South Australian teacher salary and the national line
When you search for "sa teacher salary", you are likely looking for a figure that reflects what a teacher in South Australia earns. The answer is not a single number, because teacher pay depends on classification level, experience, and whether the employer follows the award or a separate enterprise agreement. This article explains how the award rates, the state average, and the national full-time average relate to each other.
The national full-time average as a benchmark
The site's line is the national full-time adult ordinary-time average from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026: $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. This is the average for all full-time workers across Australia, not just teachers. It is a useful reference point to see whether a particular salary sits above or below the middle of the full-time workforce.
South Australia's full-time average is lower: $1,970.20 a week, or about $102,450 a year. That is about $5,900 below the national line. So any salary in SA should be compared with both the national and the state average.
Teacher award rates under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide for the Educational Services (Teachers) Award (MA000077), effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. The award covers teachers in preschools and schools. It sets minimum weekly pay rates for five classification levels:
- Level 1: $1,455.40 a week ($38.30 an hour)
- Level 2: $1,590.70 a week ($41.86 an hour)
- Level 3: $1,731.70 a week ($45.57 an hour)
- Level 4: $1,872.70 a week ($49.28 an hour)
- Level 5: $2,013.70 a week ($52.99 an hour)
Annualised (multiplying by 52 weeks), these range from about $75,680 to $104,712. However, teachers may be paid over a different number of weeks depending on the employer, and many schools have enterprise agreements that set higher rates. The award is the legal minimum; actual salaries can be higher.
How the award compares to the state and national averages
A teacher at Level 1 earns about $75,680 a year, which is well below the South Australian full-time average of $102,450 and the national average of $108,352. At Level 5, the award minimum of $104,712 is slightly above the SA average but still below the national line. Most experienced teachers would be at Level 4 or 5, so their award minimum is close to or above the state average.
But the award is only the floor. Many South Australian public school teachers are covered by the SA Government's School Teachers Award or a separate enterprise agreement. The South Australian Department for Education publishes its own pay rates for school teachers, which may differ from the federal award. For example, a 2026 document from the department shows tiered annual salaries, though the exact figures are not fully legible in the available snippet. In practice, teacher salaries in SA often exceed the award minimums, especially for those with higher duties or additional responsibilities.
Why state and award matter
The national line is a single figure, but actual pay varies by state and by occupation. South Australia's full-time average is lower than the national average, partly because of industry mix and partly because of lower average earnings in some sectors. Teaching is a regulated profession with minimum rates set by awards or agreements, so teacher salaries tend to be more uniform within a state than across all jobs.
If you are comparing a teacher salary to the national line, remember that the line is an average of all full-time workers, including high-earning professions. A teacher on the award at Level 5 is close to the national average, while a teacher at Level 1 is well below it. But because the award rates increase with experience, most teachers will move up the levels over time.
Using the site's tools
You can place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national full-time average, the state average, and the median. For South Australia, the site also has a dedicated page with state-specific data. The How the figures are set page explains the sources and methodology behind the averages and medians.
Summary
- National full-time average: $108,352 a year
- South Australia full-time average: $102,450 a year
- Teacher award minimums (annualised): $75,680 to $104,712
- Actual teacher salaries in SA may be higher under enterprise agreements
When you search for "sa teacher salary", the figure you find will depend on the teacher's classification and employer. The award provides a floor, but the state average and the national line give context for where that floor sits relative to the broader workforce.