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

QLD vs WA teacher salaries compared step by step: graduate $90,164 vs $88,178, top of scale, take-home, super, leave and incentives.

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

QLD graduate

$90,164

WA graduate

$88,178

QLD top

$119,357

WA top

$127,737

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

The short answer

A graduate teacher earns $90,164 in QLD and $88,178 in WA, so QLD pays $1,986 more to start. At the top of the classroom scale it's $119,357 vs $127,737 (WA ahead by $8,380, about $219 a fortnight after tax). Rates are those in force on 16 October 2026.

QLD vs WA at a glance

QueenslandWestern Australia
Graduate salary$90,164$88,178
Top of classroom scale$119,357$127,737
Highest classroom step$147,050$147,077
Years from graduate to topabout 7about 8
Casual / relief day rate$515.75$400.29
Employer super12.75%12%
Employer paid parental leavesee state page14 weeks
Long service leave13 weeks after 10 yrs13 weeks after 10 yrs
RegistrationQCT: About $100.70 a year (unverified; fees were indexed 3.4% from 1 Oct 2025)TRBWA: Annual fee $95 (1 Apr to 31 Mar; $47 if first registered between 1 Oct and 31 Mar). Application $140 (Provisional) or $178 (Full) for an Australian or NZ qualification. Renewal $56. Late fee $59 if paid in April.
Rates in force from1 September 20266 December 2025
Next pay columnnone schedulednone scheduled
Highest principal salary$242,573$206,662

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 stageQLD salaryWA salaryGapGap after tax / fortnight
Graduate (first year) (B0201/B2201 vs 2.1)$90,164$88,178+$1,986 QLD$52
About 5 years in (B0302/B2302 vs 2.6)$111,478$114,820−$3,342 WA$87
Top of classroom scale (B0304/B2304 vs 2.9)$119,357$127,737−$8,380 WA$219
Highest classroom step (HALT / senior) (A0601/A2601 vs 3.3)$147,050$147,077−$27 WA$1

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

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.

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.

QLDWA
Rural / recruitment incentives listed8 (see QLD)11 (see WA)
Biggest incentiveTurn to Teaching Internship ProgramRemote Teaching Service (RTS) allowance – R1
Parental leavePaid maternity, paternity, surrogacy and adoption leave are available; the number of paid weeks was not verified. CA2022 extended eligibilit52 weeks' parental leave, 14 weeks paid, after 12 months' continuous public sector service. Paid leave can be taken at half pay over double
WorkloadCA2022 includes extra admin time for teaching principals, 3 hours of student-free-day time at teachers' discretion, an encouragement-to-discMaximum face-to-face teaching is 21h20m a week for secondary, primary, pre-primary and kindergarten (Award cl 13). DOTT time is 320 minutes

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Frequently asked questions

Do teachers get paid more in QLD or WA?
WA pays more at the top of the classroom scale: $127,737 against $119,357. For graduates, QLD is ahead by $1,986 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 WA?
At the top of the classroom scale the gap is $5,698 a year after tax and Medicare, or about $219 a fortnight, using 2026–27 tax rates and no HECS. For a graduate the after-tax gap is $1,350 a year.
Is super better for teachers in QLD or WA?
QLD pays 12.75% employer super and WA pays 12%. At the top step that's $15,218 a year in QLD and $15,328 in WA. Default funds: Australian Retirement Trust (QSuper product) by default; choice of fund available (QLD) and GESB Super (WA public sector default; choice of fund allowed). West State Super and Gold State Super are closed legacy schemes. (WA).
Can I move from QLD to WA 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 Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia under mutual recognition, which is normally straightforward if you're registered in QLD. Long service leave recognition between states varies, so check before you resign.
Which state pays casual relief teachers more, QLD or WA?
The standard casual day rate is $515.75 in QLD and $400.29 in WA (rates from 1 September 2026 and 6 December 2025). Higher tiers can apply with experience or accreditation; see each state's casual page.
When is the next teacher pay rise in QLD and WA?
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 WA: 2023 GA expires 5 Dec 2026; last rise 3% (Dec 2025); successor agreement being bargained, no offer yet

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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