Government vs Catholic vs Independent: Which Sector Pays Teachers More?
A side-by-side 2026 comparison of teacher salaries across Australia's three school sectors — base salary, superannuation, and what the numbers actually mean before you accept an offer.
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The short answer is that Catholic and government schools pay almost identically at classroom level. The independent sector is the variable: smaller non-systemic schools can pay below government rates, while elite GPS schools pay well above them. This guide presents the 2026 figures side by side so you can read any job ad clearly and compare offers on the same terms.
1. How the three sectors set teacher pay
Each sector negotiates pay separately, but they are connected. Most Catholic dioceses track government scales closely. Most independent schools under enterprise agreements do the same, though with less transparency.
Government schools in each state are covered by a state-based award or enterprise agreement negotiated between the state education department and the teachers federation or union. Pay scales and conditions are published in full and legally binding.
Catholic systemic schools are covered by diocese-level enterprise agreements negotiated with the Independent Education Union (IEU). Most dioceses benchmark their scales against the state government scale. In some states — notably NSW — the Catholic classroom scale is identical to the government scale.
Independent schools fall into two groups:
- AIS-covered schools (most non-elite independents) are covered by multi-enterprise agreements (MEAs or CMEAs) negotiated with the IEU and the Association of Independent Schools in each state.
- Non-systemic schools (typically GPS-tier or large elite independents) negotiate their own enterprise agreements or set employment contracts school by school. These scales are not publicly disclosed.
2. The NSW comparison: using one state as a reference point
NSW is the clearest reference state: all three sectors publish their scales, figures are confirmed for 2026, and the Catholic systemic scale can be compared directly against government. The figures below are for classroom teachers, not leadership or specialist roles.
NSW Government (DoE) 2026
The classroom teacher scale effective from 9 October 2025 under the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award runs across seven steps. [Source: NSW Department of Education, salary-of-a-teacher page, 2026]
| Step | Classification | Base salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graduate | $90,177 |
| 2 | — | $96,980 |
| 3 | Proficient (entry) | $101,122 |
| 4 | — | $105,263 |
| 5 | — | $112,594 |
| 6 | — | $121,064 |
| 7 | Top of scale | $129,536 |
| HA/Lead | Highly Accomplished / Lead | $137,861 |
A 3% increase is scheduled from 9 October 2026, bringing graduate entry to $92,882 and top-of-scale to $133,422. Superannuation is 11.5% employer contribution (the standard Superannuation Guarantee rate from 1 July 2025). [Source: Crown Employees Award; Super Guarantee Schedule, ATO, 2025]
Graduate teachers commence at Step 1. Teachers with existing Proficient accreditation (e.g. transferring from another state) start at Step 3.
NSW Catholic systemic schools 2026
This is where many people are surprised. The NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 (effective 5 January 2026) sets the following classroom teacher scale: [Source: Sydney Catholic Schools careers page, 2026]
| Step | Base salary | Total package (12% super) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Graduate) | $90,177 | $100,998 |
| 2 | $96,980 | $108,618 |
| 3 (Proficient) | $101,122 | $113,257 |
| 4 | $105,263 | $117,895 |
| 5 | $112,594 | $126,105 |
| 6 | $121,064 | $135,592 |
| 7 (Top of scale) | $129,536 | $145,080 |
| Highly Accomplished | $137,861 | $154,404 |
| Lead Teacher | $144,258 | $161,569 |
Steps 1 through 7 are identical to the NSW DoE scale. The two differences in favour of Catholic schools are: (1) superannuation of 12% (vs 11.5% government), adding approximately $460–$730 per year depending on step; and (2) a Lead Teacher tier at $144,258 base, which sits $6,400 above the government Highly Accomplished rate of $137,861.
For the overwhelming majority of classroom teachers, the Catholic and government salary is the same number.
NSW independent schools 2026
The AIS (Association of Independent Schools NSW) Cooperative Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025 covers most non-GPS independent schools. The agreement has a three-year term to January 2028 and delivered a 4.5% pay increase from February 2026. [Source: IEU NSW/ACT, CMEA 2025 details]
Independent schools under this agreement use a band structure (Band 1, Band 2, Band 3) rather than numbered steps. Starting salaries are broadly in the same range as government, but the exact dollar amounts appear only in the PDF pay tables rather than on public-facing websites.
