Home Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ranger Salary
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ranger salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for an aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger is $67,600 per annum, before tax, up $14,200 since 2018.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- Who employs you shapes the pay more than anything else, because government parks agencies pay under public sector agreements while ranger teams run by Aboriginal corporations and land councils set rates within their program funding.
- Remote area allowances, on-call and fire duties add to the base, and trainee rates sit below the figures for qualified rangers.
- Senior ranger and coordinator roles attract higher classifications, which is where most of the progression in pay happens.
The median salary rose by $14,200 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
Roles that pay more than aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger
The largest typical pay rise is $34,000 a year, moving into Park Ranger.
- Park Ranger+$34,000/yr
- Weeds Officer+$7,800/yr
- Fisheries Officer+$1,600/yr
How to negotiate a higher aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger salary is $67,600; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Environmental assessment and Field inspection and testing tend to command a premium over general aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Park Ranger pays a typical $34,000 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ranger salary questions
How much do aboriginal and torres strait islander rangers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for an aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger is $67,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger pay rising or falling?
The median aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger salary is up $14,200 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger?
Park Ranger pays a typical $34,000 a year more and draws on similar skills to aboriginal and torres strait islander ranger.
Related salaries
- Park Ranger salary
- Weeds Officer salary
- Fisheries Officer salary
- Bush Regenerator salary
- Hydrographer salary
- Hydrologist salary
Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.