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NT · Principal (non-contract)

Principal salary in the NT

NT non-contract principals earn $147,068 (PLO1.1) to $214,369 (PLO7.2) from January 2026, rising 4.3% in 2027. Levels, take-home and contract principals.

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

From

$147,068

Up to

$214,369

Take-home / fortnight

$4,179

Effective

January 2026

On this page (5 sections)
  1. Principal (non-contract) pay in NT
  2. Principal levels and take-home
  3. Non-contract vs executive contract principals
  4. Getting there
  5. FAQs

The short answer

Non-contract principals in NT government schools are paid from $147,068 (PLO1.1) to $214,369 (PLO7.2) from January 2026, with the level set by job evaluation of the school. Each level has two points. Salaries rise 4.3% from the first full pay period on or after 1 January 2027, taking PLO7.2 to $223,587.

Principals at Levels 1–7 who aren't on executive contracts are covered by the NT Public Sector Educators' 2024–2027 Enterprise Agreement. Executive contract principals at Levels 4–7 are excluded and are paid total remuneration packages instead.

Principal (non-contract) pay in Northern Territory

ClassificationAnnual salaryTake-home / fortnight
PLO1.1$147,068$4,179
PLO1.2$150,012$4,248
PLO2.1$151,040$4,272
PLO2.2$155,571$4,378
PLO3.1$160,531$4,494
PLO3.2$168,559$4,683
PLO4.1$174,548$4,823
PLO4.2$179,784$4,946
PLO5.1$185,925$5,090
PLO5.2$191,503$5,216
PLO6.1$197,286$5,334
PLO6.2$203,205$5,455
PLO7.1$208,126$5,555
PLO7.2$214,369$5,683

Non-contract principals are paid from PLO1.1 $147,068 to PLO7.2 $214,369 (January 2026). Executive contract principals at Levels 4-7 sit outside the agreement on total remuneration packages. Effective 1 January 2026.

Principal levels and take-home

Selected principal points, take-home 2026–27
PointSalary (Jan 2026)Take-home a yearMarginal rate
PLO1.1$147,068$108,64139%
PLO4.2$179,784$128,59839%
PLO7.2$214,369$147,74647%

After income tax (after LITO) and Medicare, no HECS-HELP or salary sacrifice. All 14 points are listed above.

Level 1 and 2 roles tend to be smaller schools, many of them in remote communities, where the Remote Incentive Allowance and housing add substantially to the package. In designated schools the principal also gets a $5,835 allowance (2026).

Non-contract vs executive contract principals

Contract packages are taken from the Teach in the Territory site and haven't been independently verified.

Non-contract (PLO1–PLO7)

  • Salary set by the agreement
  • $147,068 to $214,369 (2026)
  • 4.3% rise in January 2027
  • Ongoing employment

Executive contract (Levels 4–7)

  • Total remuneration package, outside the agreement
  • Reported as about $196,247 to $231,831
  • Fixed-term contract
  • Package figures undated on the government site

Getting there

Most principals come through Senior Teacher and Assistant Principal roles. A small remote school at PLO1 or PLO2 can be a realistic first principalship. Read how to become a principal and see NT assistant principal pay.

Free calculator

Take-home pay calculator

Add remote allowances and salary sacrifice to any principal point.

Open the calculator

Frequently asked questions

How much does a principal earn in the NT?
Non-contract NT principals earn $147,068 to $214,369 from January 2026, depending on their level (PLO1 to PLO7).
What is the highest principal salary in the NT?
PLO7.2 pays $214,369 from January 2026 and $223,587 from January 2027. The $233,587 figure on the government website is a typo.
How are NT principal levels decided?
Each principal position is classified PLO1 to PLO7 by job evaluation, based mainly on the size and complexity of the school.
What do NT executive contract principals earn?
They are reported to earn total remuneration packages of about $196,247 to $231,831 at Levels 4–7. These figures are undated and outside the agreement.
Do NT principals get remote allowances?
Yes. Principals in remote localities receive the Remote Incentive Allowance and housing benefits, and principals in designated schools get $5,835 a year.

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.