Median salary
$62,840
ANZSCO 2415 · Education professionals
Special needs teacher salary in Australia
Median salary for an Australian special needs teacher is $62,840 per year (2022-23 tax return data), with $52,001 take-home after tax at current FY2025-26 rates.
After tax (yr)
$52,001
Fortnightly
$2,000
Tax returns
19,792
Income distribution
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics 2022-23, Table 15 (ANZSCO unit group 2415, based on 19,792 tax returns).
| Metric | Taxable income | Salary / wages | Total income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median | $64,515 | $62,840 | $67,895 |
| Average (mean) | $70,519 | $67,205 | $73,755 |
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 $special needs teacher salary
| Gross salary (median) | $62,840 |
| Income tax | −$9,583 |
| Medicare levy (2%) | −$1,257 |
| Low-income tax offset | +$57 |
| Take-home pay | $52,001 |
| + Employer super | $7,541 |
See the $65,000 salary page for full breakdown (monthly, fortnightly, weekly, daily and hourly), or
open the calculator prefilled with $62,840 to model salary sacrifice, HELP, or novated lease.
Related occupations · Education professionals
Other occupations within the same ANZSCO sub-major group.
| Occupation | Tax returns | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Primary school teacher | 193,294 | $83,026 |
| Secondary school teacher | 168,400 | $94,085 |
| University lecturer or tutor | 70,637 | $85,457 |
| School teacher - type not specified | 34,017 | $71,789 |
| Pre-school or kindergarten teacher | 24,936 | $60,441 |
| TAFE teacher or tutor | 24,629 | $74,545 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special needs teacher earn in Australia?
The median salary or wage income for an Australian special needs teacher in 2022-23 was $62,840, based on 19,792 lodged tax returns. The average (mean) was $67,205; the mean is pulled up by high earners so the median is a better guide for a typical special needs teacher.
What is a special needs teacher salary after tax?
On the median $62,840 salary for a special needs teacher, take-home pay in FY2025-26 is about $52,001 per year after income tax and the 2% Medicare levy — roughly $2,000 per fortnight or $1,000 per week.
How much tax does a special needs teacher pay?
On the median $62,840 salary, a special needs teacher in FY2025-26 pays about $10,839 in total tax — $9,583 income tax plus $1,257 Medicare levy. Effective rate: 17.2%.
How many people work as a special needs teacher in Australia?
19,792 Australians lodged a tax return as a special needs teacher in 2022-23. This is the count of individuals who classified themselves under ANZSCO unit group 2415 on their return.
What is the average vs median special needs teacher salary?
Average (mean): $67,205. Median: $62,840. 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 special needs teacher 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).