One indicator: casual Teacher 1 rates under the AIS CMEA in 2025 were $450.50 per day, compared to the government rate of $466.44. After the 4.5% February 2026 rise, AIS Casual Teacher 1 rates rose to approximately $470.77 — narrowly ahead of government. This suggests the permanent salary scales track at approximately government equivalence. [Source: IEU NSW/ACT pay tables; NSW DoE salary page]
Band 3 teachers (senior classroom teachers) are entitled to an Accomplished Teacher allowance of $5,203 per year from February 2026, on top of the base salary. [Source: IEU NSW/ACT, pay-tables-ais-teachers, 2026]
Elite GPS schools are a different story. Schools such as Sydney Grammar, Scots College, and their equivalents are not covered by the AIS CMEA. They negotiate their own agreements. Pay at these schools is not publicly disclosed, but industry reporting consistently places experienced teacher packages at $130,000–$180,000+. Starting rates often exceed the government starting rate, and experienced teachers can earn $20,000–$50,000 above government top-of-scale.
3. What "package" means — and why it matters
When an independent school advertises a role with a "salary package of $118,000," that figure almost always includes superannuation. To compare it against a government or Catholic base salary, you need to subtract the super component.
Worked example: $118,000 package at 12% super
Some independent schools also include salary sacrifice benefits (laptops, novated car lease, school fee discounts) in a "total remuneration" figure. These are real benefits, but they are not take-home cash. When comparing offers, isolate base salary and super separately so you are comparing the same things.
Government and Catholic schools generally quote base salary directly. "Step 3 Proficient, $101,122" is the base salary — super is additional.
4. Non-salary conditions that can swing the comparison
A $5,000 salary advantage can easily be offset by conditions that affect daily working life. These four factors are worth comparing carefully.
Non-contact time
NSW government teachers are entitled to a minimum of two hours of relief from face-to-face teaching per week under Determination 1 of 2026. [Source: NSW Department of Education, Attendance and Student Supervision Factsheet, January 2026] This is among the lowest guaranteed non-contact time in Australia.
Independent school contracts vary widely. Some schools offer more preparation time as a condition of employment, particularly at GPS schools competing for experienced teachers. Catholic schools broadly follow the same award minimum as government, though some dioceses have negotiated additional release time.
If a role at an independent school offers four hours of non-contact time per week versus two hours at a government school, that difference represents approximately 80 hours of paid working time per year.
Class sizes
Independent schools employ significantly more teaching staff relative to their student population. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the student-to-teacher ratio in 2024 was: [Source: ABS, Schools, Australia, 2024]
Independent
11.7
students per teacher
Government
13.1
students per teacher
Catholic
13.3
students per teacher
These are sector-wide averages. Within each sector there is wide variation — a small rural government school may have ratios far below these averages, and a large fee-paying independent school can have secondary classes of 25.
Parental leave
Government and Catholic systemic schools in NSW provide paid parental leave that counts as service for leave accrual and pay progression. This means time on parental leave does not delay your step progression on return. [Source: NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025; NSW DoE conditions]
Independent school parental leave provisions vary by school. Under older AIS agreements, paid maternity leave often did not count as service for pay progression. Whether the CMEA 2025 improved this uniformly is unclear — conditions depend on the individual school's agreement. Always check the specific conditions before accepting a role.
Job security and career progression
Government permanent teachers have strong protections for ongoing employment. Catholic systemic schools operate similarly. Independent school employment conditions range from secure ongoing contracts to fixed-term arrangements with no automatic renewal. For teachers early in their careers, a government appointment at Step 1 provides stability to build towards Proficient accreditation and step progression without the risk of fixed-term contract uncertainty.
5. How other states compare
NSW is the reference point for this guide, but the sector dynamics are similar across Australia.
