Pay by Role
Australia · Salary comparison

Professor vs School Principal salary

In Australia, a school principal earns about 9% more than a professor $176,269 vs $162,389 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is AUD). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Education
Professor
$162,389/yr
Monthly
$13,532
Hourly
$78
Range
$103,957$233,868
10-yr outlook
+8%
Pays more
Education
School Principal
$176,269/yr
Monthly
$14,712
Hourly
$85
Range
$120,751$244,139
10-yr outlook
+1%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileProfessorSchool Principal
Entry (10th)$103,957$120,751
25th$133,173$148,510
Median$162,389$176,269
75th$198,129$210,204
Senior (90th)$233,868$244,139

National Australia figures in AUD. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Education comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a professor or school principal earn more in Australia?
A school principal earns more, at about $254,000 per year vs $234,000 for a professor — roughly 9% ($20,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Australia?
A professor typically earns $149,800–$337,000, while a school principal earns $174,000–$351,800 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Australia?
On a monthly basis before tax, a professor averages about $19,500 and a school principal about $21,200.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Australia, a professor earns about $149,800 while a school principal earns about $174,000 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Australia, a professor earns about $337,000 while a school principal earns about $351,800 per year.
Are professor and school principal similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Education category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.