A Snapshot of Early Childhood Teachers’ Pay Across Australia / La coyuntura de los salarios de los docentes de primera infancia en Australia

Across Australia, early childhood (EC) teachers can work in a variety of settings in the prior-to-school sector (profit and not for profit). The EC teacher qualification must be recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. The settings are governed by differing enterprise bargaining agreements (EBAs) that oversee salaries and conditions. The literature reveals that gender, socioeconomic status and diversity underpin the experiences of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) workforce, yet the impacts of these dynamics are largely silent in the policy discourse. This article provides a snapshot of EBA variations for early childhood teachers by looking at salaries and conditions across the different settings and states. Drawing on EBAs that are publicly available, a content analysis was conducted to determine salary and condition variation. Findings show strong variation across settings, state and qualification, suggesting EC teachers need to be aware of the variation when they are applying for positions and engaged in enterprise bargaining with their employer. Questions must also be raised with the sector, however, on why there is strong variation for the same qualification, especially given the current shortage of EC teachers across Australia.