Pay & Conditions
12 guides · Salary scales, pay steps, allowances, and enterprise agreements across all sectors.
How much do teachers earn in Australia?
Australian teachers are paid on fixed state salary scales, not by negotiation. A graduate starts between $81,762 (TAS) and $96,180 (NT) and reaches roughly $122,000 to $137,000 at the top of the classroom scale within about 6 to 9 years. Government and, in most states, Catholic schools pay the same rates; independent schools set their own. Here is where every state sits, with guides to how the steps, allowances, and take-home pay actually work.
| State | Graduate entry | Top classroom |
|---|---|---|
| NT teacher salary | $96,180 | $136,997 |
| NSW teacher salary | $92,882 | $133,422 |
| VIC teacher salary | $92,882 | $133,456 |
| ACT teacher salary | $91,396 | $129,106 |
| WA teacher salary | $88,178 | $127,737 |
| QLD teacher salary | $86,600 | $126,795 |
| SA teacher salary | $84,971 | $123,236 |
| TAS teacher salary | $81,762 | $122,393 |
Government-school base salaries, excluding accreditation grades such as Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher. NSW and VIC show their October 2026 rates; the VIC figures are subject to Fair Work Commission approval of the VGSA 2026. See the full state-by-state comparison, including ~5-year and senior pay
All pay & conditions guides
NSW teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
Starting on $92,882, reaching $133,422 in ~6 years, on the rates from 9 October 2026. Full pay scale, CRT rates, rural allowances, Catholic and independent sector comparisons.
How teacher pay steps actually work
How annual salary steps work across all Australian states, what accelerates or stalls your progression, and the allowances and loadings that don't appear in your base salary.
VIC teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
Graduate teachers start at $92,882 and top of scale is $133,456 under the VGSA 2026, subject to Fair Work Commission approval. Full pay scale, P&D progression rules, Catholic and independent comparisons, and take-home examples.
Government vs Catholic vs Independent: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side 2026 comparison of teacher salaries across Australia's three school sectors. In NSW, Catholic and government scales are identical — independent is the variable.
Australian teacher salary by state: 2026 comparison
Graduate pay ranges from $81,762 (TAS) to $96,180 (NT). Government school salary scales for all 8 states on their current and October 2026 rates, key allowances, and a take-home pay comparison.
CRT pay rates Australia 2026: daily rates by state
Government and Catholic CRT daily pay rates for all 8 states, agency vs school-direct comparison, annual income examples, and what you need to know about super and tax.
SA teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
South Australia's full 2026 teacher pay scale: 9 steps, progression rules, CESA Catholic pay, independent school ranges, and country incentives.
WA teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
WA teacher salary 2026: classroom scale $88,178–$127,737, the Level 3 Classroom Teacher path to $147,077, Catholic and independent rates, Country Teaching Program, and take-home examples.
NT teacher salary 2026: pay scales, allowances, and remote incentives
The NT pays the highest graduate teacher salary in Australia — $96,180, rising to $136,997. Full 2026 pay scale, the Remote Incentive Allowance, urban allowances, and Darwin vs remote take-home examples.
TAS teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
Tasmania's full DECYP Band 1 pay scale under the Teachers Agreement 2025 ($81,762 four-year-trained entry to $122,393), Catholic and independent ranges, isolated-school allowances, and a cost-of-living comparison with VIC and NSW.
ACT teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
The ACT is among the highest-paying systems in Australia — $91,396 graduate to $129,106 top of scale. Full 2026 pay scale, the Experienced Teacher pathway, Catholic and independent pay, and an ACT vs NSW comparison.
QLD teacher salary 2026: pay scales, steps, and what to expect
Graduate teachers start at $86,600; an Experienced Senior Teacher reaches $126,795. Full QLD pay scale after the September 2026 interim increase, the unresolved arbitration, Catholic and independent rates, rural allowances, and take-home examples.