NSW principal salary 2026: every classification

Principal pay in NSW is set by Schedule 2A of the 2024 award. Your classification comes from the school's funding allocation rather than simply its enrolment, and rates P2 to P5 are made up of the P1 base plus a complexity loading. The table on this page lists every level.

Principal pay in New South Wales

How the classifications work

• Teaching Principals (TP1 $153,531, TP2 $179,255): principals of small schools who also carry a teaching load. Associate Principals are paid at the same rates.
• P1 ($184,175): the base principal rate.
• P2 to P5: P1 base plus a complexity loading of $14,060 (P2, $198,235), $35,506 (P3, $219,681), $45,113 (P4, $229,288) or $52,143 (P5, $236,318).
• Executive Principal, Connected Communities ($253,369): plus a $50,000 allowance after 5 years' satisfactory service.

Take-home pay at each level

Super limits that matter at principal pay

At P5, salary plus 12% employer super comes to about $264,676, above the $250,000 Division 293 threshold, so an extra 15% tax may apply to some of your concessional contributions. The same applies to Executive Principals. Defined-benefit members (SSS or SASS) are assessed on notional contributions, so check with your fund or a registered tax agent rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

Salary sacrifice still helps at P1: sacrificing $10,000 cuts take-home from $131,277 to $125,177, a cost of $6,100 for $8,500 added to super. Employer super of $22,101 leaves about $10,399 of room under the $32,500 cap. See salary sacrifice super for teachers.

Getting there

Most NSW principals come through Deputy Principal ($179,255) or a Teaching Principal role in a small or rural school. Small rural schools can be a faster route, and incentive schools add the Rural Teacher Incentive and retention benefits; principals are eligible for the $5,000 a year retention benefit at remote schools. See how to become a principal and rural and remote teaching in NSW.