Median salary
$147,095
ANZSCO 1343 · Specialist managers
School principal salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian school principal is $147,095 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $108,390 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$108,390
Fortnightly
$4,169
Tax returns
13,719
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 1343, based on 13,719 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $144,074 | $147,095 | $150,146 |
| Average (mean) | $147,172 | $146,821 | $153,149 |
Taxable income = gross income minus allowable deductions. Salary / wages = PAYG-reported income only. Total income = all sources including investment, business, etc.
Take-home pay on the median $school principal salary
| Gross salary (median) | $147,095 |
| Income tax | −$35,763 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$2,942 |
| Take-home pay | $108,390 |
| + Employer super | $17,651 |
See the $150,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $147,095 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Specialist managers
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sales / advertising manager | 187,246 | $101,349 |
| Construction manager | 86,065 | $110,480 |
| IT manager | 82,161 | $143,630 |
| Finance manager | 67,794 | $101,160 |
| Health and welfare services manager | 53,574 | $66,253 |
| Policy and planning manager | 48,811 | $121,663 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a school principal earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian school principal in 2022-23 was $147,095, based on 13,719 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $146,821; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical school principal.
What is a school principal salary after tax?
On the median $147,095 salary for a school principal, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $108,390 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $4,169 per fortnight or $2,084 per week.
How much tax does a school principal pay?
On the median $147,095 salary, a school principal in FY2025-26 pays about $38,705 in total tax — $35,763 income tax plus $2,942 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 26.3%.
How many people work as a school principal in Australia?
13,719 Australians lodged a tax return as a school principal in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 1343 on their return.
What is the average vs median school principal salary?
Average (mean): $146,821. Median: $147,095. The median is usually lower because a small number of very high earners pull the average up. For a realistic picture of what a typical school principal earns, use the median.
Data sources
Salary data: Australian Taxation Office — Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15. Used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence.
Take-home pay calculated at paycalculator.page using ATO-published FY2025-26 brackets, 2% Medicare levy, and default settings (Australian resident, private hospital cover, tax-free threshold claimed).