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Non-Executive Director salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a non-executive director is $145,600 per annum, before tax, up $30,600 since 2018.
Fees depend heavily on the type and size of organisation, so a listed company directorship and a community not-for-profit board sit at very different points. Chairing a committee such as audit or risk usually attracts a fee on top of the base director's fee, and a director who holds several appointments earns from each of them. Most directorships are part-time roles held alongside other work, so annual earnings reflect how many boards someone sits on as much as the rate for any one of them.
How to negotiate a higher non-executive director salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time non-executive director salary is $145,600; 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 Strategy development and Risk and internal controls tend to command a premium over general non-executive director experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- 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."
Non-Executive Director salary questions
How much do non-executive directors earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a non-executive director is $145,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is non-executive director pay rising or falling?
The median non-executive director salary is up $30,600 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.