Some of Victoria’s elite private schools are raising executive salaries by more than 30 per cent
Some of Victoria’s most elite private schools are lifting executive salaries by more than 30 per cent despite posting losses and battling payroll tax pressures. See how your school leaders fare.
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Some of Victoria’s most elite private schools are lifting executive salaries by more than 30 per cent despite some posting losses and battling payroll tax pressures.
The figures come as many of the leading schools have to pay millions in payroll tax from July 1 – which many are passing directly onto parents. See who are paying their leaders more and who are taking a pay cut.
The Herald Sun will release more school data as it becomes available.
Mentone Grammar School
The popular coeducational school headed by recently appointed principal Andy Müller, has 13 key managers who are paid a total of $3,600,796, averaging out to $276,984 each.
In 2022 the school paid the same amount of staff members, but at $3,090,277, which averaged out to $237,713 each.
This means average executive salaries went up significantly by 16.5 per cent in 2023 despite the school posting a loss of $4.2m and attracting total revenue of $68m.
In 2023 the school employed over 200 full-time people and over 250 part time.
Xavier College
The prestigious Catholic boys’ school, headed by principal Bill Doherty, in 2023 has rewarded its seven leaders with a bumper nine per cent pay rise.
Xavier College employed seven senior leaders who together shared $2,041,000. This averages out to $291,571.
In 2022, the school employed the same amount of staff, earning a total of $1,865,000, which averages out to $266,429 a year.
This represents a pay rise of 9.4 per cent.
In 2023 the school employed just short of 300 full time employees.
It had a total income of $71m and a deficit of $4.89m.
Camberwell Grammar School
The leading Anglican boys’ school, led by outgoing principal Paul Hicks, in 2023 employed 11 senior leaders who together earned a total of $3,042,133.
This is an average of $276,557 each.
It compares to the 11 leaders at the elite Canterbury school who shared $2,839,312 in 2022 and who each earned on average $258,119. This represents a pay increase of 7.1 per cent.
The school in 2023 earned $55m in total revenue and posted a surplus of $232,000.
The new principal from 2025 is Ben Jeacocke, the school’s current deputy head.
St Leonard’s College
One of Melbourne’s leading southern co-ed schools, which recently appointed Peter Clague as principal, paid 15 executives a total of $3,676,200 in 2023 — an average of $245,080.
This is an increase on the 16 staff who together shared $3,466,900 in 2022, which is $216,681 on average and represents a rise of 13.1 per cent.
In 2023, the school attracted total revenue of $67m and posted a $4.5m surplus.
Ballarat Christian College
The Ballarat coeducational school, headed by Ken Nuridin since 2019, has five key managers who are paid a total of $761,095, averaging out to $152,219 each.
In 2022 the school paid the same amount of staff members, but at $720,554, which averaged out to $144,111 each.
This means average executive salaries went up by 5.6 per cent in 2023.
The school in 2023 had a total revenue of $8m and posted a loss of $64,000.
Braemar College
The school, led by Russell Deer, located on Mount Macedon in Woodend, In 2023, it paid 17 senior staffers a total of $1,460,797 – an average of $85,929 each.
This is a major decrease to the three leaders who shared sharing $868,826 in 2022 – an average of $289,609 each.
That’s a staggering 70.3 per cent decrease in one year which is the biggest pay decline from the listed schools.
The school has total assets of $52m and a total revenue of $28m and posted a surplus of $6.9m.
Catholic College Sale Limited
Co-educational regional school, headed by Chris Randell, in 2023 employed seven senior leaders who together shared $1,232,766, which averages out to $176,109 each.
In 2022, the school employed eight staff earning a total of $1,240,748, which averages out to $155,094 a year.
This represents a pay rise of 13.6 per cent.
In 2023 the school employed 75 full time people and 52 part time.
It had a total income of $22m and a surplus of $4.2m.
Erasmus School
The independent primary school located in Hawthorn led by Thierry Clarisse, paid two executives a total of $244,326 in 2023 – an average of $122,163.
This is an increase on the three staff who together shared $273,020 in 2022, which is $91,007 on average.
It represents a rise of 34.2 per cent which is the biggest pay increase from the listed schools.
In 2023, the school attracted total revenue of $4m and posted a $321,039 surplus.
Hamilton And Alexandra College
The independent coeducational boarding school led by Michael Horne paid four senior managers a total of $888,743 in 2023.
This averages out to $222,186 each.
In 2022 the school paid four staff members $925,929, which averaged out to $231,482 each.
This means average executive salaries went down by 4 per cent in 2023.
The school in 2023 had a total revenue of $16m and posted a loss of $406,365.
St Bede’s College
The all-boy Catholic secondary school, led by principal Deborah Frizza in 2023 employed three senior leaders who together earned a total of $666,053.
This is an average of $222,018 each.
It compares to the three leaders who shared $852,570 in 2022 who each earned on average $284,190 – a drop of 21 per cent.
The school in 2023 earned $38m in total revenue and posted a surplus of $2.4m
St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School Limited
New figures reveal that in 2023 the Anglican school in Warragul had seven key managers paid a total of $1,808,963 — an average of $258,423 each.
Its seven managers in 2022 were paid a total of $1,745,680 – on average $249,382.
The school has more than 1,350 students and over 300 staff and in 2023 earned a total revenue of $40m and posted a surplus of $5.1m.
Its total assets are $47m.
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