On this page (6 sections)
The short answer
Relief (casual) teachers in NT government schools are paid by experience tier from January 2026: $460.93 a day for Tier 1 (under 12 months), $482.95 for Tier 2 (12 months to 6 years) and $504.96 for Tier 3 (over 6 years). The rates include a 25% casual loading and rise again in January 2027.
Because they are built from the NT's CT salaries, which are the highest in the country, these day rates are high by national standards. The rates come straight from the formula in the agreement, so they move automatically with each pay rise.
Relief teacher pay in Northern Territory
Rates include a 25% loading. Half days: $230.46 / $241.48 / $252.48. Formula: fortnightly CT salary (annual x 12/313) plus 25%, divided by 60 hours, times 6 hours for a full day. From Jan 2027: Tier 1 $480.75, Tier 2 $503.72, Tier 3 $526.68. No paid leave apart from NES entitlements (cl. 30.4). 180 relief days count as 1 year of service for salary placement. Effective 1 January 2026.
How the NT relief rate is calculated
The agreement takes the fortnightly salary for the matching CT step (annual × 12 ÷ 313), adds 25%, divides by 60 hours to get an hourly rate, then multiplies by 6 hours for a full day. Tier 1 is based on CT1, Tier 2 on CT2 and Tier 3 on CT3.
Hourly figures are derived from the agreement formula. 2027 rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2027.
What a year of relief work pays
100 days at Tier 1
- Gross pay
- $46,093
- Income tax (after LITO) + Medicare
- $4,961
150 days at Tier 2
- Gross pay
- $72,443
- Income tax (after LITO) + Medicare
- $13,702
Full-year 2026–27 figures, assuming this is your only job and you claim the tax-free threshold.
Tax, super and leave
- Tax: PAYG is withheld on each pay as if you earned that amount every fortnight. Claim the tax-free threshold with one employer only. See relief teacher tax.
- Super: 12% Superannuation Guarantee on your ordinary earnings, into your chosen fund.
- No holiday pay: the 25% loading replaces paid leave. Relief teachers get no paid leave beyond National Employment Standards entitlements (cl. 30.4).
- Not eligible: the Katherine and Alice Springs attraction allowances don't apply to casuals.
How to get relief work in the NT
- 1
Get registered
Apply to the Teacher Registration Board of the NT. The 2025–26 fee was $170 for new applicants. See NT registration.
- 2
Get your Ochre Card
You need a Working with Children Clearance from SAFE NT before you can work in schools.
- 3
Get on school relief lists
Contact schools directly, especially in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs, and ask the school about the department's relief employment process.
- 4
Track your days
Each 180 days of relief work counts as a year of service. That moves you up a tier, and up a CT step if you win a contract.
Free calculator
Relief teacher pay calculator
Enter your days and tier to see gross and take-home pay.
Open the calculatorFrequently asked questions
How much do relief teachers get paid in the NT?
What is the NT relief teacher hourly rate?
Do NT relief teachers get paid in the holidays?
How do I move up a relief tier?
Do relief teachers get super in the NT?
What will NT relief rates be in 2027?
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.