NSW Casual Teacher Pay 2026: $480.43 a Day and Rates

On this page (6 sections)

Casual teacher pay in NSW
CT1, CT2 and CT3: which rate you get
What a casual day means
Tax and super on casual pay
How to get casual work in NSW public schools
FAQs

The short answer

From 9 October 2026, NSW public school casual teachers are paid $480.43 a day at CT1, $538.73 at CT2 and $599.85 at CT3. The level depends on your accreditation and full-time-equivalent service. Rates include a 5% loading instead of paid sick and other leave, and you are only paid for days you work.

NSW calls relief teachers casual teachers. They are paid a daily rate set by the award (Schedule 4), which rose 3% from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026. Temporary teachers, by contrast, are paid a pro-rata salary on the normal scale.

Casual teacher pay in New South Wales

Rate	Per day	Per 5-day week
CT1 (entry)	$480.43	$2,402
CT2 (2+ FTE years with relevant accreditation)	$538.73	$2,694
CT3 (a further 2 FTE years, accreditation maintained)	$599.85	$2,999
Casual relieving TP1/AP1 (after 10 days)	$794.12	$3,971

A day is 6.5 continuous hours including a 30-minute break. Minimum engagement is 2 hours. A casual called in and then not needed gets half a day's pay. Rates include a 5% loading in lieu of sick leave, family and community service leave, special leave and leave loading. The government award has no separate half-day rate; part days are paid pro rata. Casuals get long service leave under the Long Service Leave Act 1955. Effective 9 October 2026.

CT1, CT2 and CT3: which rate you get

CT1, $480.43 a day: the entry rate.
CT2, $538.73 a day: after at least 2 full-time-equivalent years of service plus the relevant accreditation.
CT3, $599.85 a day: after a further 2 FTE years with accreditation maintained (award cl 23.7-23.8).
Casual relieving TP1/AP1, $794.12 a day: if you relieve as a Teaching Principal 1 or Assistant Principal, after 10 days.

Service counts in FTE years, so casual days add up more slowly than a full-time year. Keep records of your days across schools; it helps when you ask for your CT level to be reviewed.

What a casual day means

A day is 6.5 continuous hours, including a 30-minute break.
The minimum engagement is 2 hours.
If you are called in and then not needed, you get half a day's pay.
The government award has no separate half-day rate: part days are paid pro rata. Dividing CT1 by 6.5 hours gives about $73.91, but the Department's exact method for part days is not set out in the award.

Tax and super on casual pay

Tax is withheld from each pay as if that pay continued all year, so a fortnight with many days can have more withheld than your final bill, and a quiet fortnight less. It evens out in your tax return. Claim the tax-free threshold with one employer only. The 12% Superannuation Guarantee is paid on your casual earnings.

Worked example

CT1 casual working 150 days in a year

Gross pay (150 x $480.43): $72,065
Income tax and Medicare: $13,581
Super on top (12%): about $8,648

Take-home $58,484 a year

Illustration only; days vary widely. At CT2 for 180 days ($96,971) take-home is about $75,420. With a HELP debt the CT1 example falls to $58,104. 2026-27 rates. See casual relief teacher tax.

Free calculator

Casual pay calculator

Enter your CT level and days worked to see gross and take-home pay for a week, term or year.

Open the calculator

How to get casual work in NSW public schools

1

Get accredited with NESA

You need teacher accreditation and to pay the $100 annual fee. See NSW teacher registration.
2

Get a Working With Children Check

It costs $112 for paid workers from 1 July 2026 and lasts 5 years.
3

Complete the Department's approval process

Apply through the NSW Department of Education to be approved to teach in its schools.
4

Contact schools directly

Schools book their own casuals. Introduce yourself to local principals and front offices.

More tips in how to get casual teaching work. Compare NSW rates with other states on our casual relief teacher pay in Australia page.

Frequently asked questions

How much do casual teachers get paid in NSW?

$480.43 a day at CT1, $538.73 at CT2 and $599.85 at CT3 in NSW public schools from 9 October 2026.

Do NSW casual teachers get paid for half days?

There is no separate half-day rate in the government award. Part days are paid pro rata, with a 2-hour minimum, and a casual who is called in then not needed gets half a day's pay. Catholic systemic schools do publish half-day rates (CT1 $240.21).

Do casual teachers get paid in school holidays in NSW?

No. Casuals are only paid for days worked. The 5% loading in the daily rate is in lieu of sick leave, other paid leave and leave loading.

How do I move from CT1 to CT2?

You need at least 2 full-time-equivalent years of service plus the relevant accreditation. CT3 needs a further 2 FTE years with accreditation maintained.

Do NSW casual teachers get super?

Yes. The 12% Superannuation Guarantee is paid on your casual earnings.

Do casual teachers get long service leave in NSW?

Yes, under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 rather than the extended leave rules for permanent teachers. See NSW long service leave.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

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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.