Jockey salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a jockey is $67,600 per annum, before tax, up $14,400 since 2018.
A jockey's income combines a riding fee with a share of any prize money the horse wins, so it moves with the number of rides they get and how often they finish in the placings. Apprentice jockeys earn less but ride with a weight allowance that helps them attract mounts. Injury, suspension and the spread of race meetings across the year all shape how much work is available.
Roles that pay more than jockey
The largest typical pay rise is $19,100 a year, moving into Veterinary Nurse.
- Veterinary Nurse+$19,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher jockey salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time jockey salary is $67,600; 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 Animal care and handling tend to command a premium over general jockey experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $19,100 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."
Jockey salary questions
How much do jockeys earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a jockey is $67,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is jockey pay rising or falling?
The median jockey salary is up $14,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than jockey?
Veterinary Nurse pays a typical $19,100 a year more and draws on similar skills to jockey.