Teacher Pay Rate Australia 2026-27
Teachers earn at least $38.30/hr (Level 1), $47.88/hr casual — about $1,455 a week full-time — under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. Every classification level, penalty rates below.
Teacher Pay Rate
Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077)
Teachers educate students in primary schools, secondary schools, and early childhood settings. The award covers teachers in the private sector and independent schools.
$38.30
Base rate/hr
$47.88
Casual rate/hr
$38.30
$47.88
$1,455.40
$75,680.80
What Award Covers Teachers?
Teachers in Australia are generally covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077). This Modern Award sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment including pay rates, hours of work, rosters, breaks, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.
Some teachers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must provide conditions that are at least as favourable as the award overall (the Better Off Overall Test).
Teacher Classification Levels & Pay Rates
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Graduate teacher / provisional or conditional accreditation | $38.30 | $47.88 | $1,455.40 | $75,680.80 |
| Level 2 | Teacher with proficient accreditation | $41.86 | $52.33 | $1,590.68 | $82,715.36 |
| Level 3 | Proficient teacher after 3 years at Level 2 | $45.57 | $56.96 | $1,731.66 | $90,046.32 |
| Level 4 | Proficient teacher after 3 years at Level 3 | $49.28 | $61.60 | $1,872.64 | $97,377.28 |
Casual Teacher Pay Rate
Casual teachers receive a 25% casual loading on top of the base hourly rate, increasing the minimum from $38.30/hr to $47.88/hr.
The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid annual leave, personal leave, notice of termination, or redundancy pay. Over a full year, a casual teacher working 38 hours per week would earn $94,610.88 (before tax and penalty rates).
From 1 July 2024, casual employees who have worked regular hours for at least 6 months can request conversion to permanent employment. Check your casual conversion eligibility →
Part-Time Teacher Pay Rate
Part-time teachers receive the same hourly rate as full-time employees ($38.30/hr) but work fewer than 38 hours per week on a regular, agreed pattern. Part-time employees receive all the same entitlements as full-time employees (annual leave, personal leave, notice, redundancy) on a pro-rata basis.
Teacher Penalty Rates
The award sets no weekend or public holiday penalty for most teachers (see note below). Rates shown are for Level 1 permanent employees ($38.30/hr base).
$38.30/hr
$38.30/hr
$38.30/hr
Am I Being Underpaid as a Teacher?
Most teachers in government schools are covered by state awards or state agreements with rates above the national award, not by MA000077. Teachers in private or independent schools should check their award classification.
If you earn less than $38.30/hr as a full-time or part-time teacher, or less than $47.88/hr as a casual, you may be underpaid. You can claim up to 6 years of back pay.
Compare with Similar Roles
| Job Title | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Annual (FT) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | $38.30/hr | $47.88/hr | $75,680.80 | MA000077 |
| Retail Worker | $27.81/hr | $34.76/hr | $54,952.56 | MA000004 |
| Barista | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
| Waiter | $26.44/hr | $33.05/hr | $52,245.44 | MA000009 |
Browse All Job Pay Rates
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a teacher get paid per hour?
The minimum hourly rate for a teacher in Australia is $38.30/hr for full-time/part-time employees and $47.88/hr for casuals (including 25% loading) under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. Actual rates may be higher depending on classification level, experience, and any enterprise agreement that applies.
What is the minimum wage for a teacher?
Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077), the minimum wage for a teacher starts at $38.30/hr (Level 1 adult rate). This equates to $1,455.40/week or $75,680.80/year for a standard 38-hour week. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr.
What award covers teachers?
Teachers in Australia are generally covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077). This award sets out minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and other working conditions. Some teachers may be covered by an enterprise agreement instead, which must meet or exceed the award.
What is the casual rate for a teacher?
A casual teacher receives $47.88/hr, which includes the 25% casual loading on top of the $38.30/hr base rate. The casual loading compensates for not receiving paid leave and other permanent employment benefits.
What are the penalty rates for a teacher?
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award does not set Saturday, Sunday or public holiday penalty rates for school and preschool teachers: the annual salary covers the school year (cl 15.9), and public holidays come from the National Employment Standards. Teachers in early childhood services that open 48 or more weeks a year (Schedule A) get shift rates instead: Saturday 125%, early morning 110%, afternoon 115% and night 117.5% or 130% of the minimum hourly rate (cl A.5.2).
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