School Principal Salary in Australia
School principals lead schools, managing staff, students, budgets, and academics. The Australia median is $176,269 per year. Pick a city below for a local breakdown.
Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is AUD). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies
National median
$176,269
per year
Monthly (national)
$14,712
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$176,269
Newcastle, NSW
Hourly (national)
$84.75
varies by city
School Principal salary by city in Australia
| City | Per year | Per month | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle, NSW | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Canberra, ACT | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Sunshine Coast, QLD | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Wollongong, NSW | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Hobart, TAS | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Darwin, NT | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Mackay, QLD | $176,269 | $14,712 | 0% |
| Sydney, NSW | $128,385 | $10,687 | -27% |
| Melbourne, VIC | $126,303 | $10,548 | -28% |
| Perth, WA | $119,363 | $9,924 | -32% |
| Brisbane, QLD | $118,669 | $9,924 | -33% |
| Adelaide, SA | $107,566 | $8,952 | -39% |
School Principal salary in other countries
United States
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Netherlands
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South AfricaRelated Education salaries in Australia
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a school principal make in Australia?
- The national median school principal salary in Australia is about $254,000 per year ($21,200 per month). Across 12 cities, pay ranges from about $155,000 to $254,000.
- Which Australia city pays school principals the most?
- Newcastle, NSW pays the most at about $254,000 per year.
- Which Australia city pays school principals the least?
- Among cities we cover, Adelaide, SA is on the lower end at about $155,000 per year for a school principal.
- What is the typical salary range for a school principal in Australia?
- Across Australia cities we cover, school principal pay commonly spans from about $117,000 at the entry end in lower-paying markets up to about $351,800 for senior pay in higher-paying cities. Open a city page for the full local percentile band.
- How many Australia cities have school principal salary data?
- Pay by Role publishes school principal pay for 12 cities in Australia, all shown in AUD.
- Is school principal in demand in Australia?
- Employment for this role is projected to change by about +1% over the next decade. Related education roles on Pay by Role include Teacher, Professor.