Qualified teachers salary: what you can expect to earn

As a teacher, your salary will vary based on a number of factors. Find out what you can expect to earn and how you can improve your earnings as a qualified teacher below.

Tes Editorial

Teacher Salary Australia

What factors influence my teacher salary?

Your salary as a qualified teacher depends on where you teach and your place on the pay scale.

Experience, what state/territory you work in, whether your school is urban or rural, or remote or inner city, can all affect what band or level you are on the pay scale. Read on to find out what you could, or should, be earning as a teacher in Australia in 2017.

This piece covers state schools, which the majority of children in Australia attend. Around two-thirds of students in 2016 went to a government-run school, while 20 per cent went to Catholic schools and 14 per cent to independent schools.

Find more info on teacher salaries in your state: 
Teacher salary in Victoria
Teacher salry in NSW
Teacher salary in Queensland

How much can I earn as a teacher in Australia?

The amount you are paid as a teacher will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and depend on which band you are in.

Which band you fit into will depend on your level of experience, with graduate teachers starting off in Band One. For example in New South Wales, to move from Band One to Band Two you will need to have had a minimum of two years in full-time work and receive approval from the relevant Teacher Accreditation Authority to move up. However, which band you are in will be different depending on what state/territory you are in.

First-year teachers can earn between $65,608 and $69,000 annually. For example, for the school year starting January 1 2017, a new teacher in New South Wales will have a starting pay of $65,608, while their counterparts in Northern Territory start off on $69,801.

For principals, the pay scale is based on a similar structure as the main teacher system, with different levels offering different levels of pay.

This is dependent on the funding allocation of the school from government. For example in New South Wales, a principal’s salary can vary from a base level of $135,092 on the P1 level, up to $173,337 for P5.

How can I get an increase on my teacher salary?

All teachers are awarded a pay rise when the pay scales and allowances are updated. For example in New South Wales, teacher salaries will rise by 2.5 per cent annually for the next three years. Graduate teachers in 2017 will earn $65,608 and this is set to rise to $68,929 in 2019.

For additional information on state-specific teacher salaries visit these links:

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