Wage determinations for ECEC sector published, confirming pay increases from 1 July

Early childhood educators, teachers and service leaders will receive increased pay from 1 July 2025, following the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) publication of the 2025 wage determinations.

 

The determinations, released today, formally vary the Children’s Services Award 2010 and the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, giving legal effect to changes first outlined in the Commission’s Annual Wage Review decision earlier this month.

 

These updates apply across preschools, long day care centres, and children’s services, with new rates taking effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025.

 

What the wage determinations confirm

 

Under the Children’s Services Award:

• A diploma-qualified educator at Level 3.4 will earn a minimum of $1,203.10 per week, or $31.66 per hour, equating to an annual income of around $62,561.
• A Level 6.9 employee (e.g. director of a large service) will earn $1,705.50 per week, or $44.88 per hour.

 

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award:

• A graduate teacher working in a long day care setting (Level 1) will earn $75,397 annually, or approximately $38.02 per hour.
• An experienced teacher at Level 4 will earn $97,021 annually, or $48.93 per hour.

 

The determinations include updated rates for part-time, casual, overtime and shift work, along with daily and half-day rates where applicable.

 

Allowances – limited changes

 

The Commission confirmed that expense-related allowances under the Teachers Award will not increase, as there was no rise in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure.

 

However, the Children’s Services Award meal allowance will rise to $15.48, effective from 1 July 2025.

 

Extra boost through Worker Retention Payment

 

Separate from the award changes, many early childhood professionals will benefit from the Australian Government’s Worker Retention Payment (WRP) program, which applies an uplift above award wages.

 

The program delivers:

• A 10 per cent increase from 2 December 2024
• An additional 5 per cent from 1 December 2025

 

These increases are layered over the new award rates and delivered through CCS payments for eligible services.

 

What educators can expect to earn

 

To help contextualise the combined effect of the wage determinations and WRP, here are indicative earnings for five common roles in early childhood education:

 

Assistant Educator (Cert III) – Level 3.2

• Award only: $1,105.30/week | $29.09/hour
• With 10% WRP: $1,215.83/week | $31.99/hour
• With 15% WRP: $1,271.10/week | $33.45/hour

 

Lead Educator (Cert III or Diploma) – Level 3.4

• Award only: $1,203.10/week | $31.66/hour
• With 10% WRP: $1,323.41/week | $34.83/hour
• With 15% WRP: $1,383.57/week | $36.41/hour

 

Lead Educator (Diploma) – Level 4.2

• Award only: $1,277.80/week | $33.63/hour
• With 10% WRP: $1,405.58/week | $36.99/hour
• With 15% WRP: $1,469.47/week | $38.67/hour

 

Assistant Director – Level 5.3

• Award only: $1,354.10/week | $35.63/hour
• With 10% WRP: $1,489.51/week | $39.19/hour
• With 15% WRP: $1,557.22/week | $40.97/hour

 

Centre Director (medium service) – Level 6.6

• Award only: $1,647.70/week | $43.36/hour
• With 10% WRP: $1,812.47/week | $47.70/hour
• With 15% WRP: $1,894.86/week | $49.86/hour

 

Services are encouraged to review these changes and ensure payroll systems are updated to reflect the new award rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025.

 

Together, the 2025 wage determinations and Worker Retention Payment scheme represent the most significant uplift to ECEC wages in recent years, helping to support workforce stability and sector sustainability.

 

For more detail, view the official determinations:

• Teachers Award Determination (PR786616)
• Children’s Services Award Determination (PR786659)
• Expense-Related Allowance Update (PR786828)