Teacher salary QLD and the national full-time average
When you place a teacher salary in Queensland on the line, the first benchmark is the national full-time adult average ordinary-time earnings. According to the, that figure was $2,083.70 per week in May 2026, or about $108,352 a year. The Queensland full-time average across all occupations is about $106,064, slightly lower. So where does a teacher’s pay sit?
The award minimums
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Educational Services (Teachers) Award [MA000077] sets minimum rates for many teachers in Queensland. For teachers in preschools and schools, the weekly rates range from $1,455.40 (Level 1) to $2,013.70 (Level 5). At Level 5, that works out to about $104,712 a year – below the national average by roughly $3,640. For teachers in long day care centres, the top rate is $2,094.30 per week (about $108,904 a year), which just edges above the national average.
These are minimums. Many Queensland teachers are covered by enterprise agreements that pay more, especially in state schools. The Queensland Government’s teacher pay scale, for example, often exceeds the award. Without a precise published average for Queensland teachers, we can say the award floor is below the national line, but actual salaries may be closer to or above it.
How the state average fits
Queensland has a full-time adult average of about $106,064, which is $2,288 below the national average. That suggests that, on the whole, full-time workers in Queensland earn a little less than the Australian norm. Teachers are a large occupation in the state, so their pay likely pulls the state average down slightly. However, teachers with experience and higher classifications can earn well above the state average.
Comparing with medians and other benchmarks
The full-time median earnings in Australia are about $90,532 a year, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. Even the lowest teacher award rate ($1,455.40/week, about $75,681/year) is above the all-employees median. So teaching is a solid middle-income profession. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 a year on 38 hours – less than half the teacher award minimum.
What moves a teacher’s pay above or below the line
Several factors determine whether a Queensland teacher’s salary sits above or below the national full-time average:
- Classification level: Level 1 teachers start well below the average; Level 5 teachers in long day care centres are just above it.
- Sector: Private schools may pay above award, while some early childhood centres pay only the minimum.
- Location: Remote and regional Queensland often attract higher pay through allowances or higher classification.
- Experience and qualifications: Additional qualifications or leadership roles push pay higher.
If you are a teacher earning $110,000 or more, you are above the national average. If you are on the award minimum at Level 1–4, you are below it.
Tax and take-home pay
For the 2026–27 financial year, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above that. Plus a 2% Medicare levy. A teacher earning $104,712 (award Level 5) would pay about $24,000 in tax and Medicare, leaving around $80,700 take-home. That is a comfortable income in most parts of Queensland.
Where to get more detail
For a personalised comparison, you can Place a salary on the line and see how it stacks up against the national average, state averages, and occupation medians. The States and territories page breaks down averages for each region. And the Job medians page shows typical earnings for teachers and other roles.
The bottom line
A teacher salary in Queensland is likely to be close to the national full-time average, but slightly below it for those on the award minimum. With experience and the right employer, it can cross the line. The award provides a solid floor, and the profession remains well above the minimum wage and median earnings.