Childcare Worker salary in Australia
ANZSCO occupation: Child Carers
Last reviewed July 2026
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) · 2025 data. Annual figure derived from median weekly earnings × 52.
See your take-home pay on $70,000 →At a glance
- People employed
- 184,600
- Annual employment growth
- +10,700/yr
- 5-yr projected growth
- +1%
- Skills shortage rating
- Shortage
- Main industry
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Works full-time
- 47%
- Avg full-time hours
- 40 hrs/wk
- Works part-time
- 53%
- Female share
- 93%
- Median age
- 33 yrs
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025) · Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025)
What does a childcare worker do?
Child Carers provide care and supervision for children in residential homes and non-residential childcare centres.
- Assisting in the preparation of materials and equipment for children's education and recreational activities
- Managing children's behaviour and guiding children's social development
- Preparing and conducting activities for children
- Entertaining children by reading and playing games
- Supervising children in recreational activities
- Supervising the daily routine of children
- Supervising the hygiene of children
How to become a childcare worker
Typical education for this occupation, and courses that lead to it.
Education held by people in this role
Courses to get started
Where childcare workers are employed
Share of workers by state and territory (employment distribution, not pay).
Childcare Worker jobs
Related occupations
Similar occupations
Jobs that pay similar to a childcare worker
Frequently asked questions
How much does a childcare worker earn in Australia?
The median childcare worker earns $69,732 per year ($1,341 per week, or about $35/hour), based on Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025).
What qualifications do you need to be a childcare worker?
Most childcare workers hold a diploma or advanced diploma (27.2% of workers). Pathways vary — see typical courses above.
Is childcare worker a job in demand in Australia?
Around 184,600 childcare workers are employed in Australia. Employment is changing by about +10,700 workers per year.
Earnings, employment and education data: Jobs and Skills Australia — Occupation Profiles (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Employment projections: Jobs and Skills Australia — Employment Projections (May 2025 to May 2030), produced with Victoria University (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
Skills shortage ratings: Jobs and Skills Australia — 2025 Occupation Shortage List (unit-group level) (2025). Used under CC BY 4.0.
The ABS median refers to full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate; individual pay varies. Annual figures derived from median weekly earnings × 52. Figures are estimates for guidance only.