On this page (5 sections)
The short answer
Casual relief teachers in Australia earn about $288 to $794 a day in government schools in 2026, depending on the state and your experience or accreditation. Day rates include a loading instead of paid leave, so you're not paid in school holidays.
Relief teaching goes by different names around the country: casual relief teacher (CRT) in Victoria, supply teacher in Queensland, casual teacher in NSW and relief teacher in WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT. The pay rules differ too: some states set a flat daily rate, some pay by accreditation level, and some pay relief teachers an hourly rate at their classroom step plus a loading.
Relief teacher day rates in every state
Government schools. 'Calculated' means the state publishes an hourly rate or formula and we've worked out a day figure from it; check the state page for the assumption used. Catholic and independent schools set their own casual rates.
What a year of relief work really pays
Relief work is paid only for days worked, so annual income depends on how many days you get. Most CRTs don't work every school day, and there are about 40 school weeks a year.
NSW casual teacher, 4 days a week for 40 weeks
- Day rate (Casual teacher, CT1 (entry))
- $480.43
- 4 days × 40 weeks
- $76,869
- Income tax and Medicare (2026–27)
- −$15,118
- Employer super at 12% (on top)
- $9,224
PAYG withheld on a 4-day week is about $433. No pay over the 12 or so weeks of school holidays.
Free calculator
Work out your own relief income
Choose your state, rate and days per week. See weekly, term and yearly pay, tax withheld vs owed, and super.
Open the calculatorTax, super and why there's no holiday pay
A casual day rate already includes a loading (commonly 20–25%, or 5% in NSW where rates are built differently) that stands in for the paid leave a permanent teacher gets. That's why relief pay looks high per day but much lower per year. Super is paid on top at the same rate as permanent staff.
Relief vs a permanent salary
Relief work suits people who want flexibility, are new to an area, or are returning to teaching. Over a full year, though, a permanent or full-time temporary position usually pays more, because it pays through the holidays and includes paid sick leave, long service leave and progression up the scale. Use the part-time calculator to compare relief days with a fractional permanent job.
Frequently asked questions
How much do relief teachers get paid per day?
Do casual teachers get paid in the school holidays?
Do relief teachers get super?
Why is so much tax taken from my relief pay?
Can I claim the tax-free threshold as a relief teacher?
Do relief teachers progress up the pay scale?
How do I get relief teaching work?
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.
Keep reading
CRT tax
Relief teacher tax: how CRTs avoid a tax bill and claim what they can
How casual relief teachers are taxed, the multiple-employer trap, and what CRTs can claim.
Casual relief
How to get casual relief teaching work: registration, booking systems and getting called back
The checklist to start relief teaching, how schools book CRTs in each state, the 2026 day rates and how to turn casual days into regular work.
Pay basics
Do teachers get paid during the school holidays?
Why permanent and part-time teachers are paid through the school holidays, how each state treats annual leave, and what casual teachers get instead.