NSW Teacher Salary 2026: Pay Scale, Steps & Take-Home Pay
NSW teacher salary in public schools is set by the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024. From 9 October 2025 a graduate teacher earns $90,177 and the top classroom step pays $129,536 – about $2,715.62 to $3,742.19 a fortnight after tax. The next pay rise is due on 9 October 2026.
Updated 2026-10-03 · rates in force from 9 October 2025 · ATO 2026–27 tax
| Instrument | Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 |
| Rates shown apply from | 9 October 2025 |
| Full-time hours | 38 a week |
| Employer super | 12% – Superannuation Guarantee of 12% from 1 July 2025 for accumulation members (most teachers are in Aware Super). Salaries are paid fortnightly. |
| Next pay rise | 9 October 2026 (3.0%) |
| Agreement nominal expiry | 8 October 2027 |
New South Wales teacher pay calculator
| Base salary | $90,177 |
| Hourly rate (ordinary) | $45.51 |
| Gross per fortnight | $3,458.83 |
| Income tax | $17,573 |
| Medicare levy | $1,804 |
| Take-home a year | $70,800 |
| Employer super (12%) | $10,821 |
- Take-home $70,800 78.5%
- Income tax $17,573 19.5%
- Medicare $1,804 2.0%
Your result is ready
New South Wales teacher pay scale from 9 October 2025
| Classification | Step | Annual | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classroom teacher | Step 1 Graduate | $90,177 | $45.51 | $2,715.62 |
| Step 2 Graduate | $96,980 | $48.94 | $2,893.06 | |
| Step 3 Proficient | $101,122 | $51.03 | $3,001.09 | |
| Step 4 Proficient | $105,263 | $53.12 | $3,109.10 | |
| Step 5 Proficient | $112,594 | $56.82 | $3,300.31 | |
| Step 6 Proficient | $121,064 | $61.10 | $3,521.22 | |
| Step 7 Proficient (top of scale) | $129,536 | $65.37 | $3,742.19 | |
| HALT Highly Accomplished / Lead Teacher | $137,861 | $69.58 | $3,951.64 | |
| Head Teacher / Assistant Principal | HT/AP Head Teacher / Assistant Principal | $149,059 | $75.23 | $4,213.64 |
| Deputy Principal | DP Deputy Principal | $174,034 | $87.83 | $4,797.99 |
| Principal | TP1 Teaching Principal 1 / Associate Principal | $149,059 | $75.23 | $4,213.64 |
| TP2 Teaching Principal 2 / Associate Principal | $174,034 | $87.83 | $4,797.99 | |
| P1 Principal 1 | $178,811 | $90.24 | $4,909.76 | |
| P2 Principal 2 | $192,461 | $97.13 | $5,221.58 | |
| P3 Principal 3 | $213,283 | $107.64 | $5,644.86 | |
| P4 Principal 4 | $222,610 | $112.35 | $5,834.47 | |
| P5 Principal 5 | $229,435 | $115.79 | $5,973.21 |
Rates: Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024, in force from 9 October 2025. Hourly = annual ÷ 52.143 weeks ÷ 38 hours. Take-home is for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold, Medicare levy, no HELP debt and private hospital cover (no Medicare levy surcharge). Employer super is paid on top and not included.
NSW teacher pay from 9 October 2026 (+3%)
The award's final 3% rise applies from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026:
| Step | Now | From 9 Oct 2026 | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,177 | $92,882 | $2,786.17 |
| Step 2 | $96,980 | $99,889 | $2,968.93 |
| Step 3 | $101,122 | $104,156 | $3,080.22 |
| Step 4 | $105,263 | $108,421 | $3,191.47 |
| Step 5 | $112,594 | $115,972 | $3,388.41 |
| Step 6 | $121,064 | $124,696 | $3,615.95 |
| Step 7 | $129,536 | $133,422 | $3,843.54 |
| HALT | $137,861 | $141,997 | $4,048.41 |
Casual teachers are paid a daily rate that includes a 5% loading: CT1 $480.43, CT2 $538.73, CT3 $599.85 from 9 October 2026 (previously CT1 $466.44, CT2 $523.04, CT3 $582.38).
