What is the minimum salary for a teacher in NSW under the award?

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, the minimum annual salary for a full-time teacher in a preschool or school ranges from $75,941 at Level 1 (graduate) to $105,076 at Level 5 (highly accomplished/lead teacher). These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Casual teachers engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3 ($90,362 annual equivalent).

How does the NSW Department of Education salary compare to the award?

The NSW Department of Education pays above the award minimum. A new graduate in a NSW public school earns $90,177 per year, which is above the award Level 1 ($75,941) and Level 2 ($83,004) and just below Level 3 ($90,362). Experienced teachers can earn up to $129,536, well above the award maximum. School leaders earn even more: assistant principals $149,059, deputy principals $174,034, principals $229,435. These rates are set by enterprise agreements and determinations, not the award.

Do casual teachers in NSW get paid more than the award rate?

Yes, the NSW Department of Education sets higher casual daily rates than the award minimum. Under the award, a casual teacher at Level 1 gets a full-day rate of $378.40 (including casual loading). The NSW Department of Education pays casual teachers at least $466.44 per day (Casual Teacher 1), rising to $582.38 (Casual Teacher 3). The award caps casuals engaged for less than five consecutive days at Level 3, but the NSW Department of Education's rates are above that cap.

NSW teacher salary: award minimums, public school pay, and casual rates

The legal minimum for a full-time teacher in NSW under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award ranges from $75,941 (Level 1) to $105,076 (Level 5) annually, but NSW public school teachers are paid above award, with graduates starting at $90,177 and experienced teachers up to $129,536.

What the award says about NSW teacher salary

The legal minimum for a teacher in NSW is set by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, which covers teachers in preschools, schools, and children's services. The Fair Work Commission makes the award, and the Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay guides and enforces compliance. For a full-time teacher working 38 ordinary hours per week, the award minimum weekly rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Level 1 (graduate): $1,455.40 per week ($75,941 per year)
Level 2 (proficient): $1,590.70 per week ($83,004 per year)
Level 3 (proficient after 3 years at Level 2): $1,731.70 per week ($90,362 per year)
Level 4 (proficient after 3 years at Level 3): $1,872.70 per week ($97,720 per year)
Level 5 (highly accomplished/lead): $2,013.70 per week ($105,076 per year)

These are the legal floors. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate, but not lower. The award also includes casual loading (25% on top of the minimum hourly rate) and penalty rates for Saturday work. Casual teachers engaged for fewer than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3.

How NSW public school salaries compare

The NSW Department of Education pays its teachers significantly above the award minimum. According to the department, a new graduate straight out of university earns $90,177 per year. That is about $14,000 above the award Level 1 rate and $7,000 above Level 2. An experienced teacher can earn $129,536 per year, which is $24,460 above the award Level 5 rate.

This means the "NSW teacher salary" you see advertised for public schools is not the award minimum but a negotiated rate under the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award or an enterprise agreement. The department also offers salary packaging, relocation subsidies for rural and remote schools, and rental subsidies.

For comparison, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings were $2,083.70 in May 2026. A graduate teacher's weekly equivalent of $1,734.17 is below that average, but an experienced teacher's weekly equivalent of $2,491.08 is above it.

Casual teaching rates

Casual teachers in NSW public schools are paid daily rates set by the department, not the award minimum. The department's casual rates as of October 2025 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 higher than the award casual full-day rate for Level 1 ($378.40) and even Level 3 ($432.93). The department adjusts these rates based on accreditation level and experience.

Under the award, a casual teacher engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3. But the department's rates already exceed that cap, so the award restriction does not limit actual pay in NSW public schools.

Superannuation and other payments

All salary figures mentioned are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a graduate teacher earning $90,177, the employer adds $10,821 in super, making total remuneration $100,998. The super guarantee is legislated and applies regardless of the award or agreement.

Teachers in NSW public schools may also be eligible for salary packaging (e.g., motor vehicles, laptops) which can reduce taxable income. Rural and remote teachers can access relocation subsidies and rental assistance.

How to check your pay floor

If you are a teacher in NSW, your minimum pay depends on whether you are covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award or a specific enterprise agreement. Most NSW public school teachers are covered by a state government agreement that pays above the award. Private school teachers may be covered by the award or a different agreement. Always check your classification level and compare it to the award rates. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool can help.

For more guidance, see Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables.

Key points to remember

The award is the legal minimum; actual salaries in NSW public schools are higher.
Casual teachers in NSW public schools earn daily rates set by the department, not the award.
Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of salary.
The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) is a backstop for award-free workers, but teachers are almost always covered by an award or agreement that sets a higher rate.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.