School Principal salary in Australia
Updated 21 July 2026
Take-home on the median School Principal salary of $132,649 — after $30,583 income tax and $2,653 Medicare levy (2025–26 resident, no HECS, private hospital cover).
National figures · February 2026 · Source: Jobs and Skills Australia (© Commonwealth of Australia), CC BY 4.0
What companies pay
Reported total pay for School Principal roles by employer — medians include bonuses and other cash compensation, so they sit above base-salary figures.
| Company | Median total pay | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Maxx Academy★ 5.0 | $224,217 | $214,712 – $233,702 |
| NSW Department of Education and Communities ★ 3.4 | $219,335 | $210,100 – $228,569 |
| Victoria Department of Education and Training★ 3.5 | $168,106 | $160,534 – $175,678 |
| ACT Government★ 4.1 | $162,050 | $155,549 – $168,550 |
| Amity College★ 3.6 | $158,182 | $150,632 – $165,733 |
| Employment Office Australia★ 3.1 | $150,696 | $144,935 – $156,458 |
| Queensland Government★ 3.9 | $149,950 | $144,108 – $155,792 |
| NSW Department of Education★ 3.7 | $147,466 | $141,487 – $153,446 |
| Brisbane Catholic Education★ 3.5 | $146,300 | $132,480 – $162,682 |
| LF Stores★ 2.5 | $139,794 | $134,609 – $144,980 |
| Queensland Department of Education★ 3.8 | $137,359 | $131,598 – $143,120 |
| Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton★ 2.9 | $131,472 | $125,918 – $137,026 |
| Department for Education, South Australia★ 3.5 | $130,720 | $114,972 – $144,888 |
| NSW Government★ 4.1 | $123,894 | $121,276 – $132,323 |
| Oakleigh Grammar★ 3.2 | $99,851 | $95,649 – $104,052 |
| Australian National University★ 3.9 | $86,235 | $82,740 – $89,730 |
| Hays★ 3.7 | $64,858 | $62,675 – $67,040 |
School Principal pay by state
Median base salary and range where enough data exists — every figure labelled with its source.
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Recently shared by School Principals
Anonymous submissions from Australian workers — reviewed before they appear, never tied to a name or employer.
No community submissions for School Principal yet.
Be the first — anonymous, two minutes, and it makes this page sharper for every School Principal in Australia.
Share your salarySimilar roles in Education
Dance Teacher
Early Childhood Educator
Music Teacher
Primary School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher
Teacher Aide
Are you a School Principal? Make this data sharper.
Share your salary anonymously — two minutes, no sign-up. Every submission improves the picture for everyone.
Salary figures are market estimates built from third-party data and community submissions — they show what the market pays, not what any individual employer will offer. Take-home figures are 2025–26 estimates for an Australian resident with private hospital cover and no HECS debt. General information only — not financial or tax advice.