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

WA vs ACT at a glance

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).

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.

What's different about teaching in Australian Capital Territory

The ACT pays well at the start ($91,396 at TL1) and has some of the best super of any public system: 12.5%, or 13.5% if you contribute 3% (only Queensland's 12.75% beats the base rate). It also gives new teachers a lighter load for three years and 24 weeks of paid birth leave. The catch in 2026 is that pay has been frozen since 4 December 2025 while teachers and the government fight over a new deal, and there is almost no rural incentive system because there is barely any rural ACT.

All classroom teachers share one increment date, 27 January, and move up one Teacher Level a year from TL1 to TL8, subject to the Teacher Performance and Development Guidelines. Your starting level recognises qualifications and prior teaching and other work experience in full years. Leave without pay can push your increment date back. TL1-TL3 are New Educator levels with a reduced face-to-face load; TL4-TL8 are Experienced Teacher levels. HALT certification earns an extra increment, or a $7,495 a year HALT payment if you are already at TL8 or SLC2.

Full details: ACT pay scale, ACT salary after tax and ACT 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.