Understanding the assistant principal salary: pay floors, award rates, and what to expect

Understanding the assistant principal salary

When people search for an "assistant principal salary", they often expect a single figure. In reality, the pay for this role depends on which award or agreement applies. The legal minimum is the national minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission, but assistant principals are almost always covered by a sector-specific award or enterprise agreement that sets a much higher rate.

The legal minimum vs award rates

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult. This is the floor for award-free employees. However, assistant principals in schools are typically employed under awards such as the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award or state government school agreements. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides for these awards, which include classification levels and penalty rates. For example, the CEWA (Catholic Education Western Australia) salary schedule for assistant principals, effective from December 2025, sets base salaries ranging from $143,360 for a school with fewer than 150 enrolments up to $209,300 for schools with 1,500 or more students. These rates are well above the national minimum.

How a negotiated salary fits in

Some assistant principals may have individual contracts or enterprise agreements that exceed the award rate. The award rate is the minimum; employers can always pay more. When comparing an offer, check which award or agreement covers your role. The CEWA schedule is one example, but other states and sectors (public, independent) have their own arrangements. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool can help you find the correct award.

Super is on top

All salary figures mentioned are base salary before super. The super guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, paid by the employer on top of ordinary time earnings. For a CEWA assistant principal on $143,360, the employer adds about $17,203 in super, making total remuneration approximately $160,563. Always confirm whether a quoted salary includes super or not.

Comparing to average earnings

The ABS reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026. A Category 1 assistant principal under CEWA earns about $2,756.92 per week in base salary, which is 32% higher than the national average. However, this is just one data point. Assistant principals in larger schools or with more experience earn significantly more.

Key takeaways

• The national minimum wage is not the relevant floor for assistant principals.
• Award rates, such as the CEWA schedule, set the actual minimum for most roles.
• Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to your school and sector.
• Super is an additional employer payment, not part of the quoted salary.

For more details on pay floors and how they work, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables. If you need to understand how figures are calculated, visit How the figures work.