Tutor salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a tutor is $130,900 per annum, before tax, up $27,300 since 2018.
- What tutors earn depends on how the work is arranged, more than in most jobs.
- Private one-on-one sessions pay more per hour than the rates a tutoring centre offers, and senior maths, science and exam preparation attract more than general primary support.
- Because much of the work is part time and follows school terms, the number of hours you book matters as much as the hourly rate.
The median salary rose by $27,300 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 tutor
The largest typical pay rise is $21,100 a year, moving into University Lecturer.
- University Lecturer+$21,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher tutor salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time tutor salary is $130,900; 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 Teaching and instruction and Student assessment and reporting tend to command a premium over general tutor experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. University Lecturer pays a typical $21,100 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."
Tutor salary questions
How much do tutors earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a tutor is $130,900 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is tutor pay rising or falling?
The median tutor salary is up $27,300 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than tutor?
University Lecturer pays a typical $21,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to tutor.
Related salaries
- Secondary School Teacher salary
- English Language Teacher salary
- Primary School Teacher salary
- University Lecturer salary
- VET Trainer salary
- Teacher Aide 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.