CEWA pay scale 2026: Catholic Education WA teacher salaries, allowances and relief rates

The agreement behind CEWA pay

CEWA teachers are covered by the WA Catholic School Teachers Enterprise Agreement 2023, a multi-enterprise agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission on 16 February 2024 ([2024] FWCA 622, agreement AE523557). It operates from 23 February 2024 and reaches nominal expiry on 16 February 2027. The rates below come from CEWA's own salary schedule, labelled 'CEWA Salary Schedules September 2026 v2', which shows the rates in force from 6 December 2025.

The agreement links CEWA pay to the public system. Clause 7.1 says salaries and allowances rise 'at the same time and by the same quantum' as WA Department of Education teachers under their WA Industrial Relations Commission agreement. The December 2025 rise was 3%.

CEWA teacher pay scale from 6 December 2025

Senior Teacher, Exemplary Teacher and promotional allowances

CEWA has no Level 3 Classroom Teacher classification like the public system. Its equivalents are the Senior Teacher and Exemplary Teacher allowances. You can get the Senior Teacher allowance after two full-time-equivalent years on Step 10 if you keep your accreditation (cl 8.5). Exemplary Teacher roles are limited to one per 500 students, last three years and do not move with you to another school.

Secondary promotional allowances depend on enrolment. A Level 1 promotional position at a secondary school with more than 1,000 students adds $17,686 a year, while the same level at a school with fewer than 300 students adds $11,409. If you are choosing between two promotional roles, compare the school size band as well as the level.

CEWA vs WA public school pay

Although rises move together, the two scales are not the same. CEWA's registered entry step and its top step both sit above the WA public school equivalents. The public system has more senior classroom options, though: Senior Teacher steps and Level 3 Classroom Teacher, which pay more than CEWA's Step 10 plus the Senior Teacher allowance. See the full WA public school pay scale.

Take-home pay at CEWA

Relief teaching at CEWA schools

CEWA pays relief teachers a daily rate of $602.71, or $301.36 for a half day, from 6 December 2025. WA public schools work differently: relief teachers are paid by the hour, from $52.67 at Level 2.1 to $76.30 at Level 2.9, and those rates include a 20% loading. A full 7.6-hour day at Level 2.1 in a public school is about $400 on our calculation, so CEWA's flat daily rate is well ahead for a newer relief teacher. Check whether a booking is a full day or a part day before you compare. Our casual relief teacher pay guide compares every state.

Super and salary packaging

The agreement pays the 12% Superannuation Guarantee (cl 10), with no extra employer contribution. CEWA offers salary packaging through Smart Salary or Maxxia, citing its not-for-profit status. You can only use one provider at a time and can switch at the start of each FBT year (1 April). Non-profit Catholic employers are usually FBT-rebatable, which gives a 47% FBT rebate on up to $30,000 of grossed-up benefits a year. CEWA has not published its own cap. WA public teachers cannot package everyday living costs in the same way. See our salary packaging guide.

What happens next

Clause 4.3 requires negotiations for a replacement to start six months before expiry, which puts the start around mid-August 2026. The IEU WA's bargaining page is members-only, so we have not seen any claims, offers or dates. Expect the next public sector teachers' deal to shape the outcome. Follow changes on the teacher pay rise tracker.