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NSW Teacher Salary 2026: How It Compares to the National Full-Time Average

NSW teacher salaries under the federal award range from $75,681 to $104,712 per year, while NSW public school principals earn $149,059 and above. The national full-time average is $108,352.

This is the New South Wales full-time average. It sits $1,306 over the Australian full-time average, about 1.2% above the line.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,109 a week · $55.49 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $84,047 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

NSW Teacher Salary 2026: Where It Sits Against the Australian Full-Time Average

If you're searching for "nsw teacher salary 2026 pdf", you're likely looking for the official pay rates for teachers in New South Wales. This article uses the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Fair Work, and the NSW Department of Education to show how those salaries compare to the national full-time average.

What the Sources Say

The most current published rates for teachers under the federal Educational Services (Teachers) Award [MA000077] come from Fair Work, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. For full-time teachers in preschools and schools, the weekly pay rates are:

  • Level 1: $1,455.40 per week ($75,680.80 per year)
  • Level 2: $1,590.70 per week ($82,716.40 per year)
  • Level 3: $1,731.70 per week ($90,048.40 per year)
  • Level 4: $1,872.70 per week ($97,380.40 per year)
  • Level 5: $2,013.70 per week ($104,712.40 per year)

These are minimum rates under the award. Many NSW public school teachers are covered by the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award, which typically pays higher rates. The NSW Department of Education publishes its own salary schedules; the most detailed available for 2026 are for principals and assistant principals:

  • TP1 or AP1: $149,059 per year
  • TP2 or AP2: $174,034 per year
  • P1: $178,811 per year
  • P2: $192,461 per year (includes complexity loading)
  • P3: $213,283 per year
  • P4: $222,610 per year
  • P5: $229,435 per year

Classroom teacher salaries in NSW public schools are not shown in the search results, but they typically start above the federal award minimums and increase with experience and qualifications.

How This Compares to the National Full-Time Average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 gives the national full-time adult ordinary-time average as $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52). This is the benchmark used on this site.

  • A federal award Level 5 teacher ($104,712) is $3,640 below the national average.
  • A Level 3 teacher ($90,048) is $18,304 below the average.
  • A Level 1 teacher ($75,681) is $32,671 below.
  • A NSW principal at TP1 ($149,059) is $40,707 above the average.

For context, the full-time median earnings in Australia are about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). So a teacher at Level 3 or above is above the median, but only the top award level approaches the average. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100, which is close to the Level 1 award rate.

State Comparison

New South Wales has a full-time average of about $109,658 per year (ABS, May 2026). That's slightly above the national average. A federal award Level 5 teacher in NSW would be about $4,946 below the state average. The NSW principal salaries are well above both the state and national averages.

See how other states compare on the States and territories page.

Minimum Wage and Award Increases

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week (Fair Work). Award minimums, including the teachers award, rose by 4.75% from the previous year. The federal award Level 1 teacher rate of $38.30 per hour is well above the minimum wage, reflecting the skilled nature of the profession.

Tax on a Teacher Salary

For the 2026–27 income year, a teacher earning $90,000 would pay approximately:

  • $0 on the first $18,200
  • $4,020 on the next $26,800 (15%)
  • $13,500 on the next $45,000 (30%)
  • Total tax: $17,520, plus Medicare levy of $1,800 (2%), total $19,320
  • After-tax income: $70,680

A principal earning $149,059 would pay:

  • $0 on first $18,200
  • $4,020 on $26,800
  • $27,000 on $90,000 (30% bracket up to $135,000)
  • $5,202 on the remaining $14,059 (37%)
  • Total tax: $36,222, plus Medicare $2,981, total $39,203
  • After-tax income: $109,856

Use the Place a salary on the line tool to see your take-home pay.

Where to Find Official NSW Teacher Salary PDFs

The search results include a PDF-style pay guide from Fair Work for the Educational Services (Teachers) Award. The NSW Department of Education publishes its own salary determinations on its website. For the most accurate and up-to-date figures, refer directly to those official sources. The figures in this article are based on publicly available data from the ABS, Fair Work, and the NSW Department of Education.

Summary

  • Federal award teachers: $75,681 to $104,712 per year
  • NSW public school principals: $149,059 to $229,435 per year
  • National full-time average: $108,352 per year
  • NSW full-time average: $109,658 per year
  • Full-time median: $90,532 per year

A teacher at the top of the federal award is close to the national average but still below it. Most classroom teachers are below the average but above the median. Principals are well above both.

For more comparisons, see Job medians and Industry medians. Learn how these figures are set on the How the figures are set page.

About This Site

About this site explains our methodology. We use only official Australian sources: the ABS, Fair Work, and the ATO. All averages are from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. Medians are from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025. Minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026.

Questions

What is the average NSW teacher salary in 2026?

There is no single average for all NSW teachers. Under the federal Educational Services (Teachers) Award, full-time teachers in preschools and schools earn between $1,455.40 and $2,013.70 per week ($75,681 to $104,712 per year). NSW public school teachers are covered by a separate state award, but the highest published figures from the NSW Department of Education are for principals: $149,059 for a TP1/AP1 principal, rising to $229,435 for a P5 principal. Classroom teacher salaries typically fall between the award minimums and principal levels.

How does a NSW teacher salary compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A NSW teacher at the top of the federal award (Level 5, $104,712) is about $3,640 below that average. A teacher at Level 1 ($75,681) is well below. NSW principals, however, earn well above the average. The full-time median for all Australians is about $90,532, so many teachers are above that median but below the average.

What is the tax on a NSW teacher salary in 2026–27?

For the 2026–27 income year, resident tax rates are: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A teacher earning $90,000 would pay about $17,738 in tax and Medicare, leaving $72,262 after tax. A principal earning $149,059 would pay about $37,597, leaving $111,462. Use the ATO's tax calculator for your exact situation.

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