QLD Teacher Pay Rates 2026: Salary Scale, Take-Home & Pay Dates
QLD teacher pay rates in public schools is set by the Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022, as varied by the QIRC Full Bench interim increase (7 Sep 2026) and the 2026 State Wage Case award rates (1 Sep 2026). From 7 September 2026 a graduate teacher earns $90,156 and the top classroom step pays $119,370 – about $2,713.25 to $3,474.70 a fortnight after tax.
Updated 2026-10-03 · rates in force from 7 September 2026 · ATO 2026–27 tax
| Instrument | Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022, as varied by the QIRC Full Bench interim increase (7 Sep 2026) and the 2026 State Wage Case award rates (1 Sep 2026) |
| Rates shown apply from | 7 September 2026 |
| Full-time hours | 38 a week |
| Employer super | 12.75% – Queensland Government employers pay 12.75% of ordinary time earnings for accumulation members (QSuper, part of Australian Retirement Trust); member contributions are optional. |
| Next pay rise | None scheduled under the current agreement |
| Agreement nominal expiry | 30 June 2025 |
Queensland teacher pay calculator
| Base salary | $80,618 |
| Hourly rate (ordinary) | $40.66 |
| Gross per fortnight | $3,090.13 |
| Income tax | $14,706 |
| Medicare levy | $1,612 |
| Take-home a year | $64,301 |
| Employer super (12.75%) | $10,279 |
- Take-home $64,301 79.8%
- Income tax $14,706 18.2%
- Medicare $1,612 2.0%
Your result is ready
Queensland teacher pay scale from 7 September 2026
| Classification | Step | Annual | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classroom teacher | Band 1.1 Band 1 Step 1 (B2101) | $80,618 | $40.66 | $2,464.66 |
| Band 1.2 Band 1 Step 2 (B2102) | $83,296 | $42.01 | $2,534.46 | |
| Band 2.1 Band 2 Step 1 – graduate entry (B0201/B2201) | $90,156 | $45.47 | $2,713.25 | |
| Band 2.2 Band 2 Step 2 | $94,610 | $47.72 | $2,829.36 | |
| Band 2.3 Band 2 Step 3 | $99,229 | $50.05 | $2,949.73 | |
| Band 2.4 Band 2 Step 4 | $103,793 | $52.35 | $3,068.69 | |
| Band 3.1 Band 3 Step 1 | $107,646 | $54.29 | $3,169.12 | |
| Band 3.2 Band 3 Step 2 | $111,472 | $56.22 | $3,268.84 | |
| Band 3.3 Band 3 Step 3 | $115,271 | $58.14 | $3,367.86 | |
| Band 3.4 Band 3 Step 4 | $119,370 | $60.20 | $3,474.70 | |
| ST Senior Teacher (A0304/A2304) | $124,589 | $62.84 | $3,610.75 | |
| EST 1 Experienced Senior Teacher Step 1 (ES401) | $127,541 | $64.32 | $3,687.67 | |
| EST 2 Experienced Senior Teacher Step 2 (ES402) | $127,541 | $64.32 | $3,687.67 | |
| Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher | HAT Highly Accomplished Teacher (A0501/A2501) | $134,692 | $67.93 | $3,874.06 |
| LT Lead Teacher (A0601/A2601) | $147,047 | $74.16 | $4,163.78 | |
| Coach | LN101 Coach | $131,518 | $66.33 | $3,791.34 |
| Head of Program (stream 2) | HOP1.2 Head of Program level 1, paypoint 2 (H0102) | $145,319 | $73.29 | $4,123.38 |
| HOP1.3 Head of Program level 1, paypoint 3 (H0103) | $148,010 | $74.65 | $4,186.28 | |
| HOP2.2 Head of Program level 2, paypoint 2 (H0202) | $152,650 | $76.99 | $4,294.78 | |
| HOP2.3 Head of Program level 2, paypoint 3 (H0203) | $155,351 | $78.35 | $4,357.92 | |
| Deputy Principal (stream 3) | DP1.2 Deputy Principal paypoint 2 (DP102) | $161,743 | $81.57 | $4,507.39 |
| DP1.3 Deputy Principal paypoint 3 (DP103) | $164,603 | $83.02 | $4,574.25 |
Not shown in full: Principal (School Leader 1–10, stream 3) $146,773–$242,571 (use the calculator for any step).
