Know your wages💰
Early Childhood Educators
Helpful info to know about your wages
- $23.11 per hour is the minimum wage for childcare workers 19 years or older (As of 1 July 2023).
- Workers 18 years and under are paid a Junior Rate.
- Junior employees employed as a Children’s services employee level 3, 4 or 5, or as a Support worker at any level must be paid at the appropriate adult rate.
- After one year of employment, your hourly rate should increase. For some classifications, your hourly should increase each year up to 4 years of employment.
- If you have to wear a uniform, your boss should pay for it.
- You’re entitled to a break every five hours – but it’s unpaid.
Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 23-24 Announcement:
The National Minimum Wage and Award Minimum Wage Rates will increase by 3.75 per cent, effective from 1 July 2024.
Pay Charts for this industry has been updated to reflect the new increase.
Children’s Services Award [MA000120]
Who the Children's Services Award covers
The Children’s Services Award covers employers in the children’s services and early childhood education industry and their employees who fit within the classifications of the award.
The Children’s Services Award also covers labour hire businesses and their employees who are placed with an organisation in the children’s services and early childhood education industry.
The children’s services and early childhood education industry means;
- long day care
- occasional care
- nurseries
- childcare centres
- day care facilities
- family based childcare
- out of school hours care
- vacation care
- adjunct care
- in-home care
- kindergartens and preschools
- mobile centres
- early childhood intervention programs.
Examples of employees covered by the Children’s Services Award include;
- child care workers
- room leaders, co-ordinators, assistant directors and directors
- support workers doing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, driving, gardening, maintenance and administrative duties.
Check the award for full information on who is covered and the classification descriptions.
Pay Charts
Select your level below:
Support Worker Level 1
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Support worker level 1.1 on commencement |
$23.97 |
$29.96 |
Support worker Level 2
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Support worker level 2.1 on commencement |
$24.84 |
$31.05 |
|
Support worker level 2.2 after 1 year |
$25.66 |
$32.08 |
Support Worker Level 3
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Support worker level 3.1 on commencement |
$27.17 |
$33.96 |
Children's services employee level 1
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 1.1 on commencement |
$23.97 |
$29.96 |
Children's services employee level 2
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 2.1 on commencement |
$24.84 |
$31.05 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.2 after 1 year |
$25.66 |
$32.08 |
Children's services employee level 3
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 3A.1 on commencement |
$26.75 |
$33.44 |
|
Children's services employee level 3A.2 after 1 year |
$27.17 |
$33.96 |
|
Children's services employee level 3.1 on commencement |
$27.17 |
$33.96 |
|
Children's services employee level 3.2 after 1 year |
$28.10 |
$35.13 |
|
Children's services employee level 3.3 after 2 years |
$28.99 |
$36.24 |
|
Children's services employee level 3.4 (Diploma) |
$30.59 |
$38.24 |
Full Disclaimer
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Users should seek their own legal advice before relying on content on this website – if you are a UWU member, please contact the Union directly with your enquiry.
Gen United (United Workers Union) is committed to ensuring that information available through our workplace resources including data is accurate and incorporates changes to minimum rates of pay, allowances, penalty rates and workplace rights in the award as soon as they come into effect.
However, we cannot guarantee or accept any liability for the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of the information available in these workplace resources. This is because, for example, there may be a delay between when a change takes effect, and when the information available in these resources is updated.
Reminder: Junior employees employed as a Children’s services employee level 3, 4 or 5, or as a Support worker at any level must be paid at the appropriate adult rate.
Pay Chart
Select your age below:
16 and under
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 1.1 on commencement |
$17.39 |
$21.74 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.1 on commencement |
$17.39 |
$21.74 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.2 after 1 year |
$17.96 |
$22.45 |
17
| Classification | Full Time and Part Time (hourly) | Casual (hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 1.1 on commencement |
$19.87 |
$24.84 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.1 |
$19.87 |
$24.84 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.2 after 1 year |
$20.53 |
$25.66 |
18
| Classification | Full Time / Part Time (Hourly) | Casual (Hourly) |
|---|---|---|
|
Children's services employee level 1.1 on commencement |
$22.36 |
$27.95 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.1 on commencement |
$22.36 |
$27.95 |
|
Children's services employee level 2.1 on commencement |
$23.09 |
$28.86 |
Full Disclaimer
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Users should seek their own legal advice before relying on content on this website – if you are a UWU member, please contact the Union directly with your enquiry.
Gen United (United Workers Union) is committed to ensuring that information available through our workplace resources including data is accurate and incorporates changes to minimum rates of pay, allowances, penalty rates and workplace rights in the award as soon as they come into effect.
However, we cannot guarantee or accept any liability for the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of the information available in these workplace resources. This is because, for example, there may be a delay between when a change takes effect, and when the information available in these resources is updated.
Helpful info about wage increases
- Every year, the Fair Work Commission reviews the National Minimum Wage and minimum rates of pay in modern Awards to decide if they should be increased.
- This process is called the Annual Wage Review or AWR for short.
- The AWR usually happens between March and June. Any changes generally come into effect on the first full pay period after 1 July.
Award Wages
- Most employees over the age of 21 years old are covered by an Award.
- An award is a legal document that outlines the wages and conditions of employment for employees that are covered by it within a particular industry or occupation (such as Call Centres).
- Award pay rates can be changed by the AWR.
- Generally, award rates are increased by a percentage amount, rather than a dollar amount.
National Minimum Wage
- The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by an Award or registered agreement.
- As of 1 July 2024, the National Minimum Wage is $24.10 an hour.
- The National Minimum Wage is reviewed and generally increased each year as part of the AWR.
