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This guide is for teachers in years two to six of their career who want to understand the mechanics behind their pay — not just the dollar amounts, but how step progression works, what can speed it up or slow it down, and which allowances and loadings sit on top of base salary. It covers government school systems across all six states and the ACT, with notes on Catholic and independent sector differences where relevant.
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Teachers typically receive pay increases through two separate mechanisms. Both can occur in the same year, which is why you might see two pay rises twelve months apart without anyone explaining why.
The confusion arises when both happen close together. A teacher in year three of their career might receive a step increment in May, and an EA increase in October. Two separate movements on two separate tracks. Neither is a mistake, and neither cancels the other out.
Catholic and independent schools run broadly similar step-based structures under their own enterprise agreements. Contact your diocese or system HR team for specifics. The IEU (Independent Education Union) is the relevant union for non-government sector teachers.
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Every Australian state and territory operates a step-based salary scale for government school teachers. The number of steps, service requirements, and time to reach the top differ by state.
| State | Starting salary (approx.) | Top of classroom scale | Time to top |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $90,177 (Graduate) / $101,122 (Proficient) | $129,536 | ~5–7 yrs |
| VIC | See VGSA 2026 note below | See note | ~10 yrs |
| QLD | ~$86,000 (4-yr degree) | ~$115,000 | ~10 yrs |
| WA | $88,178 | $132,557 (Senior Teacher 1) | ~10 yrs |
| SA | ~$80,000 | $116,162 (Step 8) | ~8–9 yrs |
| ACT | $91,396 | $129,106 | ~8 yrs |
Progression requires 203 days of full-time equivalent (FTE) service and a satisfactory performance assessment. NSW has 7 steps; Graduate teachers enter at Step 1 ($90,177), while Proficient-accredited teachers enter at Step 3 ($101,122). Most employed teachers reach the top in approximately 5 years from Proficient entry. Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher is a separate voluntary classification at $137,861. [Crown Employees Award 2024]
Annual progression occurs on 1 May each year, requiring at least six months of eligible service in the preceding 1 May–30 April cycle. Progression is not automatic; it requires a satisfactory performance and development assessment, though the overwhelming majority of teachers progress each year. [VIC Dept of Education PAL; VGSA 2022]
Victoria: significant pay changes incoming (May 2026). An in-principle VGSA 2026 was published in May 2026. First pay increase backdated to 15 May 2026. Experienced classroom teacher: $118,063 rising to ~$151,419 by 2029 (boost of ~$15,393 in 2026). Early career teacher: +~$12,343 by October 2026. This agreement has not yet been formally certified by the Fair Work Commission. Check aeuvic.asn.au for current status before acting on these figures. [AEU Vic in-principle VGSA 2026, May 2026]
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The QLD scale has 10 steps across three bands. Band 1 is for teachers without a four-year degree; four-year B.Ed. or M.Teach graduates enter at Band 2 Step 1 (approximately $86,000 in 2025). The top of the classroom teacher scale (Band 3 Step 4) is approximately $115,000 as at July 2025, after staged pay increases under the DoE State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022. [QTU Salary Scales, 2024–2025]
The School Education Act Employees' General Agreement 2023 provides phased increases of 5% (December 2023), 4% (December 2024), and 3% (December 2025). Qualified teachers with a four-year degree generally start at Level 2.1; additional postgraduate qualifications can support a higher starting level. [WA Dept of Education, 2024]
SA uses a service-day model: every 207 duty days earns the next step, automatically, up to Step 8. Step 9 is not automatic and requires a competency-based assessment and separate application. The 2024–2025 scale runs from approximately $80,000 (Step 1) to $116,162 (Step 8), with Step 9 at $119,647. [SA Dept of Education, 2024]
The ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) EA 2023–2026 provides an average 5.5% increase across all teacher levels, with new teachers receiving up to 8% per year and mid-career teachers up to 8.7% annually during the agreement term. The scheduled December 2025 increase brings Level 1 to $91,396 and Level 8 to $129,106. [AEU ACT salary explainer, December 2024]
"Top of classroom scale" refers to the maximum step without an executive or leadership classification. Head Teacher, Leading Teacher, Deputy Principal, and Principal roles sit on separate, higher pay bands in every state. The step figures in this guide are for classroom teacher classifications only.
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When you start at a new employer, most systems will place you at Step 1 unless you apply for recognition of prior teaching service. This process is not automatic in most states, and missing the application window can cost thousands of dollars per year, with no back-pay available in many cases.
Queensland has the hardest deadline: one month from commencing employment. Applications received after that date are reclassified only from the date of receipt — no retrospective adjustment is available. [QLD DoE Recognition of Prior Service Procedure, 2024]
Queensland recognises three categories of prior service:
| Category | What it covers | Credit rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cat 1 | Qualified teaching service at an affiliated school or institution | 100% |
| Cat 2 | Teaching at a non-affiliated school, or unqualified teaching at a certified institution | 50% |
| Cat 3 | Industry experience directly relevant to your teaching specialisation (must have ceased within 5 years of appointment) | 33% |
If you are changing systems, returning from a career break, or transitioning from Catholic or independent to government teaching: contact your new employer's HR team in your first week and ask about the prior service recognition process. Do not assume it will happen automatically.
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The assumption that part-time teachers progress through steps at half the speed of full-time teachers is partially true, and partially a myth — it depends on your state.
For QLD, WA, and ACT: check your specific enterprise agreement or contact your union branch (QTU, SSTUWA, AEU ACT) as part-time progression rules vary.
Part-time does not reduce your pay rate. Your salary at any given step is always paid at the full-time rate pro-rated to your fraction. A 0.5 FTE teacher at Step 4 earns exactly 50% of a full-time Step 4 salary. Step progression may be slower in some states, but the pay rate itself is not discounted.
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All permanent and temporary government school teachers receive an annual leave loading payment: 17.5% of four weeks' salary, capped at $1,488 in Victoria (2025 rate), paid in December. NSW has an equivalent provision. This is an award entitlement, not a discretionary bonus. If you are on a temporary contract that covers 30 November, check you are receiving it.
Schools designate specific staff as first aid officers. In NSW, a first aid allowance is payable to approved teaching staff under the Crown Employees Award. In Victoria, the first aid allowance ($741–$749/year at 2025 rates) is formally available to education support class employees; classroom teachers should confirm their designation with their principal.
Teachers who take on curriculum coordinator or head of department responsibilities may receive additional payments above their classroom teacher salary. In NSW, substantive Head Teacher positions are a distinct pay band; in Victoria, Leading Teacher is a separate classification. Taking on informal coordination duties is not the same as a substantive appointment; check whether additional responsibilities attract a formal loading.
In Victoria, a special schools allowance of $727/year applies to all staff at special schools (2025). SA provides special class and behaviour support unit allowances. NSW has a health support allowance for learning support roles. For practicum supervision, SA has a formal claims process; check with your school's admin team in other states. In SA, teaching above your maximum face-to-face load also attracts a teaching load allowance.
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