ATO data reveals huge gender pay gap for teachers – even in a female-dominated profession
Teaching is one of Australia’s most female-dominated professions but tax office data exposes a shocking gender pay gap – both in the classroom and the principal’s office.
Women make up the overwhelming majority of teachers, but even in this female-dominated industry the gender pay gap prevails.
New data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reveals male educators outearn females at every level of education.
The findings have left female educators fuming, calling for more parity in pay.
ATO data from 2022-23 shows the average principal earned $146,821.
For males, the figure was $154,761 – $13,500 higher than female principals at $141,288.
This trend continues across the board with male high school teachers earning on average $90,406, compared to females at $80,642.
There were 179,245 classroom teachers in the reporting period, 113,002 women and 66,234 men.
In primary schools, women make up over 85 per cent of teachers, but they earn on average $13,000 less than men.
Male primary teachers earn $89,769 while women earn $76,808.
The ATO data shows teachers annual earnings and does not assess the gender split of teachers working less than a full-time load.
Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA) president Angela Falkenberg said she was surprised to learn about the pay gap.
Ms Falkenberg is APPA’s third female president in 51 years – a fact she said may explain the pay disparity.
“Teachers are paid the same as they ascend through their pay scales, so the difference must be due to less women in leadership positions,” she said.
“Often women are stopped from taking these positions as their decisions are framed by family responsibilities and child rearing.
“I have had exceptional female school leaders tell me they wouldn’t consider becoming a principal until their children leave school.”
Ms Falkenberg said workplace violence could be another factor stopping women from earning more.
“There’s been an increase in violence towards principals of nearly 75 per cent over 11 years,” she said.
“I myself have faced gender-based violence from male parents before.
“We have to ask ourselves whether we are creating a safe workplace free from violence and harassment.
“We also need to identify, support and mentor more female teachers into leadership positions.”
The Australian Teacher Workforce survey data shows a consistent split of 30:70 male to female teachers in middle and senior leadership positions between 2019 and 2023.
This is consistent with overall male to female teacher ratios.
But male principals are over-represented, making up roughly 40 per cent.
Australian Education Union (AEU) president Correna Haythorpe agrees the pay gap is due to barriers to women gaining leadership positions.
“Despite women making up more than two-thirds of Australia’s teaching workforce, there is a significant gender pay gap that reflects systemic issues across the profession,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“Research consistently shows that men in teaching are more likely to progress into higher-paid leadership positions sooner, contributing to an entrenched pay disparity.
“Addressing this gap requires fixing the structural barriers that limit women’s career progression including excessive workloads, insecure employment, access to mentoring, and the lack of time and support for leadership development.”
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Originally published as ATO data reveals huge gender pay gap for teachers – even in a female-dominated profession
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