New figures from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) show that salaries for principals and teachers have risen across the board compared to the 2021–22 financial year, yet gender pay gaps remain entrenched at every level of education.
School principals continue to command the highest salaries, with the average now sitting at $150,146, up from $141,436 in 2021–22. Male principals earn $156,346, while female principals average $145,774 – a gap of more than $10,500.
This disparity has barely shifted from 2021–22, when men earned around $148,242 compared to $136,488 for women. Principals represent a relatively small cohort, with 13,719 individuals recorded – 8,083 women and 5,636 men.
Classroom teachers have also seen strong salary growth. Secondary school teachers remain among the best-paid educators, with male teachers earning $103,683, up from $92,269 in 2021–22, and females averaging $93,513, up from $85,077. This group includes 168,400 teachers, split between 105,137 women and 63,263 men.
Primary school teachers show similar trends: men now earn $97,662, compared to $87,050 in 2021–22, while women have risen from $76,411 to $84,061. This is the largest teaching cohort, with 193,294 individuals – 166,496 women and 26,798 men.
Early childhood educators and special needs teachers continue to earn less than their primary and secondary counterparts, despite modest increases. Female pre-school and kindergarten teachers now average $64,087, up from $61,790, while males earn $69,947, up from $64,559. This group includes 24,936 teachers, with women making up the overwhelming majority. In special education, male teachers earn $80,566, compared to $65,157 for females, across 18,046 individuals.
Across almost every category in education, men earn more than women, with differences ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. While salaries have risen across the board, the proportional gap has barely shifted and, in some cases, widened slightly. These figures raise important questions about pay equity and how schools can address these imbalances to attract and retain talent, particularly in leadership and high-demand teaching roles.
Source: Australian Taxation Office, Taxation Statistics 2022–23
