On this page (10 sections)
The short answer
NSW public school teachers received a 3% pay rise from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026, the third and last under the 2024 award. Graduates now earn $92,882 and Step 7 teachers $133,422. No further rise is scheduled. The award expires on 8 October 2027, so the next rise depends on a new deal.
NSW teachers have had four pay changes in four years: a restructure in October 2023, then 3% in October 2024, 2025 and 2026. The timeline on this page shows each one. This page explains what the latest rise is worth, when you should see it, and what to watch before the award runs out.
Where NSW teacher pay stands right now
Final 3% rise paid from Oct 2026; award expires 8 Oct 2027 with no further rise scheduled.
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9 October 2026
Final 3% rise under the 2024 award takes effect
From the first full pay period on or after 9 Oct 2026: graduate $92,882, top classroom $133,422, HA/Lead $141,997. Teach.NSW updated its salary page on 12 Oct 2026.
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28 July 2026
Curriculum reform release time for 2026
Centrally funded release for primary Assistant Principals (0.15 FTE) and Deputy Principals (0.375 FTE), plus about 5 hours a term suggested for teachers.
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24 December 2025
NSW/ACT Catholic systemic agreement starts operating
The FWC-approved agreement mirrors NSW government pay to Oct 2026, with back pay to 9 Oct 2024 and nominal expiry 9 Oct 2027.
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28 October 2024
NSW teachers endorse 3-year, 3% a year deal
3% in Oct 2024, 2025 and 2026, a 1-hour cap on regular after-school meetings and extra school development days.
NSW teacher pay rise timeline
Old, current and upcoming rates
Proposed columns apply only once the agreement is approved; calculated columns are our arithmetic from the published percentage.
How we got here
- October 2023: the scale was restructured into 7 steps plus HA/Lead. The graduate rate rose from $75,791 to $85,000 and the top rate from $113,042 to $122,100. It was a restructure, not a flat percentage.
- October 2024: teachers endorsed a three-year deal on 28 October 2024. The IRC made the 2024 award on 26 November 2024, starting from 9 October 2024.
- 9 October 2024, 2025 and 2026: 3% each year on all salaries, casual rates and allowances, from the first full pay period on or after each date.
- Conditions in the deal: regular after-school meetings capped at 1 hour a week and extra school development days.
What the October 2026 rise is worth
Gross increase from 9 October 2026
- Step 1 (graduate)
- $90,177 to $92,882, +$2,705
- Step 3 (Proficient entry)
- $101,122 to $104,156, +$3,034
- Step 7 (top)
- $129,536 to $133,422, +$3,886
- HA/Lead
- $137,861 to $141,997, +$4,136
- Head Teacher / Assistant Principal
- $149,059 to $153,531, +$4,472
Casual daily rates also rose 3%: CT1 from $466.44 to $480.43.
When the rise reaches your pay
The rise starts from the first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026, not on the date itself. If your fortnight started a few days before 9 October, the new rate begins with the next one. Teach.NSW updated its published rates on 12 October 2026. If payroll processes the rise after it is due, you are owed the difference as back pay, which is taxed as ordinary salary in the pay it arrives in.
Free calculator
Check what you are owed
If the new rate reached you late, estimate the arrears and the tax on them.
Open the calculatorWhat happens before October 2027
The 2024 award has a no-extra-claims clause (cl 32), so the union cannot seek more pay under it before it expires on 8 October 2027. Bargaining for the next award is expected ahead of that date. As of 16 October 2026 we have found no confirmed NSW Teachers Federation claim, government offer or proposed figure, so we are not publishing any 2027 number. When one appears it will be on our teacher pay rise tracker.
Catholic and independent school timing
NSW Catholic systemic teachers got the same 3% from 9 October 2026. Their agreement started operating on 24 December 2025 with back pay to 9 October 2024 and has a nominal expiry of 9 October 2027, a day after the government award. Many independent schools rise each February instead: one IEU schedule reportedly shows a top rate of $133,009 from February 2026 rising to $138,329 from February 2027; the 2027 figure would sit above the NSW government Step 7 until a new government deal. These independent figures vary by school. See NSW Catholic teacher pay.
What to watch
- Your first full pay period on or after 9 October 2026 shows the new rate.
- Allowances (Year Adviser, locality, climatic) also rose by 3%.
- NSWTF and Department announcements on the next award, likely during 2027.
- Whether any new deal is backdated to 9 October 2027 if it is settled late.
Frequently asked questions
Did NSW teachers get a pay rise in October 2026?
Is this the last pay rise under the NSW teachers award?
When is the next NSW teacher pay rise?
How much did NSW teacher pay rise in 2023?
Do casual teachers get the NSW pay rise?
Will I get back pay for the October 2026 rise?
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.