Early childhood educators receive 15% pay rise

This week (1 December), Early Childhood Education and Care workers received a 15 per cent pay boost in line with the federal government’s Worker Retention Payment grant.

The federal government has launched the final instalment of its Worker Retention Payment – a 15 per cent pay rise for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) educators – covering workers under the Children’s Services Award 2010 or the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. The latest instalment of 5 per cent was effective from 1 December 2025.

On 2 December 2024, ECEC educators received the first instalment of the wage increase (10 per cent). Currently, over 200,000 educators will benefit from this $3.6 billion injection into the sector by the federal government. The grant will run for two years, until 30 November 2026.

Recognition of ‘essential work’

This pay boost equates to an annual boost of $11,000 more than last year for a Cert III Educator under the Children’s Services Award 2010.

Under this wage increase, educators will receive an additional $160 per week, and pay will be up by $200 per week for the typical full-time ECEC educator, and by $316 per week for an early childhood teacher compared to last year.

The deputy federal president at the Australian Education Union, Meredith Peace (pictured), said that this pay increase reflects the “essential work” that early childhood teachers and educators have in children’s development.

“Today’s pay rise is recognition of the professionalism, skill and dedication of early childhood educators across Australia,” Peace said.

Tackling the sector’s talent shortage

Peace called the talent shortages in the sector “significant” and “ongoing”.

United Workers Union national president Jo Schofield said: “The pay rise has played a crucial role in attracting and retaining valuable, skilled educators.”

The federal government found that 15,100 new workers have joined the industry between August 2024 and August 2025 – a 6 per cent increase in a year.

“Educators with secure jobs and reasonable rates of pay in well-staffed centres are able to provide the consistency of education, care, support and safety that has been so sadly lacking in the worst examples seen this year,” Schofield said.

Karen Moran, a Queensland-based centre director, said: “As a single parent with a mortgage, the pay rise is already making a meaningful difference to my household budget – it gives extra financial breathing room with bills, and it gives me more stability. It acknowledges the real pressures educators face and gives me greater confidence about my future in the sector.”