See every state side by side on the teacher salaries hub, or compare with New South Wales nurse pay.
Take-home pay at the start and top of the scale
| Pay point | Gross a year | Take-home a year | Take-home a fortnight | With HECS-HELP | Employer super |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate teacher | $90,177 | $70,800 | $2,715.62 | $2,596.82 | $10,821 |
| Top classroom step | $129,536 | $97,564 | $3,742.19 | $3,396.94 | $15,544 |
| Highly Accomplished / Lead (HALT) | $137,861 | $103,025 | $3,951.64 | $3,552.26 | $16,543 |
| Head Teacher / Assistant Principal | $149,059 | $109,856 | $4,213.64 | $3,741.24 | $17,887 |
Moving from graduate teacher ($90,177) to top classroom step ($129,536) adds $39,359 a year before tax, or $1,026.57 a fortnight after tax. Employer super of 12% is paid on top.
Good to know
- Allowances in the award rise by the same 3% on the same dates (cl. 3.4).
- Salary packaging is by agreement and must be cost neutral to the employer – the employee reimburses any FBT (cl. 8). NSW public schools are not FBT-exempt employers, so there is no $17,000/$30,000 capped packaging.
- Casual teachers work a 6.5-hour day including a 30-minute break; minimum engagement 2 hours; half a day's pay if sent home after reporting for duty (cl. 23.2–23.5).
New South Wales teacher pay rises – next on 9 October 2026
| From | Increase | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2024 | 3.0% | Paid | First full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2024 (award cl. 3.1.1) |
| 9 October 2025 | 3.0% | Paid | First full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2025 (cl. 3.1.2) |
| 9 October 2026 | 3.0% | Scheduled | First full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2026 (cl. 3.1.3): Step 1 $92,882, Step 7 $133,422, HALT $141,997 |
How pay progression works
- A teacher accredited at Graduate starts on Step 1; at Proficient on Step 3; at Highly Accomplished/Lead on the HALT salary (award cl. 3.5).
- Step 1 → Step 2 after one year of full-time service, subject to satisfactory performance through the annual performance and development process (cl. 3.6).
- Step 2 → Step 3 needs Proficient accreditation confirmed by the Teacher Accreditation Authority plus one year full-time at Step 2 (cl. 3.7).
- Steps 3 → 7 move one step per year of full-time service while Proficient accreditation is maintained (cl. 3.8).
- Step 7 → Highly Accomplished/Lead needs HALT accreditation and at least one year full-time at Step 7 (cl. 3.9).
- One year of full-time service for progression is 203 days (cl. 3.10); pay depends on maintaining accreditation (cl. 3.11).
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Casual teacher daily rate CT1 / CT2 / CT3 | $466.44 / $523.04 / $582.38 a day (from 9 Oct 2025); $480.43 / $538.73 / $599.85 from 9 Oct 2026 | Schedule 4 Table 1. CT1 → CT2 after 2 FTE years with the relevant accreditation, CT2 → CT3 after a further 2 FTE years (cl. 23.8). Includes a 5% loading in lieu of sick, family and community service, special leave and leave loading. |
| Casual relieving TP1/AP1 or Principal (EEC / hospital school Grade 1) | $770.99 a day (from 9 Oct 2025); $794.12 from 9 Oct 2026 | Schedule 4 Table 3, after more than 10 days |
| Demonstration lessons (other schools) | $79.61 per half-hour lesson, $106.09 per 40-minute lesson, max $5,995 a year (from 9 Oct 2025) | |
| Residential agricultural high schools: rostered supervision teachers | $14,155 a year (from 9 Oct 2025); $14,580 from 9 Oct 2026 |
New South Wales vs other states
| State | Graduate teacher | Top classroom step | Take-home / fortnight (top) | Rates from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $90,177 | $129,536 | $3,742.19 | 9 October 2025 |
| Victoria | $79,589 | $118,063 | $3,442.95 | 1 July 2025 |
| Queensland | $90,156 | $119,370 | $3,474.70 | 7 September 2026 |
| Western Australia | $88,178 | $127,737 | $3,695.27 | 6 December 2025 |
| South Australia | $84,971 | $123,236 | $3,576.25 | 8 May 2026 |
Related
- Teacher salaries by state
- Salary calculator
- Salary sacrifice calculator
- Salary packaging calculator
- Hourly pay calculator
- Nurse salaries in New South Wales
How the 2024 award ties NSW pay to accreditation
The NSW teacher salary is set by the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024. Its classroom scale is standards-based: your step depends on your accreditation status as well as your years of service. A Graduate teacher starts on Step 1 and moves to Step 2 after a year. To go beyond Step 2 you need Proficient accreditation confirmed and a year at Step 2. Proficient teachers then move one step a year from Step 3 to Step 7, provided they keep their accreditation current.
