On this page (5 sections)
The short answer
In the NT, Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher certification is rewarded with an allowance on top of your normal salary: $13,938 a year for Highly Accomplished and $29,184 for Lead from January 2026. On CT9 ($136,997) that means $150,935 or $166,181. The allowances rise to $14,537 and $30,439 in January 2027.
Unlike states that put HALT teachers on separate salary steps, the NT keeps you on your CT step and adds an allowance. These are among the most generous HALT payments in the country, and they apply to classroom teachers who want to earn more without leaving the classroom.
Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher pay in Northern Territory
HALT in the NT is an allowance, not a salary step: $13,938 a year for Highly Accomplished and $29,184 for Lead (2026), on top of your CT salary. At CT9 that is $150,935 or $166,181. Effective 1 January 2026.
How the NT HALT allowance works
- You keep your Classroom Teacher step and salary. The allowance is added on top.
- Highly Accomplished: $13,938 a year (2026), $14,537 (2027).
- Lead: $29,184 a year (2026), $30,439 (2027).
- The allowances rise with each 4.3% increase under the agreement.
- Many applicants are at or near CT9, because certification needs a long record of practice against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Take-home after income tax (after LITO) and Medicare, without HECS-HELP or salary sacrifice.
HALT or a Senior Teacher job?
A Lead Teacher at CT9 earns more than an ST3. Senior Teacher roles above ST4 ($165,076) are where leadership starts to pay more.
Lead Teacher at CT9
- $166,181 (2026)
- Stay in the classroom
- Portable certification recognised nationally
Senior Teacher ST1–ST3
- $145,286 to $160,531 (2026)
- A promotion position with leadership duties
- Teach up to 0.75 of a CT load
Getting certified
- 1
Check you're ready
You need to be a proficient, registered teacher with strong evidence of impact on students and colleagues.
- 2
Plan your evidence
Map your practice against the Highly Accomplished or Lead descriptors. Our AI HALT evidence planner can help you structure it.
- 3
Apply for certification
Ask your principal or the AEU NT how NT government school applications are run and when the current rounds open.
- 4
Check the allowance starts
Once certified, confirm the allowance shows on your payslip and that it rises in January 2027.
Read the national HALT guide and the HALT application process for the assessment steps.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the HALT allowance in the NT?
What does a Lead Teacher earn in the NT?
Is NT HALT a salary step or an allowance?
Is a Lead Teacher paid more than a Senior Teacher in the NT?
Does the HALT allowance increase with pay rises?
Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026
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.