On this page (6 sections)
The short answer
A graduate teacher earns $92,882 in NSW and $88,178 in WA, so NSW pays $4,704 more to start. At the top of the classroom scale it's $133,422 vs $127,737 (NSW ahead by $5,685, about $149 a fortnight after tax). Rates are those in force on 16 October 2026.
NSW vs WA at a glance
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).
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 Western Australia
WA's 2023 General Agreement pays $88,178 at Level 2.1 rising to $127,737 at 2.9, plus a $2,000 graduate allowance for two years, but no rise is scheduled after December 2025 and the agreement expires on 5 December 2026. Its country deal is among the richest in Australia: $5,000-$13,730 under the Country Teaching Program, $15,370-$20,870 in Remote Teaching Service schools and up to $7,000 more in 2026. Teachers also get 14 weeks' paid parental leave and long service leave from 7 years pro rata.
Qualified teachers start at Level 2.1 (DoE). You move up one increment a year on your anniversary date, subject to satisfactory service, from 2.1 to 2.9 (Award cl 26), so the top of the automatic scale takes eight years. Senior Teacher 1 is by application: full TRBWA registration, 12 months at 2.9, relevant professional learning in the last five years (one pathway is 40 hours aligned to the APST) and one extra duty such as mentoring or curriculum work. Senior Teacher 2 needs 12 months at ST1 and two extra duties. Level 3 Classroom Teacher is reached through a portfolio of five competencies plus a second stage; competencies can be banked for up to three years, and 3.1 moves to 3.2 automatically after 12 months. Level 3.3 is paid only in the trial schools. Relief teachers move up a step after every 200 days worked (Award cl 10(4)).
Full details: WA pay scale, WA salary after tax and WA 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.
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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.