Secondary school teacher salary: how state and industry differences affect your pay

How the secondary school teacher salary stacks up against the national line

When you look at the secondary school teacher salary in Australia, the first thing to notice is that it sits comfortably above the average full-time worker. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the median full-time weekly earnings for secondary school teachers are $2,322. That annualises to about $120,744 – well above the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352. On the Salary Index, where 100 is that national line, a secondary school teacher's median pay comes in at roughly 111. That means the typical teacher earns about 11% more than the average full-time worker.

But that national figure hides a lot of variation. The actual secondary school teacher salary you'll earn depends heavily on which state you work in, what type of school you teach at, and how many years you've been in the classroom. Let's break it down.

State differences in teacher pay

The on-site reference gives state indices for all occupations: NSW at 101.2, Victoria at 98, Queensland at 97.9, South Australia at 94.6, Western Australia at 106.9, Tasmania at 88.6, the Northern Territory at 95.2, and the ACT at 109.9. These are broad averages across all jobs, not just teaching. But they hint at the cost-of-living and wage pressures that influence teacher salaries in each state.

Teacher pay itself is largely set by state government enterprise agreements. For example, South Australia publishes its own School Teachers Award, with hourly paid instructor rates ranging from $59.40 for Class 4 up to $162.80 for Class 2 Tier 1. That's significantly higher than the federal award minimums. Meanwhile, in New South Wales, the Department of Education has its own salary scale that typically starts around $75,000 for a new graduate and rises to over $120,000 for experienced classroom teachers. The ACT, with the highest state index, also tends to have competitive teacher salaries to attract staff.

It's worth noting that the states page on Salary Index gives you a quick way to compare general earnings levels, but for teacher-specific pay you'll need to check the relevant state education department or union agreement.

Industry context: Education and Training

The Education and Training industry as a whole has an index of 105.5, meaning the average worker in that sector earns about 5.5% above the national line. Secondary school teachers, at index 111, are above that industry average. That makes sense – teaching requires a university degree and specialised skills, and the pay reflects that. However, within the education industry, there are big differences. University lecturers, for instance, often earn more, while early childhood educators earn less.

If you're comparing the secondary school teacher salary to other roles in education, it's helpful to look at the industries page to see how different sectors stack up. For example, the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry sits at 114.7, while Retail Trade is at 75.9. Teaching sits comfortably in the upper half.

Award rates and enterprise agreements

The Fair Work Ombudsman's Educational Services (Teachers) Award sets minimum rates for teachers in schools and preschools. As of July 2026, the weekly rates are:

• Level 1: $1,455.40 ($38.30/hr)
• Level 2: $1,590.70 ($41.86/hr)
• Level 3: $1,731.70 ($45.57/hr)
• Level 4: $1,872.70 ($49.28/hr)
• Level 5: $2,013.70 ($52.99/hr)

These are the legal minimums. Most teachers in government schools are covered by state enterprise agreements that pay more. For example, a graduate teacher in Queensland might start around $75,000, which is above the Level 1 award rate. The award is a floor, not a ceiling.

Casual teachers under the award are paid at Level 3 maximum for engagements of less than five consecutive days. That works out to a full-day rate of $432.93. If you're a casual teacher, you also get a 25% loading on top of the hourly rate, which is already included in those casual rates.

How super and tax affect take-home pay

From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee is 12% of your ordinary-time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. So on a $120,744 salary, your employer would contribute about $14,489 to super each year. That's on top of your salary.

For tax, using the 2026–27 resident rates, a secondary school teacher earning $120,744 would fall into the 30% bracket (income between $45,001 and $135,000). After the tax-free threshold of $18,200 and the 2% Medicare levy, the estimated take-home pay would be around $87,000 per year, or about $1,673 per week. That's before any salary sacrifice or HELP repayments.

Where to find more detail

If you want to see how your own pay compares, the how the index works page explains the calculation. You can also browse pay guides for award summaries, or check topics for more on teacher salaries and conditions.

The bottom line

The secondary school teacher salary in Australia is above the national average, with a median index of 111. But your actual pay will depend on your state, your experience level, and whether you're covered by a state agreement or the federal award. The best way to get a precise figure for your situation is to check the relevant award or enterprise agreement, and use the Salary Index to see where you sit relative to the national line.