Primary school teacher salary QLD: where it sits on the Australian salary index

Primary school teacher salary QLD on the salary index

If you are looking up a primary school teacher salary QLD, you are probably trying to work out how the pay compares to other jobs and to the national average. The Australian salary index gives a clear way to do that: it sets the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings at 100 (currently $108,352 per year based on the ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026). Every other gross annual salary can be expressed as a number relative to that line.

Where does a Queensland primary school teacher sits

For a beginning teacher in Queensland state schools, the base salary for a 4-year degree holder is approximately $86,601 per year (as at September 2026). That comes from the Queensland Department of Education’s pay and benefits page. That figure puts the salary index at 79.9 – that is, about 20 points below the national line. It is still well above the national minimum wage (index 48.2) and above the award minimum for a Level 2 teacher ($83,004).

Queensland’s own state index is 97.9 ($106,064 annualised), meaning the average worker across all occupations in QLD earns slightly less than the national line. A beginning teacher is below that state average, but as you gain experience and move through the classification levels, your salary can rise significantly.

How the award classification works

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 sets minimum rates for teachers in preschools and schools. The levels are:

• Level 1 (graduate teacher): $75,941 per year
• Level 2 (proficient accreditation): $83,004
• Level 3 (after 3 years at Level 2): $90,362
• Level 4 (after 3 years at Level 3): $97,720
• Level 5 (Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher): $105,076

Queensland state schools pay above the award. Their $86,601 starting salary sits between Level 2 and Level 3. The award also includes casual rates: a casual teacher in a school is paid at Level 3 maximum for the first five days, and the full-day rate is $363.85 (from the pay guide).

Salary index progression for a career teacher

If you start at index 79.9, each promotion or step moves you closer to the national line. At Level 5 ($105,076) your index would be 97.0 – almost exactly the QLD state average. That is a realistic ceiling for a classroom teacher without moving into leadership. The Education and training industry index is 105.5, meaning the average worker in that sector earns above the national line, but that includes university lecturers and other higher-paid roles. Primary school teachers tend to cluster around the lower half of that industry average.

What about super and tax?

Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, so on $86,601 the employer would contribute an extra $10,392 into your super fund. That is not included in the salary index (which uses gross ordinary-time earnings). For take-home pay, a resident earning $86,601 in 2026–27 would pay about $16,798 in income tax plus $1,732 Medicare levy (2%), leaving roughly $68,071 after tax (ignoring HELP, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge).

How to use the salary index for comparisons

The index lets you compare any job to the national line. For example, a retail worker (index 75.9) earns less than a beginning teacher (79.9), while a professional in scientific services (index 114.7) earns more. You can also compare across states: Queensland’s index is 97.9, so a teacher on $86,601 is below the state average, but a teacher on $105,076 is slightly above it.

For more detail on how the index is calculated, see how the index works. If you want to see how other occupations stack up, visit our industries page. And for a full list of state benchmarks, check the states page.

Caveats to keep in mind

• The $86,601 figure is for a permanent or temporary beginning teacher in Queensland state schools. Private schools may pay differently.
• Award rates are minimums; many teachers are covered by enterprise agreements that pay more.
• Casual teachers earn about $99 per hour in Queensland state schools, which is higher than the award casual rate.
• The salary index uses gross ordinary-time earnings. It does not include overtime, penalties, or super.

Summary

A primary school teacher salary QLD for a new graduate is around $86,601, giving a salary index of 79.9. That is below the national line of 100 and below the QLD state average of 97.9, but it is a solid starting point. With experience, you can reach the award maximum of $105,076 (index 97), which is close to the state average. The pay is supported by strong benefits like paid parental leave, long service leave, and salary packaging options.

For more on how teacher pay compares to other jobs, see our pay guides and topics pages.