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Teacher salary NSW: Compare pay as a year, week and hour

A graduate teacher in NSW earns $90,177 a year, below the national full-time average of $108,352; an experienced teacher earns $129,536, above the average.

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

Teacher salary NSW: Compare pay as a year, week and hour

Teacher salaries in New South Wales public schools are set by the NSW Department of Education under an enterprise agreement that sits above the minimum award. This page converts the annual salaries into weekly and hourly figures based on a standard 38-hour week, and compares them with the national full-time average from the ABS.

How teacher salaries in NSW public schools are structured

The NSW Department of Education uses a 7-step salary scale for classroom teachers. A new graduate starts at step 1 and progresses to the top step after experience. The current rates are:

  • Graduate teacher (Level 1): $90,177 per year
  • Experienced teacher (top step): $129,536 per year

These figures come from the NSW Department of Education's salary page. They apply to full-time permanent and temporary teachers in NSW public schools.

Graduate teacher pay

A graduate teacher earning $90,177 a year receives:

  • Weekly: $1,734 (based on 52 weeks)
  • Hourly: $45.64 (based on a 38-hour week)

This is below the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week ($108,352 a year) from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. It is also below the NSW state full-time average of about $109,658.

Experienced teacher pay

An experienced teacher on the top step earning $129,536 a year receives:

  • Weekly: $2,491
  • Hourly: $65.55

This is well above the national full-time average and the NSW state average. It also exceeds the full-time median of about $90,532 and the all-employees median of about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Comparing teacher pay to the national average

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year. The graduate teacher salary is about 17% below this average, while the experienced teacher salary is about 20% above. For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, $1,004.90 a week, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours. Both teacher salaries are well above the minimum.

State averages

The full-time average for New South Wales is about $109,658, slightly above the national average. The graduate teacher salary sits below this, while the experienced teacher salary is above. Other state averages include Victoria ($106,137), Queensland ($106,064), South Australia ($102,450), Western Australia ($115,825), Tasmania ($96,008), Northern Territory ($103,173), and the Australian Capital Territory ($119,090).

The award minimum for teachers

The Educational Services (Teachers) Award [MA000077] sets minimum pay rates for teachers not covered by an enterprise agreement. From 1 July 2026, the weekly rates for teachers in preschools and schools are:

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

These award rates are lower than the NSW public school salaries, which are negotiated separately. The award also covers teachers in long day care centres with slightly higher rates.

Casual teaching rates in NSW

Casual teachers in NSW public schools are paid a daily rate that increases with experience. The rates are:

  • Casual Teacher 1: $466.44 per day
  • Casual Teacher 2: $523.04 per day
  • Casual Teacher 3: $582.38 per day

These rates are for a full day of teaching and are above the award casual rates. Casual teachers are also entitled to a loading in lieu of paid leave.

How the figures are set

The national averages come from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which is published twice a year for May and November. The May 2026 release shows full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week. The medians come from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, most recently for August 2025. The national minimum wage is set by Fair Work and updated annually. Teacher award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission and published by Fair Work.

For more information on how your salary compares, place a salary on the line or see states and territories for more local averages. You can also explore job medians or industry medians. For guides on understanding pay, visit Guides. Learn more about how the figures are set or about this site. For NSW-specific data, see New South Wales.

Questions

What is the starting salary for a teacher in NSW?

A new graduate teacher in a NSW public school earns $90,177 a year under the current 7-step scale. This is the base rate for a Level 1 teacher. The weekly equivalent is about $1,734 and the hourly rate about $45.64 based on a 38-hour week.

How does teacher pay in NSW compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings is $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). A graduate teacher in NSW earns $90,177, which is below that average. An experienced teacher on the top step earns $129,536, well above the national average. The NSW state full-time average is about $109,658, so graduate pay sits below the state average while experienced pay exceeds it.

What are the casual teaching rates in NSW?

Casual teachers in NSW public schools are paid a daily rate that increases with experience. As of October 2025, the rates are: Casual Teacher 1 $466.44, Casual Teacher 2 $523.04, and Casual Teacher 3 $582.38 per day. These rates are set by the NSW Department of Education and are above the minimum award rates.

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