• 01The comparison at a glance — master table: all 8 states3
• 02What the table doesn't show — steps, super, VIC change4
• 03State-by-state breakdown — NSW & VIC5
• 03State-by-state breakdown — QLD & WA6
• 03State-by-state breakdown — SA, TAS, ACT & NT7
• 04Allowances that change the number — rural & remote8
• 05Senior salary bands — HALT, Level 3, Senior Teacher9
• 06Take-home pay comparison — 5-year teacher in 4 cities9
• 07Catholic and independent schools — a brief note10
• FAQFrequently asked questions10

Government school teacher salaries at four career points. All figures are base salary excluding superannuation, current to the most recent enterprise agreement effective date for each state.

A single number comparison is misleading without context. Three factors change the picture substantially.

Each state uses a different number of salary steps and a different increment timeline. NSW has 7 steps (~6 years to top). WA has 9 classroom levels (~8 years). NT has 9 CT steps (~8 years). TAS Band 1 has 13 levels — longer progression, though isolated school appointees start at Level 8 (vs normal Level 5) to accelerate the timeline.

At 5 years, NSW Step 5 ($112,594) and WA Level 2.5 ($110,925) are very close. But WA has a Level 3 pathway to $147,077 for a classroom teacher — no formal principal or executive role required. No other state's classroom teacher pathway reaches this level.

For a teacher earning $100,000, the difference between 12% and 12.75% is $750 per year in additional super contributions — worth $30,000–$50,000 over a career. [Source: ATO]

Victoria's current graduate rate of $79,589 is below every other state. An in-principle enterprise agreement reached in May 2026 delivers a 12% increase from October 2026, raising the graduate salary to approximately $89,140 — broadly in line with NSW and ACT. The agreement delivers 28.3%–32.4% total over four years.

Base salary is only part of the picture. Depending on where and what you teach, allowances can add $3,000–$30,000+ per year.

NSW: Special Education allowance $3,217/yr. VIC: STEM and languages specialists $5,000–$10,000/yr. QLD: subject-specific loadings under some circumstances. Check with your state DoE if you teach a shortage area subject.

In NSW, both Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher accreditation lead to the same $137,861 step — teachers apply to NESA. WA's Level 3 requires no principal role. NT's Senior Teacher scale runs to ST8 at $196,907 — above the equivalent senior rate in any other state. [Sources: respective state DoE/NESA pages]

Using each state's salary at approximately the fifth year of service, applying 2025-26 tax rates (32.5% marginal + 2% Medicare for these salary ranges). All figures are estimates. Excludes HECS repayments and salary sacrifice.

Catholic systemic schools in most states pay under a Multi-Enterprise Agreement that tracks closely to government scales — typically within 2–5% of the relevant state government rate. Most Catholic systemic teachers in NSW, VIC, QLD, and WA can expect salaries within that range of their government-sector equivalents.

Independent school pay varies significantly. Elite non-systemic independent schools in NSW and VIC may pay above the government scale; smaller community independents may pay below it. A full sector-by-sector comparison will be covered in the companion guide Government vs Catholic vs independent: which sector pays teachers more?

Salary scales change each time a new enterprise agreement takes effect. The rates in this guide are current as at May 2026. The most significant upcoming change is Victoria's 12% increase from October 2026. For the most current figures, check each state DoE's salary page or your state teachers federation.