Childcare Educator Pay Rates 2026: ECT, Diploma & Certificate III

Childcare educators and workers are covered by the Children's Services Award (MA000018). This covers long day care, preschool/kindergarten, family day care, outside school hours care (OSHC), and occasional care services.

Your pay level depends on your qualification:

• Level 3 — Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (most room assistants and educators)
• Level 4 — Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
• Level 5 — Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) with a bachelor's degree

Some childcare centres also operate under enterprise agreements or are government-run (with different pay structures). The award is the minimum floor.

If you hold a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, you're classified at Level 3 under the Children's Services Award. From 1 July 2025:

• Level 3.1 (new Cert III educator): $26.18/hr
• Level 3.2 (1+ year experience): $26.73/hr
• Level 3.3 (2+ years): $27.10/hr
• Level 3.4 (3+ years): $27.57/hr

If you're casual, add 25% on top. A Level 3.1 casual educator gets at least $32.73/hr.

Most room staff and educator assistants sit at Level 3. If you've been in the role for several years and you're still on Level 3.1, you should be progressing through the pay points.

Diploma-qualified educators are at Level 4 under the award. These are the educators who meet the qualification requirements for "educator" ratios under the National Quality Framework. From 1 July 2025:

• Level 4.1: $28.46/hr
• Level 4.2: $29.13/hr
• Level 4.3: $29.52/hr

Room leaders with a Diploma are typically at Level 4.2 or 4.3. If you're leading a room and programming but being paid at Level 3, you're being underpaid — your qualification level determines your minimum classification.

ECTs with a bachelor's degree (or approved equivalent) are at Level 5 and above. From 1 July 2025:

• Level 5.1 (graduate ECT): $30.42/hr (~$59,300/yr full-time)
• Level 5.2: $31.18/hr
• Level 5.3: $32.56/hr
• Level 6 (director/coordinator with degree): $34.21/hr (~$66,700/yr)

These rates are the award minimum. Many ECTs earn more through above-award agreements, especially in areas with ECT shortages. But if your centre is paying at or below these rates, this is the floor.

For comparison, a graduate primary school teacher earns around $75,000–$80,000. The gap between ECT and school teacher pay remains significant despite doing equally demanding educational work.

Penalty rates under the Children's Services Award for permanent employees:

• Saturday: 150% of base rate
• Sunday: 200% of base rate
• Public holidays: 250% of base rate
• Early morning (before 6am): 115% of base rate
• Evening (after 6:30pm): 115% of base rate

Most childcare centres don't operate on weekends, but OSHC services and some family day care providers do. If you work public holidays (for centres that open during school holidays), you should get the 250% rate.

The early morning and evening penalties are relevant if your centre opens before 6am for early drop-offs or stays open late for late pickups.

The Children's Services Award is one of the awards under the Fair Work Commission's gender-based undervaluation review. The FWC has acknowledged that early childhood educators have been underpaid partly because the workforce is overwhelmingly female.

What this means for you:

• Further pay increases are expected as the FWC completes its review — likely through 2026 and 2027
• The government has committed to funding pay increases in the sector through the childcare subsidy system
• Any increases will apply to the award rates, meaning your employer must pass them on

If you're in childcare, check our site regularly for updates on the gender undervaluation decision. When new rates take effect, your employer must apply them from the first full pay period after the effective date.

Use our pay calculator to check your current rate is correct.