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Chief of Staff salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a chief of staff is $148,200 per annum, before tax, up $31,300 since 2018.
Pay moves most with the sector and the size of the employer, since financial services, technology and listed companies generally pay above government and not-for-profit organisations for the same title. It also moves with scope, because the title covers everything from a senior adviser to one executive through to a de facto operations lead, and the salary usually follows how much of the organisation the role touches. Full-time hours average 48 a week, so it is worth weighing the whole role against the figure above rather than the base salary alone.
Roles that pay more than chief of staff
The largest typical pay rise is $52,000 a year, moving into Chief Operating Officer.
- Chief Operating Officer+$52,000/yr
How to negotiate a higher chief of staff salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time chief of staff salary is $148,200; 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 Strategy development and Project management tend to command a premium over general chief of staff experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Chief Operating Officer pays a typical $52,000 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."
Chief of Staff salary questions
How much do chief of staffs earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a chief of staff is $148,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is chief of staff pay rising or falling?
The median chief of staff salary is up $31,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than chief of staff?
Chief Operating Officer pays a typical $52,000 a year more and draws on similar skills to chief of staff.