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NSW vs QLD teacher pay: which state pays more in 2026?

NSW vs QLD teacher salaries compared step by step: graduate $92,882 vs $90,164, top of scale, take-home, super, leave and incentives.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 6 min read

NSW graduate

$92,882

QLD graduate

$90,164

NSW top

$133,422

QLD top

$119,357

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Side by side
  2. At every career stage
  3. What's different about NSW
  4. What's different about QLD
  5. Incentives and leave
  6. FAQs

The short answer

A graduate teacher earns $92,882 in NSW and $90,164 in QLD, so NSW pays $2,718 more to start. At the top of the classroom scale it's $133,422 vs $119,357 (NSW ahead by $14,065, about $368 a fortnight after tax). Rates are those in force on 16 October 2026.

NSW vs QLD at a glance

New South WalesQueensland
Graduate salary$92,882$90,164
Top of classroom scale$133,422$119,357
Highest classroom step$141,997$147,050
Years from graduate to topabout 6about 7
Casual / relief day rate$480.43$515.75
Employer super12%12.75%
Employer paid parental leave14 weekssee state page
Long service leave8.8 weeks after 10 yrs13 weeks after 10 yrs
RegistrationNESA: $100 per calendar yearQCT: About $100.70 a year (unverified; fees were indexed 3.4% from 1 Oct 2025)
Rates in force from9 October 20261 September 2026
Next pay columnnone schedulednone scheduled
Highest principal salary$253,369$242,573

Government school classroom teachers. Leadership, Catholic and independent school pay differ; see each state's role pages.

Pay and take-home at every career stage

Steps don't line up exactly between states, so we compare like-for-like career stages: the usual graduate entry step, about five years in, the top of the incremental classroom scale, and the highest classroom step (reached through HALT, Senior Teacher or a similar classification).

Career stageNSW salaryQLD salaryGapGap after tax / fortnight
Graduate (first year) (Step 1 vs B0201/B2201)$92,882$90,164+$2,718 NSW$71
About 5 years in (Step 6 vs B0302/B2302)$124,696$111,478+$13,218 NSW$346
Top of classroom scale (Step 7 vs B0304/B2304)$133,422$119,357+$14,065 NSW$368
Highest classroom step (HALT / senior) (HA/Lead vs A0601/A2601)$141,997$147,050−$5,053 QLD$119

After-tax figures use 2026–27 resident tax rates, Medicare levy, no HECS-HELP and no salary sacrifice.

What's different about teaching in New South Wales

NSW pays one of the highest graduate salaries in Australia ($92,882 from 9 Oct 2026) and reaches the top of the classroom scale ($133,422) in about 6 years, with HA/Lead teachers on $141,997. Pay is tied to NESA accreditation, and the country package is the deepest in the nation: a $20,000-$30,000 a year Rural Teacher Incentive, up to 90% rent subsidy and fee-paying teach.Rural scholarships. The catch is that no rise is scheduled after October 2026, with the award expiring in October 2027.

8 pay points: Steps 1-2 (Graduate), Steps 3-7 (Proficient), then Highly Accomplished/Lead. You move up one step after each year of service (203 days full-time) with a satisfactory Performance and Development process. Step 2 to Step 3 also needs confirmed Proficient accreditation from NESA. Step 7 to HA/Lead needs HA or Lead accreditation plus at least a year at Step 7. Pay depends on keeping your accreditation. A full-time graduate who reaches Proficient on time gets to Step 7 in about 6 years.

Full details: NSW pay scale, NSW salary after tax and NSW pay rise tracker.

What's different about teaching in Queensland

Queensland is in QIRC arbitration, so classroom teachers are paid the higher of the 3% interim agreement rate and the 4.75% award rate from September 2026: $90,164 for a graduate and $119,357 at the top of the scale. Super is reported at 12.75% into Australian Retirement Trust, long service leave is usable after just 7 years, and remote schools rated TR4-7 add RoRRS, locality allowance and travel on top.

A four-year-trained graduate starts at Band 2 Step 1 and moves up one step a year with satisfactory service through Band 2 Steps 1-4 and Band 3 Steps 1-4. Senior Teacher needs one year at Band 3 Step 4 (or two years at Band 3 Step 1 if three-year trained), an Annual Performance Review and a Senior Teacher Undertaking and Action Plan. Experienced Senior Teacher 1 follows two years as a Senior Teacher (opt-in), and EST2 three years after that. Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher are separate classifications for teachers with national HALT certification.

Full details: QLD pay scale, QLD salary after tax and QLD pay rise tracker.

Country incentives, leave and the things salary tables miss

Headline salary is only part of the deal. Country and remote postings can add thousands a year, and leave rules change what a career is worth.

NSWQLD
Rural / recruitment incentives listed12 (see NSW)8 (see QLD)
Biggest incentiveRecruitment bonusTurn to Teaching Internship Program
Parental leaveUp to 14 weeks paid parental leave for eligible birth and non-birth parents after 40 weeks' continuous service, plus 2 bonus weeks when leavPaid maternity, paternity, surrogacy and adoption leave are available; the number of paid weeks was not verified. CA2022 extended eligibilit
WorkloadPrimary teachers teach up to 21h45m face-to-face a week (excluding RFF). High school teachers teach up to 28 x 40-minute periods a week plusCA2022 includes extra admin time for teaching principals, 3 hours of student-free-day time at teachers' discretion, an encouragement-to-disc

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Frequently asked questions

Do teachers get paid more in NSW or QLD?
NSW pays more at the top of the classroom scale: $133,422 against $119,357. For graduates, NSW is ahead by $2,718 a year. Pay changes when either state's agreement moves, so check the dates on each state page.
How much more would I take home in NSW?
At the top of the classroom scale the gap is $9,564 a year after tax and Medicare, or about $368 a fortnight, using 2026–27 tax rates and no HECS. For a graduate the after-tax gap is $1,848 a year.
Is super better for teachers in NSW or QLD?
NSW pays 12% employer super and QLD pays 12.75%. At the top step that's $16,011 a year in NSW and $15,218 in QLD. Default funds: Aware Super (NSW) and Australian Retirement Trust (QSuper product) by default; choice of fund available (QLD).
Can I move from NSW to QLD and keep my experience?
Usually your teaching experience counts toward the step you're placed on, but the new employer assesses it, so ask for your service to be recognised when you're offered a job. You'll also need registration with Queensland College of Teachers under mutual recognition, which is normally straightforward if you're registered in NSW. Long service leave recognition between states varies, so check before you resign.
Which state pays casual relief teachers more, NSW or QLD?
The standard casual day rate is $480.43 in NSW and $515.75 in QLD (rates from 9 October 2026 and 1 September 2026). Higher tiers can apply with experience or accreditation; see each state's casual page.
When is the next teacher pay rise in NSW and QLD?
NSW: Final 3% rise paid from Oct 2026; award expires 8 Oct 2027 with no further rise scheduled. QLD: In QIRC arbitration: 3% interim rise from 7 Sep 2026 (or the higher 4.75% award rate from 1 Sep 2026); final decision expected late 2026 or 2027

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.

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