A "year" of service for progression is 203 days of full-time service (cl. 3.10). Because progression counts full-time service, part-time teachers generally take longer to move a step. Pay at every step depends on maintaining accreditation (cl. 3.11), so letting it lapse can affect your salary, not just your registration.
At the top, Step 7 to HALT needs Highly Accomplished or Lead accreditation plus at least a year at Step 7. From 9 October 2026 that move is worth $8,575 a year ($133,422 to $141,997), or about $204.87 a fortnight after tax.
After the 9 October 2026 rise: what comes next
The 3% rise from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026 is the last one fixed in the award. Allowances rise by the same 3% on the same date (cl. 3.4). The award stays in force until 8 October 2027 and sets no increase after this one, so any rise from October 2027 depends on a new award or agreement being made for NSW teachers. Until that happens, the October 2026 rates continue to apply.
A Proficient teacher moving from Step 4 to Step 5 around the same time gets both the step and the 3% rise: $105,263 becomes $115,972, which is about $3,388.41 a fortnight after tax ($3,121.20 with a HECS-HELP debt). A new Proficient teacher on Step 3 earns $104,156 from 9 October 2026.
Casual teaching and salary packaging in NSW
Casual teachers are paid a daily rate set in Schedule 4 of the award, which includes a 5% loading in lieu of sick, family and community service and special leave and leave loading. The rate depends on your casual step: CT1 to CT2 after two full-time-equivalent years with the relevant accreditation, and CT2 to CT3 after a further two (cl. 23.8). From 9 October 2026 a day is worth $480.43, $538.73 or $599.85, up from $466.44, $523.04 and $582.38. Three days a week for 40 weeks at CT2 comes to about $64,648 before tax.
Salary packaging is available by agreement but must be cost neutral to the Department (cl. 8): if a benefit attracts fringe benefits tax, you reimburse it. NSW public schools are not FBT-exempt, so packaging is mostly extra super and novated leases. Use the salary sacrifice calculator linked below to see the tax saving on extra super.
Frequently asked questions
What is a graduate teacher's salary in New South Wales?
$90,177 a year from 9 October 2025, or about $2,715.62 a fortnight after income tax and Medicare levy ($2,596.82 with a HECS-HELP debt). Employer super of 12% is paid on top.
What is the highest classroom teacher salary in New South Wales?
The top classroom step pays $129,536. Accomplished or lead classroom roles pay up to $149,059.
When do New South Wales teachers get their next pay rise?
9 October 2026 (3.0%): First full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2026 (cl. 3.1.3): Step 1 $92,882, Step 7 $133,422, HALT $141,997
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- NSW Department of Education: Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 (cl. 3 increases of 3% on 9 Oct 2024/2025/2026; Schedules 1A, 2A, 3, 4; in force to 8 Oct 2027) – read 8 Oct 2026
- Teach NSW: Salary of a teacher ($90,177 graduate to $129,536 experienced teacher; $149,059 Head Teacher/AP; $229,435 Principal) – read 8 Oct 2026