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ACT · Executive Teacher

Executive Teacher (head of department) salary in the ACT

ACT Executive Teachers (School Leader C) earn $145,938 to $149,107 from 4 Dec 2025, about $108,000 after tax. The ACT's head teacher role, loads and pay jump.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 3 min read

From

$145,938

Up to

$149,107

Take-home / fortnight

$4,152

Effective

December 2025

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Executive Teacher pay in ACT
  2. What the promotion is worth
  3. How SLC1 and SLC2 work
  4. Acting as an Executive Teacher
  5. How to win an Executive Teacher job
  6. FAQs

The short answer

The ACT's head teacher or head of department role is the Executive Teacher, classified School Leader C. It pays $145,938 at SLC1 and $149,107 at SLC2 from 4 December 2025. That is $16,832 more than the top of the classroom scale, or about $10,680 a year more in take-home pay.

If you are searching for “head teacher salary ACT”, the job title you want is Executive Teacher. Executive Teachers lead a faculty, year group or program, supervise staff and still teach a significant load. It is the first promotion step in ACT public schools.

Executive Teacher pay in Australian Capital Territory

ClassificationAnnual salaryTake-home / fortnight
SLC1$145,938$4,152
SLC2$149,107$4,226

The ACT's middle-leader role (the equivalent of a head teacher or head of department) is the Executive Teacher, School Leader C: $145,938 (SLC1) to $149,107 (SLC2) from 4 Dec 2025. Effective 4 December 2025.

What the promotion is worth

PositionAnnualTake-home (2026-27)Teaching load
TL8 (top classroom)$129,106$97,27221 hrs primary / 19 hrs secondary
SLC1 Executive Teacher$145,938$107,95216 hrs primary / 12 hrs secondary
SLC2 Executive Teacher$149,107$109,88516 hrs primary / 12 hrs secondary

Pay from 4 Dec 2025. Take-home is before HELP and salary sacrifice.

Moving from TL8 to SLC1 adds $16,832 gross. Because part of it falls in the 37% bracket, about $10,680 reaches your bank account. You also give up about 5 to 7 face-to-face hours a week, which goes to leadership work.

How SLC1 and SLC2 work

School Leader C has two points. You start at SLC1 and progress to SLC2. A certified HALT at SLC2 also gets the $7,495 HALT payment, for a total of $156,602. Under the government's rejected 2026 offer, some school leaders were to get more than the headline 9%; details were not published.

Acting as an Executive Teacher

If you relieve in an Executive Teacher role, you can claim Higher Duties Allowance (EA clause Y4): the difference between your salary and the higher classification for the time you act. Acting is also how most ACT teachers build the evidence to win the permanent role.

How to win an Executive Teacher job

  1. 1

    Get leadership experience

    Lead a project, coordinate a program or take a higher duties placement.

  2. 2

    Watch ACT Government Jobs

    Executive Teacher positions are advertised by school and filled by merit selection.

  3. 3

    Address the criteria

    ACT applications usually ask for a pitch or statement against the capabilities. Be specific about impact.

  4. 4

    Prepare for the panel

    Expect questions on leading staff, data use and managing conflict.

Free calculator

What would promotion pay you?

Compare take-home at your level against SLC1 or SLB1.

Open the calculator

Frequently asked questions

How much does a head teacher earn in the ACT?
The ACT equivalent, an Executive Teacher (School Leader C), earns $145,938 at SLC1 and $149,107 at SLC2 from 4 December 2025.
What is School Leader C in ACT schools?
School Leader C is the classification for Executive Teachers, the middle leaders who head faculties, year groups or programs. It is the first promotion level above the classroom scale.
How much do Executive Teachers teach in the ACT?
Up to 16 face-to-face hours a week in primary schools and 12 in secondary, compared with 21 and 19 for classroom teachers.
How much more does an Executive Teacher take home than a TL8?
About $10,680 a year more at SLC1 in 2026-27: $107,952 against $97,272, before any HELP or salary sacrifice.
Can an Executive Teacher get the HALT payment?
Yes, a certified HALT at SLC2 receives the $7,495 HALT payment, taking pay to $156,602.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) EA 2023-2026, [2023] FWCA 2456 (AEU ACT copy)
  2. 2.AEU ACT: 2025/6 Teaching Staff Bargaining
  3. 3.Region Canberra: Term 4 strikes possible as teachers reject offer (14 Sep 2026)
  4. 4.ABC News: Canberra public school staff take more industrial action (24 Sep 2026)
  5. 5.ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1), DI2026-1
  6. 6.Your Agreement Explained: NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools EA 2025
  7. 7.IEU: Catholic systemic EAs 2025

About this page

Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.