foundational learning in literacy, numeracy, and social development for children aged 5-12. 

• Average salary: AUD $100k-$105k per year 
• Salaries increase with seniority, specialist skills (e.g., languages, special education), and leadership responsibilities. 

High School Teacher salary 

High school teachers, or Secondary School teachers, specialise in subject-based instruction, senior curriculum delivery, and student assessment across ages 12-18. 

• Average salary: AUD $100k-$105k per year 
• Teachers in STEM or who teach senior certification pathways such as VCE, HSC and ATAR, or school leadership roles typically earn at the upper end of the range. 

Lecturer salary 

Lecturers teach undergraduate and postgraduate students, deliver course content, supervise research, and contribute to academic publications. 

• Average salary: AUD $120k-$130k per year 
• Earnings grow with research output, seniority, and leadership positions within faculties. 

Dean salary 

Deans oversee entire faculties or schools, lead academic planning, manage staffing, and support major research initiatives. 

• Average salary: AUD $140k-$160k per year 
• Salaries increase with institution size, research responsibilities, and leadership scope. 

Explore more teacher salaries in Australia 

Australia’s education sector offers a wide range of rewarding and well-paid roles across early childhood, schooling, and tertiary environments. Whether you’re starting out or looking to advance your career, it’s good to learn more about the different roles and the salaries they offer to help you plan your next best role with higher-paying opportunities. 

You can explore more career insights, job listings, and up-to-date salary data here at SEEK. It comes with salary tools and job search pages to compare how your current role measures up and discover new potential career pathways across Australia’s growing education and training sector. 

Source: SEEK data, roles based on average advertised salaries of over $150,000 for job ads listed on SEEK from July 23 to June 24 to July 24 to June 25. A minimum threshold of job ads on SEEK is required for a role to appear in this table.