Teacher Award Pay Rates
Non-government school minimums, nationwide
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 sets the national minimum pay for teachers in non-government schools that aren't covered by an enterprise agreement — a classroom teacher from $72,497 (Level 1, graduate) to $93,289. It is a legal floor, not a typical wage: most non-government teachers are on agreements paying above it. Switch on take-home to see pay after tax.
Educational Services (Teachers) Award
Fair Work award minimum rates for teachers in non-government schools without an enterprise agreement (Level 1 graduate to the Highly Accomplished/Lead level).
Teacher award minimum rates
2 bands · $72,497–$100,311
Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (award minimum) Level 5 — requires Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (HALT) certification. $100,311Open in pay calculator ↗ |
How these figures work
- ·This is the NATIONAL award MINIMUM (Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020), effective 1 July 2025 — the legal floor for award-reliant (non-agreement) non-government schools only. It is NOT a typical wage: most non-government teachers are on enterprise agreements paying well above it (commonly at or above the relevant government scale).
- ·The award uses flat classification levels mapped to accreditation: Level 1 (graduate) to Level 4 (top of standard progression), then Level 5 for Highly Accomplished/Lead Teachers. There are no within-level annual steps.
- ·The Annual Wage Review 2025–26 decision raises modern award minimum wages by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026; the updated MA000077 classification rates are published by the Fair Work Commission in the award variation determination.
- ·Superannuation follows the Superannuation Guarantee.
Award figures are legal minimums; most non-government schools pay above them. Verify your rate with your employer or your enterprise agreement.
Find your teacher pay
Pick a sector and classification to preview the salary range, an estimated take-home figure and super. Open the calculator for your exact step, frequency, HECS-HELP and salary sacrifice.
These are Educational Services (Teachers) Award minimums — actual pay is usually higher.
Sits in the mid of Teachers Award minimum pay.
Key Information
Educational Services (Teachers) Award pay facts and what it covers before comparing pay.
Current rates from
July 2025
Next increase
4.75% from 1 July 2026
Employer super
12%
Graduate entry
$72,497/yr
Coverage
Non-government schools without an enterprise agreement
These are national award minimums. Most Catholic and independent schools — and all government schools — pay above them under their own awards or enterprise agreements.
Teacher award Salary Guide by Classification
Quick reference for every teacher award classification and what it pays in 2026–2027— gross salary plus the estimated take-home pay, employer super, and total package the salary table doesn't show. Select any level to calculate your exact take-home pay after tax, Medicare, and super.
Classroom Teacher (award minimum) Salary
A Classroom Teacher (award minimum) earns $72,497–$93,289 gross — roughly $59,000–$73,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$81,000–$104,000 total package). Federal award minimum for school teachers. Level 1 = Graduate; Levels 2–4 = Proficient with service-based progression. AITSL-aligned (award cl. 14/17).
Calculate Classroom Teacher (award minimum) take-home pay →Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (award minimum) Salary
A Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (award minimum) earns $100,311–$100,311 gross — roughly $78,000–$78,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$112,000–$112,000 total package). Level 5 — requires Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (HALT) certification.
Calculate Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (award minimum) take-home pay →Take-home and total package figures are estimates. Take-home excludes HECS/HELP, the Medicare Levy Surcharge, and salary sacrifice, and assumes a resident taxpayer claiming the tax-free threshold. Total package adds employer super to gross salary.
About the Teacher Award Minimum
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 sets the national minimum pay for teachers in non-government schools that aren't covered by an enterprise agreement. A classroom teacher earns from $72,497 at Level 1 (graduate) to $93,289 at the top standard level, with a Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher level at $100,311. These are legal minimums — most non-government teachers are on agreements paying above them.
Who the award covers
The award is the floor for award-reliant non-government schools. It uses flat classification levels mapped to accreditation — Level 1 (graduate) up to Level 4, then a Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher level — with no within-level annual steps. Government teachers and most Catholic and independent schools are on awards or agreements that pay above it.
- Classroom teachers: $72,497–$93,289 across the standard levels.
- Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher (HALT): $100,311, requiring certification.
- Government school pay sits well above these minimums — see the per-state pages for the going rate.
How pay rises work
Award minimums are reviewed each year in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The current rates apply from 1 July 2025. Because the award is national, the same minimums apply in every state and territory.
- The next review applies from 1 July 2026; the table above shows the current rates until the varied award is published.
Superannuation
Employers pay 12% employer superannuation on top of these wages — the statutory Superannuation Guarantee, since the award carries no separate employer rate.
Total package
Award wage plus 12% employer super. You can lift retirement savings further by salary sacrificing into super.
Source: Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077]
Government schools pay more
State teaching awards and agreements pay well above these award minimums. Browse government school teacher pay by state — graduate, top-of-scale and leadership ranges, with employer super.
New South Wales
- Graduate
- $90k
- Top of scale
- $138k
- Leadership
- to $229k
Victoria
- Graduate
- $80k
- Top of scale
- $118k
- Leadership
- to $239k
Queensland
- Graduate
- $74k
- Top of scale
- $112k
- Leadership
- to $236k
Western Australia
- Graduate
- $88k
- Top of scale
- $134k
- Leadership
- to $207k
South Australia
- Graduate
- $85k
- Top of scale
- $123k
- Leadership
- to $234k
Tasmania
- Graduate
- $79k
- Top of scale
- $118k
- Leadership
- to $195k
Australian Capital Territory
- Graduate
- $91k
- Top of scale
- $129k
- Leadership
- to $225k
Northern Territory
- Graduate
- $96k
- Top of scale
- $137k
- Leadership
- to $214k
More reading
Related guides
Background reading on tax, super, and salary topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Educational Services (Teachers) Award pay rates?
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077) sets the national minimum for teachers in non-government schools that aren't covered by an enterprise agreement. A classroom teacher earns $72,497 at Level 1 (graduate) up to $93,289 at the top standard level, with a Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher level at $100,311.
Who is actually paid the teacher award minimum?
The award is the legal floor for award-reliant non-government schools — those without their own enterprise agreement. It is not a typical wage: most Catholic and independent schools are on agreements that pay at or above the relevant government scale, and all government teachers are on state awards or agreements well above the federal minimum.
How does the teacher award compare to government school pay?
Government classroom-teacher scales sit well above the federal award minimum at every career stage — the award is a floor for non-agreement schools, not the going rate. Browse the state pages to see government pay, which is the clearest benchmark for what teachers actually earn.
When does the teacher award increase?
Award minimums are reviewed each year in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Pay rises 4.75% from 1 July 2026. Because the award is national, the same minimums apply in every state and territory.
Are these award figures before or after tax?
They are gross pay (before tax). Switch on "Take-home" in the table to see pay after income tax and the Medicare levy, or use the pay calculator for a full breakdown including HECS/HELP and superannuation.
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