Victoria
VIC government teachers currently start at $79,589 (Range 1, Step 1) and reach $118,063 at top of scale. However, VIC teachers secured a significant enterprise agreement with a 28.3% pay increase over four years — by October 2026, graduate VIC teachers will see a 12% increase applied, substantially closing the gap with NSW. [Source: Victorian Government, Labor Will Pay Our Teachers media release, 2026] VIC Catholic schools have committed to parity with VIC government; a minimum 7% rise for 2026 is part of that offer. [Source: VCEA, employer offer communication, October 2025]
Queensland
QLD DoE pay maps to QCT accreditation levels (Graduate Band, Proficient Band). Catholic schools in Brisbane and elsewhere broadly track QLD government rates.
WA, SA, ACT
The same general pattern applies across other states — Catholic systemic scales track government closely, independent schools have variable arrangements.
The sector comparison logic is consistent across states: Catholic mirrors government, independent is bimodal.
6. Which sector should you choose?
There is no single answer because pay is not the only factor, and within each sector conditions vary. A few frameworks that may help:
Pay maximisation at career start
Government and Catholic schools in NSW offer an identical starting rate ($90,177 in 2026) with clear step progression and strong job security. They are functionally equivalent at the graduate level.
Accessing GPS-level independent school pay
You generally need subject-area scarcity (maths, science, technology), a strong academic background, or experience at a school with a track record of feeding into those roles. Competition for these positions is significant.
Weighing conditions vs salary
Independent schools' smaller average class sizes and sometimes greater non-contact time can represent genuine working-condition advantages that offset a smaller salary gap. Do the arithmetic on the full picture, not just the headline number.
Planning parental leave in the near term
Government and Catholic systemic schools offer more predictable, service-counting leave entitlements. Check independent school contracts carefully before committing.
? Frequently asked questions
Do Catholic school teachers earn less than government teachers in Australia?
In NSW, the classroom salary scale is identical between Catholic systemic and government schools — Steps 1 through 7 run from $90,177 to $129,536 in both sectors as of 2026. Catholic schools contribute 12% superannuation vs 11.5% for government, a marginal advantage. The principal difference is that Catholic schools have a Lead Teacher tier ($144,258 base) that sits above the government Highly Accomplished rate ($137,861). [Source: Sydney Catholic Schools careers page; NSW DoE salary page, 2026]
How much more do independent school teachers earn compared to government?
It depends entirely on the school. Independent schools covered by the AIS Cooperative Multi-Enterprise Agreement pay approximately the same as government — within a few percent either way. Elite GPS-tier schools that set their own agreements pay $20,000–$50,000+ above government top-of-scale for experienced teachers, but do not publish their salary scales. [Source: IEU NSW/ACT; industry reporting]
What does "total package" mean at an independent school?
It typically means base salary plus 12% superannuation, and sometimes salary sacrifice benefits (car lease, laptops, school fee discounts). To compare against a government base salary, divide the package by 1.12 — a $118,000 package at 12% super equals a base salary of approximately $105,357. Government and Catholic schools quote base salary directly; super is additional.
Which sector has the best parental leave for teachers?
Government and Catholic systemic schools in NSW provide paid parental leave that counts as service for pay progression and leave accrual. Independent school provisions vary by school — some are equivalent, many are less generous, particularly regarding access to paid leave for primary carers who are not the birth parent. Check the specific enterprise agreement or employment contract before accepting a role.
Do independent school teachers have smaller classes?
On average, yes. ABS data for 2024 shows independent schools averaged 11.7 students per teacher, compared to 13.1 for government and 13.3 for Catholic. These are sector-wide averages across all school types and levels; specific classroom sizes depend on the school, year group, and subject. [Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Schools, Australia, 2024]
Can I negotiate my salary at an independent school?
At schools covered by the AIS CMEA, the pay scale is set by the enterprise agreement — there is limited room to negotiate base salary, though allowances and conditions may have some flexibility. At GPS-tier and non-systemic elite schools that negotiate their own agreements, there is more scope, particularly for experienced teachers with in-demand subject expertise (maths, science, technology, LOTE). Ask the school explicitly whether the advertised salary is negotiable.
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