NSW Deputy Principal Salary 2026: $179,255 From October

On this page (6 sections)

Deputy Principal pay in NSW
The same rate in every school type
Teaching load and release
Take-home pay
Moving on to principal
FAQs

The short answer

A Deputy Principal in a NSW public school is paid $179,255 a year from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026. The rate is the same in high, primary and central schools. After income tax and Medicare, a Deputy Principal takes home about $128,276 a year, or $4,934 a fortnight.

Deputy Principals sit between the Head Teacher or Assistant Principal level and the principal. The award (Schedule 3) has a single Deputy Principal rate, pegged to Teaching Principal 2 and the legacy PP5 principal rate.

Deputy Principal pay in New South Wales

	Annual salary	Take-home / year	Take-home / fortnight
Deputy Principal, high, primary or central school (Schedule 3)	$179,255	$128,276	$4,934

Deputy Principals in all school types are paid $179,255 from 9 Oct 2026, the same rate as Teaching Principal 2. Effective 9 October 2026.

The same rate in every school type

NSW pays Deputy Principals in high schools, primary schools and the secondary or primary parts of central schools the same $179,255. School size changes the workload, not the pay. That differs from principals, whose classification depends on the school's funding allocation.

Teaching load and release

High school Deputy Principals teach up to 14 periods a week, against 22 for Head Teachers and 28 for classroom teachers.
Deputy Principals take up to 3 relief periods a term.
In 2026 the Department funds an extra 0.375 FTE of curriculum reform release for each primary Deputy Principal.

Take-home pay

Worked example

Deputy Principal, $179,255

Income tax: $47,394
Medicare levy: $3,585
PAYG withheld per fortnight: about $1,962

Take-home $128,276 a year / $4,934 a fortnight

Marginal rate 39%. Employer super is $21,511, which with salary sacrifice leaves about $11,000 of room under the $32,500 concessional cap. 2026-27 rates, no HELP debt.

Coming from Head Teacher or Assistant Principal ($153,531), the move is worth $25,724 gross and about $15,692 after tax. From Step 7 it is $45,833 gross and $28,069 after tax.

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Moving on to principal

The smallest step up is to Principal P1 at $184,175, just $4,920 more. Larger schools pay up to $236,318 at P5. Teaching Principal 2, at $179,255, pays the same as a Deputy. See NSW principal salary and how to become a principal.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Deputy Principal earn in NSW?

$179,255 a year in NSW public schools from 9 October 2026, or about $4,934 a fortnight after tax.

Do primary and high school Deputy Principals earn the same in NSW?

Yes. The award has one Deputy Principal rate of $179,255 for high, primary and central schools.

How many classes does a NSW Deputy Principal teach?

In high schools, up to 14 periods a week plus up to 3 relief periods a term.

How much more does a Deputy Principal earn than a Head Teacher in NSW?

$25,724 a year before tax, or about $15,692 after tax.

What is the difference between Deputy Principal and Principal pay in NSW?

A P1 Principal earns $184,175, $4,920 more than a Deputy. P5 principals earn $236,318.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

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