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NT take-home pay · 2026–27

NT teacher salary after tax in 2026–27

What NT teachers take home in 2026–27: CT1 nets $74,882 a year ($2,880 a fortnight), CT9 $102,498. HECS, super, remote allowances and salary sacrifice.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 3 min read

Graduate / fortnight

$2,880

Top step / fortnight

$3,942

Graduate / year

$74,882

Top step / year

$102,498

On this page (7 sections)
  1. Take-home at every step
  2. Worked examples at three NT steps
  3. Why your NT fortnightly pay looks slightly different
  4. HECS-HELP repayments
  5. Remote allowances count as salary
  6. Salary sacrifice at the top of the scale
  7. FAQs

The short answer

On 2026–27 tax rates, an NT graduate teacher on $96,180 (CT1) takes home about $74,882 a year, or $2,880 a fortnight, after income tax and Medicare. A teacher at the top step, CT9 on $136,997, takes home about $102,498, or $3,942 a fortnight. HECS-HELP repayments reduce these figures.

The table shows take-home pay at every NT step using 2026–27 resident tax rates, the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy. It assumes no HECS-HELP, no salary sacrifice and no allowances. The worked examples below cover those.

NT teacher salary after tax, every step

Northern Territory teacher take-home pay, 2026–27 tax year, pay rates from 1 January 2026
StepSalaryTax + MedicareTake-home / yearTake-home / fortnightWith HECS / fortnightPAYG / fortnight
AP Authorised Person (not yet fully qualified or registered)$91,587$19,828$71,759$2,760$2,633$764
CT1 Graduate (4-year trained)$96,180$21,298$74,882$2,880$2,726$820
CT2 Classroom Teacher 2$100,777$22,769$78,008$3,000$2,820$878
CT3 Classroom Teacher 3$105,369$24,238$81,131$3,120$2,914$934
CT4 Classroom Teacher 4 (Rapid Incremental Progression target)$109,962$25,708$84,254$3,241$3,007$990
CT5 Classroom Teacher 5$117,567$28,141$89,426$3,439$3,162$1,084
CT6 Classroom Teacher 6$122,162$29,612$92,550$3,560$3,256$1,140
CT7 Classroom Teacher 7$126,755$31,082$95,673$3,680$3,350$1,196
CT8 Classroom Teacher 8$131,349$32,552$98,797$3,800$3,442$1,254
CT9 Top of incremental scale$136,997$34,499$102,498$3,942$3,547$1,328

Resident tax rates for 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold claimed, Medicare levy 2%, no salary sacrifice. 'With HECS' includes the compulsory HELP repayment. PAYG is the ATO Scale 2 amount your school withholds each fortnight.

Worked examples at three NT steps

Worked example

CT1 graduate, $96,180

Income tax (after LITO)
$19,374
Medicare levy
$1,924
PAYG withheld per fortnight (approx.)
$820
Employer super (12%, on top)
$11,542
Take-home $74,882 a year ($2,880 a fortnight)
Worked example

CT4, $109,962

Income tax (after LITO)
$23,509
Medicare levy
$2,199
Employer super (12%)
$13,195
Take-home $84,254 a year ($3,241 a fortnight)
Worked example

CT9 top of scale, $136,997

Income tax (after LITO)
$31,759
Medicare levy
$2,740
Marginal rate
39% (just over the $135,000 threshold)
Employer super (12%)
$16,440
Take-home $102,498 a year ($3,942 a fortnight)

Why your NT fortnightly pay looks slightly different

The NT agreement doesn't divide your salary by 26. It sets fortnightly salary as annual salary × 12 ÷ 313 (cl. 33.2), which spreads a year over about 26.08 fortnights. A CT1 teacher's gross fortnight is therefore $3,687.41, not $3,699. In a year with 27 paydays you receive slightly more than your annual rate. The take-home figures here are annual figures divided by 26, so expect your payslip to differ by a few dollars.

HECS-HELP repayments

Most graduates carry a HELP debt, and repayments are taken through PAYG once you tick the box on your TFN declaration. At CT1 the compulsory repayment is about $3,998 a year, so take-home falls to about $70,885 ($2,726 a fortnight). At CT4 the repayment is about $6,065 and take-home about $78,189. New recruits can also ask for up to $3,000 of HELP debt reimbursement, at the CEO's discretion. See HECS-HELP for teachers.

Remote allowances count as salary

The Remote Incentive Allowance is paid fortnightly and taxed as salary, and super is paid on it. A CT1 graduate in a Category 3 location on the single rate ($10,319) earns $106,499 and takes home about $81,899, around $7,017 a year more than in Darwin. On top of that, department housing in remote localities comes with a 100% rental concession, which isn't taxable income to you. Details are on the NT rural and remote page.

Salary sacrifice at the top of the scale

CT9 sits $1,997 above the $135,000 threshold where the marginal rate jumps to 39%, so salary sacrificing into super can pay off. Sacrificing $10,000 cuts your tax and Medicare from $34,499 to $31,159. Your take-home falls by $6,660 (to $95,838), while your fund receives $8,500 after 15% contributions tax. Check the $32,500 concessional cap, which includes your employer's 12%. Read salary sacrifice super for teachers before you set it up.

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Work out your exact NT take-home

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Frequently asked questions

How much does an NT graduate teacher take home a fortnight?
About $2,880 a fortnight on $96,180 (CT1), before HECS-HELP. With a HELP debt it is about $2,726.
What is CT9 after tax in the NT?
CT9 on $136,997 takes home about $102,498 a year, or $3,942 a fortnight, on 2026–27 tax rates.
Is the NT remote allowance taxed?
Yes. The Remote Incentive Allowance is paid fortnightly and taxed as salary, and it counts for super. The remote housing rental concession is a separate benefit.
How much super do NT teachers get?
The employer pays the Superannuation Guarantee rate of 12% on top of salary, up to the maximum contribution base. That is $11,542 a year at CT1 and $16,440 at CT9.
Why doesn't my NT fortnightly pay equal my salary divided by 26?
Because the NT agreement calculates fortnightly pay as annual salary × 12 ÷ 313. This gives a slightly smaller fortnight, with a 27th pay in some years.
Will the January 2027 rise push me into a higher tax bracket?
Only at the top. CT8 rises to $136,997 in 2027, just over $135,000, and CT9 is already above it, so a small slice of income is taxed at 37% plus Medicare.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.NT Public Sector Educators' 2024-2027 EA incl. [2024] FWCA 3775 (FWC AE526566)
  2. 2.Teach in the Territory: Pay and benefits
  3. 3.Teach in the Territory: Employee benefits
  4. 4.OCPE Bulletin 13: NTPS Educators' 2024-2027 EA approved
  5. 5.AEU NT: 2024-27 log of claims outcome report
  6. 6.TRB NT: Fees

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.