Rates: Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022, as varied by the QIRC Full Bench interim increase (7 Sep 2026) and the 2026 State Wage Case award rates (1 Sep 2026), in force from 7 September 2026. Hourly = annual ÷ 52.178 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.
QLD teacher pay dates 2026 and 2027
Queensland state school teachers are paid fortnightly on a Wednesday. Remaining pay days: 14 October 2026, 28 October 2026, 11 November 2026, 25 November 2026, 9 December 2026, 23 December 2026; 2027: 6 January, 20 January, 3 February, 17 February, 3 March, 17 March, 31 March, 14 April, 28 April, 12 May, 26 May, 9 June, 23 June, 7 July, 21 July, 4 August, 18 August, 1 September, 15 September, 29 September, 13 October, 27 October, 10 November, 24 November, 8 December, 22 December. The 2027 dates follow the QSuper pay calendar; 2026 dates are counted back from it, so check your payslip.
See every state side by side on the teacher salaries hub, or compare with Queensland 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 | $90,156 | $70,786 | $2,713.25 | $2,594.65 | $11,495 |
| Top classroom step | $119,370 | $90,651 | $3,474.70 | $3,188.13 | $15,220 |
| Experienced Senior Teacher | $127,541 | $96,208 | $3,687.67 | $3,354.13 | $16,261 |
| Highly Accomplished Teacher | $134,692 | $101,070 | $3,874.06 | $3,495.59 | $17,173 |
Moving from graduate teacher ($90,156) to top classroom step ($119,370) adds $29,214 a year before tax, or $761.45 a fortnight after tax. Employer super of 12.75% is paid on top.
Good to know
- Annual salaries shown by the QTU are fortnightly rate × 26.089 "for reference purposes only".
- The Department of Education is a state government department, not an FBT-exempt public hospital or PBI, so teachers get no $17,000/$30,000 capped packaging.
Queensland teacher pay rises
| From | Increase | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2024 | – | Paid | Last increase under the CA 2022 (QTU: most teachers and school leaders had no salary increase from 1 July 2024 until September 2026) |
| 1 September 2025 | – | Paid | 2025 State Wage Case award increase – applied only where the award rate exceeded the CA 2022 rate (Bands 1–3, Senior Teacher, EST 1) |
| 1 September 2026 | 4.75% | Paid | 2026 State Wage Case: award rates +4.75% from 1 Sep 2026; applies where higher than the interim rate (Bands 1–3, Senior Teacher, EST 1). Expected in the pay for the fortnight ending 18 Oct 2026 with back pay. |
| 7 September 2026 | 3.0% | Paid | QIRC Full Bench interim increase: CA 2022 rates at 1 Jul 2024 + 3% from 7 Sep 2026, not backdated (QTU sought back pay to 1 Feb 2026). Paid in the fortnight ending 4 Oct 2026. |
How pay progression works
- Classroom teachers move up one step a year through Bands 1–3 to Senior Teacher and Experienced Senior Teacher; four-year-trained graduates start at Band 2 Step 1.
- Highly Accomplished Teacher and Lead Teacher are separate classifications for teachers certified against the national (AITSL) HALT standards.
- From 7 Sep 2026 each classification is paid the higher of the interim certified-agreement rate and the award rate (Directive 12/12), so Bands 1–3, Senior Teacher and EST 1 rose 4.75% and HAT, Lead, Coach and school leaders rose 3%.
- The QIRC is still arbitrating the replacement for the CA 2022; the final determination may change rates again.
- Supply (relief) teachers are paid the Band 3 Step 1 daily rate plus a 25% casual loading: $515.76 a day or $103.15 an hour (5 hours = 1 day).
