Aged care management is under more pressure and more scrutiny than more than it has before. Reform, rising turnover and workforce shortages mean strong managers are commanding a real premium. Years of aged care reform and compliance pressures, as well as ongoing consolidation in the sector, are raising the bar for Managers across the sector.
Healthcare Australia’s (HCA) 2026 Salary Guide provides detailed benchmark data for aged care leadership roles, from Care Manager through to Executive/C-suite. Below, we break down what aged care managers earn across Australia in 2026, by role level and state, using HCA’s benchmark data. Aged care leadership salaries in Australia, 2026
| State | Care Manager (Residential) | Facility Manager | Operations Manager | Executive / C-suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | $128,000 | $145,000 | $190,000 | $260,000 |
| NSW | $138,000 | $160,000 | $190,000 | $260,000 |
| NT | $113,000 | $140,000 | $150,000 | $210,000 |
| QLD | $133,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 | $230,000 |
| SA | $115,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $210,000 |
| TAS | $130,000 | $140,000 | $140,000 | $210,000 |
| VIC | $135,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 | $245,000 |
| WA | $115,000 | $145,000 | $180,000 | $250,000 |
Figures below are annual base salaries, exclusive of superannuation (12% from 1 July 2025), and can reasonably be expected to rise a further 3–3.5% from July 2026.
Source: Healthcare Australia 2026 Salary Guide (HCA market research and workforce surveys). Salaries shown are annual base rates, exclusive of superannuation. Superannuation increased to 12% from 1 July 2025. Figures are a mid-financial-year benchmark; an increase of roughly 3–3.5% can reasonably be expected from July 2026. Regional variances, Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and awards may affect actual pay.
To view salary bandings in detail, please download our salary guide.
Why aged care management pay is climbing
HCA’s Aged Care lead, Alex Valentini, points to targeted workforce growth, ongoing reform and a push to attract and retain talent as the key forces shaping the sector. Residential care continues to face minute-of-care compliance pressures and turnover rates of 25–45% among nurses and care workers in aged care, meaning strong managers who can stabilise teams, maintain compliance standards and drive growth are genuinely scarce. They are being paid accordingly, with sign-on incentives and competitive wages increasingly used to attract and retain them.
The gap between Care Manager and Facility Manager reflects a shift from clinical and care leadership to fully operational, financial and compliance accountability for the entire facility. NSW, VIC and the ACT consistently post the highest Operations Manager and Executive bands, while the Executive/C-suite range is extremely wide ($180,000–$400,000+) because it captures everything from a single-facility general manager to the CEO of a multi-site aged care group. How to increase your earnings as an aged care manager
What separates the pay bands
- Build a track record in both clinical and non-clinical leadership so you can move between the Care Manager, Facility Manager, and Quality/Education Manager tracks.
- Pursue further leadership and compliance qualifications, since accreditation and reform knowledge is now a distinct hiring criterion in its own right.
- Consider larger facilities or multi-site groups, which tend to offer higher packages given their greater scope of responsibility.
- Weigh private-sector packages against not-for-profit total-reward offers, since NFPs often provide salary packaging benefits that lift effective take-home pay even where the base salary is lower.
- Build experience managing through reform periods, which is now a particularly valued skill given Support at Home and ongoing changes to the Aged Care Quality Standards.
Outlook for 2026
Southeast Queensland is emerging as a genuine aged care hub, driven by strong population growth, an influx of retirees from Sydney and Melbourne, and infrastructure investment ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, all of which point to sustained demand for experienced aged care leadership in the region over the next decade. Nationally, reform-driven change is expected to keep demand for capable, change-ready managers elevated through 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average aged care manager salary in Australia?
HCA’s 2026 data show Care Managers earning $113,000–$138,000, Facility Managers $140,000–$160,000, Operations Managers $140,000–$190,000 and Executive/C-suite roles $210,000–$260,000+, depending on the state. - Why is aged care management pay increasing?
Ongoing sector reform, high turnover (35–45% across nurses and care workers) and workforce shortages mean experienced managers who can hold accreditation and stabilise teams are in short supply. - What’s the difference between a Care Manager and a Facility Manager?
A Care Manager leads clinical leadership within a home, while a Facility Manager holds full operational, financial and compliance accountability for the entire site, reflected in a meaningfully higher salary band.
Download our Salary Guide (Salary Guide CTA)
Talk to a healthcare recruitment specialist
Healthcare Australia recruits aged care leaders through Permanent Solutions and Recruitment Process Outsourcing, backed by deep sector knowledge and more than 50 years of healthcare-specific recruitment experience. This article draws on data from HCA’s 2026 Salary Guide, which also covers nursing, allied health, medical imaging, mental health and healthcare leadership roles more broadly. For Aged Care opportunities, contact us today.
