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Australia
Counsellor salary guide Australia 2026
The typical Counsellor salary in Australia is $91,000, with pay ranging from $83,000 at entry level to $104,000 for senior professionals.
Overview
What does a Counsellor earn?
The median salary of Counsellors in Australia is $91,000. Most positions sit within the $83,000–$101,000 range, starting at $83,000 for entry-level roles. Experienced Counsellors who specialise in complex clinical areas can command up to $104,000.
Optional — pick a state first
Median for Counsellor, nationally across Australia.
10th $83,000
25th $91,000
50th (median) $101,000
75th $112,000
90th
Figures above update by state/city. For a full breakdown by seniority, see the table below.
Location
Counsellor salary by city
Location plays a key role in remuneration across Australia, with capital cities and regional centres reflecting different demand levels. Counsellors in Sydney see the highest median pay among Australia's major cities, at around $107,000.
What drives salary
Factors that affect Counsellor pay
Counsellor remuneration depends on several practical factors. Your practice setting, formal credentials and clinical background all influence your market value.
Holding full registration with bodies like the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) unlocks higher pay grades. Postgraduate qualifications in counselling or psychology also position you for higher-tier roles.
Expertise in high-demand areas like trauma-informed practice or Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) support increases your earning potential. Employers value practitioners who can address complex client presentations immediately.
Working in private practice, employee assistance programmes (EAP) or government agencies often yields different base pay compared to community organisations. However, not-for-profit roles frequently offer generous fringe benefits to offset base rates.
Early-career practitioners move through structured wage bands as they build direct client hours. Senior Counsellors with more than five years of practice often take on supervisory duties that attract premium remuneration.
Strong capabilities in culturally responsive practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency are in heavy demand. Organisations actively reward Counsellors who can deliver safe care across diverse client groups.
Comparison
How Counsellors compare to related roles
A Counsellor typically earns more than a Youth Worker or Family Support Worker, reflecting the specialised clinical training and registration required. Pay sits roughly in line with a Case Manager, while Behaviour Support Practitioners often command higher rates at the senior level due to complex NDIS funding models.
| Role | Range | Relative | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counsellor You are here | $83,000–$101,000 | $91,000 | |
| Case Manager | $77,000–$98,000 | $88,000 | |
| Behaviour Support Practitioner | $74,000–$99,000 | $84,000 | |
| Youth Worker | $71,000–$95,000 | $83,000 | |
| Family Support Worker | $73,000–$90,000 | $82,000 |
Employment Hero Job Data
Salary figures are derived from Employment Hero proprietary data. All figures represent base salary only and exclude bonuses, superannuation and other benefits. Last updated October 2026.
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