Teacher Salaries Australia (2025–2026)
Comprehensive guide to Australian public and private school teacher pay scales, AITSL accreditation steps, Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) daily rates, and net take-home pay.
1. Department of Education Teacher Pay Bands (Steps 1 to 9)
Official Australian teacher classification steps, base annual salary, 12% employer superannuation, estimated tax, and casual CRT day rates.
| Teaching Classification Step | Base Annual Salary | Employer Super (12%) | Estimated Annual Tax | Net Take-Home Pay | Casual CRT Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Teacher (Step 1) | $82,500 | $9,900 | $13,800 | $68,700 | $445 / day |
| Proficient Teacher (Step 3) | $92,400 | $11,088 | $16,800 | $75,600 | $495 / day |
| Proficient Teacher (Step 6) | $104,500 | $12,540 | $20,400 | $84,100 | $550 / day |
| Senior Proficient Teacher (Step 8) | $115,200 | $13,824 | $23,600 | $91,600 | $605 / day |
| Lead Teacher / HALT | $128,500 | $15,420 | $27,900 | $100,600 | $675 / day |
| Assistant Principal | $142,000 | $17,040 | $32,500 | $109,500 | $740 / day |
| Deputy Principal | $162,000 | $19,440 | $39,500 | $122,500 | $840 / day |
| Executive Principal | $195,000 | $23,400 | $53,800 | $141,200 | $980 / day |
2. Standards-Based Teacher Remuneration in Australia
Teacher salaries across Australia are governed by standards-based enterprise agreements aligned with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers administered by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).
3. The 4 Accreditation Stages
Australian teachers progress through 4 professional accreditation milestones: Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished, and Lead Teacher, with salaries scaling from $82,500 to over $128,500 per annum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Official Australian tax, superannuation, and take-home pay guidance grounded in current ATO rulings.
What is the starting salary for a graduate teacher in Australia?
In 2025–2026, graduate teacher starting salaries range from $80,000 to $85,000 base salary across state public education departments, plus 12% superannuation.
How much do casual relief teachers (CRT) earn in Australia?
Casual Relief Teachers earn between $445 and $605 per day (including 25% casual loading) depending on the state award and accreditation tier.
How do teacher step increments work?
Teachers advance by one salary increment step annually upon completing 203 teaching days (1 full school year) of satisfactory service.
Are teachers paid during the 12 weeks of school holidays?
Yes. Permanent and contract teachers receive full regular fortnightly pay across all school vacation periods, plus 17.5% annual leave loading in December.
What is HALT accreditation and how does it affect salary?
Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) accreditation advances teachers to top-tier senior salary bands exceeding $125,000 base.
What remote teaching allowances exist?
Teachers in regional and remote schools receive annual location allowances between $5,000 and $25,000 plus subsidized government housing.
How much superannuation do Australian teachers receive?
Teachers receive a minimum 12.0% Superannuation Guarantee, with state public education systems providing up to 12.75%–15.4% super packages.
How do Stage 3 tax cuts improve teacher take-home pay?
Stage 3 tax cuts deliver $1,800 to $3,200 in annual tax savings for classroom educators.