A guide to primary school teacher salaries in Australia
By Zoya Patel
Are you thinking of pursuing a career as a primary school teacher, and wondering what that might look like in terms of your salary and conditions? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know.
How much do primary teachers get paid in Australia?
If you love working with children, and have a passion for developing our next generation, you might be considering a career in primary school education – and wondering how much you could get paid!
Primary school teachers are paid according to the Teaching Award in each state or territory, which sets the salaries at experience level. Overall, this means that primary school teachers can earn between $79,000 to over $130,000 depending on their years in the role.
Let’s break this down more, to help you understand what a career as a primary school teacher can look like financially.
Salary progression: from graduate to lead teacher
Salary progression for primary school teachers follows a clear annual scale that rewards experience and professional growth.
While the exact titles and pay steps differ slightly between states and territories, the progression works in much the same way everywhere.
Step 1: Graduate Teacher
You’ll start here once you’ve completed your teaching qualification and registered to teach.
This is your entry-level classification as a new teacher.
Step 2: Experienced / Proficient Teacher
After gaining classroom experience (usually one to two years), you’ll move up the scale automatically each year.
Your pay increases with every year of teaching until you reach the top of the classroom teacher range.
Step 3: Highly Accomplished Teacher
Once you’ve built experience and demonstrated advanced skills, you can apply for higher accreditation through your state or territory’s teacher registration body.
This step recognises leadership, mentoring and curriculum expertise.
Step 4: Lead Teacher
This is the highest teaching classification, recognising educators who take on school-wide leadership and professional development responsibilities.
How to increase your salary over time
As you gain experience as a teacher, you will automatically move up the steps in the award for your state or territory. But there are also other things you can do to keep growing your salary over time. Taking on additional responsibilities, such as year level coordinator, department head, or other leadership roles can change the classification you’re paid under.
And you might want to consider whether you work for a public or private school.
The main difference between public and private school teacher salaries is that private schools can offer more than the award wage, including through bonuses and other incentives, whereas public schools pay according to the award and are generally non-negotiable.
Remember, private schools can also have additional responsibilities for teachers than in public school, including work outside of standard school hours, and duties relating to the broader culture of the school.
A state-by-state salary breakdown for primary teachers
Let’s break this down further and take a look at the rates of pay for each category in every state/territory.
State or territory | Classroom teacher salary | Lead teacher salary | Principal or deputy principal salary | Casual rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales | $90,177 – $127,281 | $149,059 | $174,034 – $229,435 | $452.85 – $582.38/day |
Australian Capital Territory | $92,186 – $126,838 | $142,082 | $164,592 – $215,432 | $329 - $558/day |
Victoria | $79,589 – $118,063 | $123,966 – $129,544 | $136,022 – $238,676 | $425.80/day |
South Australia | $82,496 – $119,647 | $137,248 | $129,841 – $216,004 | $395.35 – $573.39/day |
Tasmania | $82,828 – $118,328 | $125,464 | $138,909 – $205,111 | $38.77 – $48.79/hour |
Western Australia | $85,610 – $128,697 | $134,165 | $150,934 – $163,356 | $82.17 – $87.86/hour |
Northern Territory | $92,215 – $131,349 | $139,296 – $188,789 | $141,005 – $205,531 | $441.93 – $484.15/day |
Queensland | $84,078 – $111,610 | $141,088 – $143,582 | $157,034 – $235,508 | $96.50/hour |
Sources: NSW Department of Education, ACT Department of Education, Victorian Department of Education, SA Department of Education, Tasmanian Department of Education, WA Department of Education, NT Department of Education, Queensland Department of Education.
Full-time, part-time and casual pay rates explained
Primary school teachers can work on a full-time, part-time or casual basis. The wages for all three types of work are set by the award in each state or territory, and can differ in private schools where salaries can be higher and different incentives might apply.
Full time teachers:
Get paid according to the award in their state or territory.
Work standard full-time hours, taking care of one class for the full school week.
Receive full leave and superannuation entitlements.
This suits you if: you’re looking for job stability, a consistent salary, and the opportunity to build strong connections with one class throughout the year.
