Coates, the committee president, was to have been paid almost $595,000 by the AOC this financial year - almost $50,000 more than Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

But the long-serving Olympic powerbroker says he's taking a 20 per cent pay cut following the coronavirus pandemic.

"I have taken this decision as a consequence of the Covid-19 health and financial crisis confronting all sectors of Australian society and from which the AOC is not immune," he said in a statement on Friday.

Coates was to have been paid $594,500 for what he and the AOC describe as consultancy fees. After the cut, he will receive $475,600.

Coates' pay is set by the AOC's Culture, Remuneration and Nominations Committee, of which he is not a member.

Coates has held the AOC presidency for 30 years, facing just one challenge for the role.

In 2017, ex-Olympic hockey player Danni Roche failed to topple Coates, who in that financial year was paid more than $700,000.

Coates' pay dropped to $580,000 the following year when it also included almost $11,500 for what was termed in the AOC's annual report as motor vehicle/parking.

Coates has also been a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 2001 and an IOC vice-president since 2013.

IOC presidents and members are considered volunteers and don't receive a salary but their travel, accommodation and other expenses while on Olympic duties are covered by the governing body.

Coates and other members of the IOC executive also receive daily per diems of $US900 ($A1,500) a day when on Olympic duties.

Australian Associated Press