Private school teacher salary in Australia: what independent schools pay in 2026

Do private school teachers earn more?

Sometimes. 'Private school' covers two quite different groups. Catholic systemic schools are usually paid on a system-wide scale that matches or tracks government pay (see Catholic and independent school teacher pay). Independent schools, including Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran, Christian, grammar and non-denominational schools, each set their own pay. Large, well-funded independent schools often pay at or a little above the government scale to compete for staff. Small independent schools may pay less.

The honest answer is that you can only compare pay school by school. Salary websites that give a single 'private school teacher' average are mixing together schools that pay the award minimum with schools that pay well above government rates. Ignore them and look at the actual agreement.

How independent schools set pay

In NSW, the IEU and the Association of Independent Schools have long used model pay structures, known as the Standards, Hybrid and Steps models. Each school adopts one in its own agreement. That is why two NSW independent schools can have slightly different step names but very similar dollar figures.

Independent vs government pay in NSW

Notice the timing. The NSW government scale rose in October 2026 and has no further rise scheduled before its award ends on 8 October 2027. Independent schools on the IEU model rise in February. So from February 2027, a top-step teacher at an independent school on that model is due to earn about $4,900 more than a government teacher on the same step, until the next government deal. Timing gaps like this run both ways over a few years, so compare on the same date.

Other states

• Victoria: no common scale. Independent schools use their own agreements or the award. Pay is often benchmarked to government and Catholic scales, which are both still on 2022 rates ($79,589 to $118,063) while new agreements are finalised.
• Queensland: school-by-school agreements, with the IEU-QNT bargaining at many schools. Government classroom pay runs from $90,164 to $127,549 (September 2026).
• ACT: independent schools have their own agreements and pay usually tracks or exceeds the ACT public scale ($91,396 to $129,106), though we have not verified individual schools.
• Tasmania and the NT: a smaller independent sector, mostly on school or collective agreements. NT schools are generally benchmarked against the high NT government scale ($96,180 to $136,997).
• WA: independent schools use school-level agreements (for example, those of the Anglican Schools Commission) or the award. Benchmark against the government scale of $88,178 to $127,737, plus the $2,000 a year graduate allowance government schools pay for two years. See WA teacher pay.
• SA: independent and Lutheran schools bargain their own agreements; Lutheran bargaining began in 2026, and one Adelaide girls' school won a 13% increase (including back pay) in 2025 after protected action. Benchmark against the government scale of $84,971 to $123,236. See SA teacher pay.

Salary packaging: the hidden extra

Most Catholic and independent schools are not-for-profit and are usually FBT-rebatable employers. That generally lets them offer salary packaging of some living expenses, with a 47% rebate on fringe benefits tax for benefits up to $30,000 (grossed-up) per employee per FBT year. Government schools, by contrast, mostly offer only super, novated car leases and work devices. Whether your school can offer this depends on its own tax status, so ask the business manager.

What else differs at independent schools

Worked example: weighing up an offer

The example shows why the headline salary is only the starting point. A few thousand dollars a year in the independent school's favour could be wiped out by expectations to coach weekend sport or run boarding duties without an allowance, or it could be doubled by salary packaging. Ask both schools what a normal week looks like, then compare the full package. The take-home pay calculator lets you test each offer.

How to find out what a school really pays

If you are negotiating, remember that agreements set minimums. A school may be willing to recognise more of your past service or pay above the scale for a hard-to-fill role, but it is unlikely to offer unless you ask. Our guide to getting a permanent teaching job covers how to approach that conversation.