Part time teachers:
Are paid at a ‘pro rata’ rate, based on the percentage of full-time hours worked.
May job-share with another teacher or focus on subject areas such as art or physical education.
Work set days or reduced hours each week.
This suits you if: you need flexibility to balance teaching with other commitments, such as parenting, study or caring responsibilities, but still want set teaching days.
Casual teachers:
Are paid a daily or hourly rate, depending on the state or territory award.
Don’t usually receive leave entitlements but earn a higher rate to compensate.
Step in for regular teachers and deliver pre-set lessons to different classes.
This suits you if: you value flexibility and variety and want to choose when and where you work.
Is a primary teaching salary worth the workload?
Emma Wilson is a primary school teacher working in NSW. She shares her view on whether the primary teaching salary is worth the workload.
As a new graduate, the salary is quite good considering the holidays you receive. You also get an increase with each additional year of experience, though this does hit a limit once you progress all the way up the scale.
By this, Emma means that once you reach the top of the pay scale, your salary won’t increase unless you take on a different position within the school.
Emma is the anti-racism officer at her school, which is another way she contributes to her school community. These types of roles can really add to the rewarding aspect of teaching as a career, though they don’t always come with additional pay.
It can be a rewarding and fulfilling career with lots of highs, holidays and great laughs over the things kids say and do. As for the financial aspect, it is good pay but weighed up against the cost, that’s for each individual to decide.
How to become a primary school teacher in Australia
To teach in an Australian primary school, you’ll need a recognised teaching qualification – either a Bachelor of Education (Primary Education) or a Master of Teaching (Primary Education).
The best part? There’s more than one way to get there. Whether you’re starting fresh, continuing your studies, or changing careers, there’s an option that fits your life. Here are your choices:
1. Start without an ATAR
Choose this option if: You didn’t finish Year 12 or get the ATAR needed for teaching.
Time commitment: 4 years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
Begin with an Undergraduate Certificate in Teaching Education Studies, which has no entry requirements.
Move into a Bachelor of Education (Primary Education) with full credit from your certificate.
Complete your required professional placement hours in a school environment.
Complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students (LANTITE).
Once you graduate, register with your state or territory’s teacher registration body.
2. Take the direct route
Choose this option if: You received an ATAR of 70+ or hold a TAFE qualification.
Time commitment: 4 years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
Apply directly for a Bachelor of Education (Primary Education).
Complete your required school placements.
Complete the LANTITE.
Once you graduate, register with your state or territory’s teacher registration body.
3. Take the fast route
Choose this option if: You already have a bachelor degree in another area, but you want to change careers and become a teacher.
Time commitment: 2 years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
Apply for a Master of Teaching (Primary Education).
Complete your required school placements.
Complete the LANTITE.
Once you graduate, register with your state or territory’s teacher registration body.
Every great teacher starts somewhere. Follow this advice, and your first step could be today.
The salary information in this guide is current as of November 2025.
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Build a rewarding future inspiring the next generation.
FAQs about primary school teacher salaries
Do primary school teachers earn more in public or private schools?
Primary school teachers can earn more in private schools, as they can offer higher salaries and additional benefits on top of the Teaching Award wage that is set for government schools. It does depend on the individual school, however, and is often linked to other expectations for teachers in private schools outside of standard teaching hours.
What is the starting salary for a graduate primary teacher?
The starting salary for a graduate primary teacher differs in each state and territory but is between $79,589 and $92,215. This increases each year based on experience.
How does a primary teacher’s salary increase over time?
Primary teachers' wages increase annually via an increment scale that is set in each state or territory. Once you reach the top increment, your salary stabilises. You can still increase your salary by stepping into leadership roles in the school, such as head teacher, year level advisor roles, or as principal/deputy principal.
What’s easier, primary school or high school teaching?
There is a big difference between teaching in primary school versus high schools, though neither is necessarily ‘easier’ than the other. In primary school, you will be working more closely with one classroom of students, and your professional knowledge will include childhood development. In many ways, primary school teachers are more ‘generalists’ in education.
In contrast, in high school teachers may specialise in more than one subject, and be required to undertake more coordination level roles. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re most interested in as an educator, and the experience you want to get in your career.
