Milliner salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a milliner is $54,600 per annum, before tax, up $11,500 since 2018.
Most milliners are self-employed or work in very small studios, so income depends on the order book rather than an award rate. Retail and bridal work brings steadier money, while bespoke and racing commissions can pay more per piece but arrive in seasonal bursts. Reputation and repeat clients move earnings more than location does, though a studio near a busy racing or theatre scene has more occasions to sell into.
Roles that pay more than milliner
The largest typical pay rise is $23,400 a year, moving into Textile Designer.
- Textile Designer+$23,400/yr
- Clothing Patternmaker+$10,400/yr
- Costume Maker+$10,400/yr
How to negotiate a higher milliner salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time milliner salary is $54,600; 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 Craft and handmade production and Visual design tend to command a premium over general milliner experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Textile Designer pays a typical $23,400 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."
Milliner salary questions
How much do milliners earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a milliner is $54,600 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is milliner pay rising or falling?
The median milliner salary is up $11,500 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than milliner?
Textile Designer pays a typical $23,400 a year more and draws on similar skills to milliner.