Home Chief of Staff Salary
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.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- 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.
The median salary rose by $31,300 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 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.
Related salaries
- Strategy Manager salary
- Communications Manager salary
- Organisational Development Consultant salary
- Chief Operating Officer salary
- Change Manager salary
- Program Manager 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.