Early Childhood Educator Salary in Sydney (2026)

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Early Childhood Educators in Sydney earn a median salary of $80,000 in 2026, with most advertised roles falling between $65,000 and $96,000. That sits 16% below Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000. Figures are based on 35 jobs advertised in Sydney in the last 30 days.

● Moderate demand 59th percentile by listing volume in Sydney ↑ +1 listings vs last month
💰 Early Childhood Educator · Sydney
ADVERTISED RANGE
$65,000 – $96,000
Median: $80,000
Aug $77k
Sep $80k
↑ Trending up

Based on 2-month data, short-term movement only.

Mid level $65,000 – $96,000
Overall $65k–$96k Mid $65k–$96k $63k $70k $77k $84k $91k $98k
Moderate confidence 35 listings (+1 vs last month) · 30/09/2026

Salary ranges are percentiles calculated from 35 job listings for this role and city, all sourced from Seek.com.au. Of those, 11.4% stated a salary directly. The remaining 88.6% carried a range estimated from the listing, so this median blends advertised and estimated pay. Figures represent what employers advertise and may differ from actual compensation. Fewer than a quarter of these listings stated a salary, so the median leans heavily on estimates.

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Bottom 10%  $65,000 Median  $80,000 $96,000  Top 10%

Understanding the Sydney Market

The median rose $2,442 to $80,000 with listings flat at 35, making Sydney the best-paying early childhood educator market in this data ahead of Melbourne at $73,000. Only 11.4% of these listings stated a salary, one of the lowest disclosure rates in the Sydney data, so the figure rests almost entirely on estimates. The number that frames the page is $95,000, which is what early childhood teachers earn in the same city, putting the qualification at a $15,000 premium.

Take Home Pay (based on median $80,000)

Weekly (net)
~$1,191
Monthly (net)
~$5,161
Annual (net)
~$61,933
Total package (incl. 2025-26 super at 11.5%) $89,200

Take-home calculated using 2025-26 ATO tax rates, no HECS debt, full Australian residency. Total package adds 11.5% superannuation to base salary. Adjust for your situation →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good starting salary for a junior Early Childhood Educator in Sydney?
Entry is $65,000, typically a Certificate III qualified assistant educator working to ratio. The move up comes with a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and room leadership. First aid, anaphylaxis and child protection certification are assumed rather than differentiating.
Is $80,000 a good salary in Sydney?
No, though it leads the country. At $80,000 an early childhood educator earns 15.8% below Sydney's all-roles median of $95,000, with take-home near $1,191 a week against the highest living costs in this report. The $15,000 gap to the teaching qualification is the narrowest in this report, which makes the study case less compelling here than elsewhere. With barely one listing in nine disclosing pay, treat the figure as directional.
How much does a Senior Early Childhood Educator make in Sydney?
The ceiling is $96,000, which sits above the early childhood teacher median of $95,000, so a senior educator can out-earn a typical teacher. Room leadership and educational leader roles are what reach it. Centre direction at $115,000 is where the sector's real progression sits.

Other roles in Sydney

Early Childhood Educator salaries in other cities

City Median salary vs Sydney
Sydney (this page) $80,000 0%
Melbourne $73,112 -9%

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Data sourced from publicly listed job advertisements. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Seek or any third-party platforms. Salary ranges represent advertised figures and may differ from actual compensation. Updated monthly.