Allowances
| Allowance | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supply teacher (casual) rate | $515.76 a day / $103.15 an hour (was $492.38 / $98.475) | Band 3 Step 1 rate plus 25% casual loading |
| 3-year-trained senior teacher allowance | $200.07 a fortnight | |
| Secondment allowance | $200.07 a fortnight | |
| Specified sites allowance | $46.82 a fortnight ($1.17 an hour for casuals incl. 25% loading) |
Queensland vs other states
| State | Graduate teacher | Top classroom step | Take-home / fortnight (top) | Rates from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland | $90,156 | $119,370 | $3,474.70 | 7 September 2026 |
| New South Wales | $90,177 | $129,536 | $3,742.19 | 9 October 2025 |
| Victoria | $79,589 | $118,063 | $3,442.95 | 1 July 2025 |
| 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 Queensland
How the 4.75% award rise and the 3% interim rise interact
Queensland state school teachers are paid under the 2022 certified agreement, which nominally expired in mid-2025. Its replacement is being arbitrated in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC). In the meantime two separate increases apply, and each classification gets whichever rate is higher:
- Bands 1–3, Senior Teacher and Experienced Senior Teacher Step 1 got the award rate after the 2026 State Wage Case: 4.75% from 1 September 2026.
- HAT, Lead Teacher, Coach, heads of program and school leaders got the QIRC interim rise: their 1 July 2024 rate plus 3% from 7 September 2026, not backdated.
- Experienced Senior Teacher Step 2 rose about 3.61%, because the 4.75% award rate for Step 1 caught up with it, so both EST steps now pay the same.
When the back pay lands
According to the QTU, the interim 3% was paid in the fortnight ending 4 October 2026. The 4.75% award rate, with back pay to 1 September, is expected in the pay for the fortnight ending 18 October 2026. For a Band 3 Step 1 teacher that rise is $187.10 a fortnight before tax ($102,765 to $107,646 a year), or about $127.23 a fortnight after tax. QLD teacher pay rates may change again when the QIRC makes its final determination. Pay dates are from the QSuper calendar for 2027 and counted back for 2026, so treat the 2026 dates as a guide.
A four-year-trained graduate on Band 2 Step 1 ($90,156) takes home about $2,713.25 a fortnight, or $2,594.65 with a HECS-HELP debt. A Highly Accomplished Teacher on $134,692 takes home about $3,874.06.
Supply teachers, allowances and teacher aides
Supply (relief) teachers are paid $515.76 a day or $103.15 an hour, with five hours counting as a day. That is the Band 3 Step 1 rate plus a 25% casual loading, so it rose with the 4.75% award increase.
Two allowances worth checking on your payslip: the 3-year-trained senior teacher allowance is $200.07 a fortnight, and teachers at specified sites get $46.82 a fortnight ($1.17 an hour for casuals, including the loading).
Teacher aides are not on this scale. Their pay is set by the Teacher Aides' Certified Agreement 2025, published on the QIRC website.
Frequently asked questions
What is a graduate teacher's salary in Queensland?
$90,156 a year from 7 September 2026, or about $2,713.25 a fortnight after income tax and Medicare levy ($2,594.65 with a HECS-HELP debt). Employer super of 12.75% is paid on top.
What is the highest classroom teacher salary in Queensland?
The top classroom step pays $119,370. Accomplished or lead classroom roles pay up to $134,692.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- QTU: Updated salary schedule for Queensland state school teachers and leaders (new rate from 7 Sep 2026 vs old rate, fortnightly and annual; supply teacher and allowance rates; updated 1 Oct 2026) – read 8 Oct 2026
- QTU: Salaries payable under the DoE State School Teachers CA 2022 (higher of interim 3% or 4.75% award rate from 7 Sep 2026; pay timing fortnights ending 4 and 18 Oct 2026) – read 8 Oct 2026
- QIRC: Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022 (certified 15 Dec 2022) – read 8 Oct 2026
- Queensland Judgments: QIRC Full Bench interim decision on state school teachers' wages ([2026] QIRC 267, 3% from 7 Sep 2026) – listed 8 Oct 2026 (page blocks automated reading)
- QSuper employer calendar 2027 ("Government pay day" every second Wednesday from 6 Jan 2027) – read 8 Oct 2026
- For Government (Qld): Superannuation (12.75% employer contribution for most employees under 75) – read 8 Oct 2026