On this page (7 sections)
The short answer
An Assistant Principal in a NSW public primary or central school is paid $153,531 a year from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026, the same rate as a Head Teacher. That is $20,109 more than Step 7. After tax and Medicare an Assistant Principal takes home about $112,584 a year.
In NSW primary schools the Assistant Principal is the first executive role, leading a stage team or program while still teaching. The award sets one rate for Assistant Principals in primary and central schools under Schedule 3, pegged to Head Teachers and Teaching Principal 1.
Assistant Principal pay in New South Wales
Primary and central school Assistant Principals are paid $153,531 from 9 Oct 2026. The award has no separate line for Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction; it is presumed to be paid at this rate. Effective 9 October 2026.
One rate, three similar roles
- Assistant Principal (primary or central school): $153,531, Schedule 3.
- Head Teacher (high or central school): $153,531, the secondary equivalent.
- Teaching Principal 1: $153,531, for principals of the smallest schools who also teach.
What Assistant Principals take home
Assistant Principal, $153,531
- Income tax
- $37,876
- Medicare levy
- $3,071
- PAYG withheld per fortnight
- about $1,576
With a HELP debt, add a repayment of about $13,077, leaving $99,507. Employer super is $18,424. 2026-27 rates.
Release time in 2026
For 2026 the Department is centrally funding curriculum reform release of 0.15 FTE for each primary Assistant Principal, on top of normal release from face-to-face teaching. That is roughly three-quarters of a day a week to lead curriculum change. Ask your principal how it is being used at your school.
The next step up
The next rung is Deputy Principal at $179,255, a further $25,724 gross or about $15,692 after tax. In smaller schools the path often runs through a Teaching Principal role instead: TP1 pays the same as an Assistant Principal, and TP2 pays $179,255. See NSW Deputy Principal salary and NSW principal salary.
Free calculator
Compare promotion pay
See what Assistant Principal, Deputy and Principal roles pay after tax against your current step.
Open the calculatorCatholic primary schools
NSW Catholic systemic schools handle primary Assistant Principals differently, through allowances on top of the teacher scale. These range from $32,924 to $49,399 a year depending on enrolment (October 2026). See NSW Catholic school teacher pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Assistant Principal earn in NSW?
Is an Assistant Principal paid more than a Head Teacher in NSW?
What does an APC&I get paid in NSW?
How much more is Assistant Principal than a classroom teacher?
Do NSW Assistant Principals get release time?
Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026
- 1.Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 (IRC Gazette C9868)
- 2.IRC NSW award 264 version history
- 3.Teach.NSW: Salary of a teacher (updated 12 Oct 2026)
- 4.NSW DoE: Teacher subsidies, allowances and bonuses (updated 28 Sep 2026)
- 5.NSW DoE: Awards and determinations
- 6.NSW DoE: Superannuation
- 7.NESA: Teacher accreditation annual fee
- 8.NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025
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.