On this page (8 sections)
- Senior Teacher and EST pay rates in 2026
- Why the rates are 'award' and 'interim' at the same time
- How to become a Senior Teacher in Queensland
- How long it takes to get there
- Take-home pay for Senior and Experienced Senior Teachers
- ST and EST vs HAT, Lead Teacher and Head of Department
- Senior teacher pay in Queensland Catholic schools
- FAQs
The short answer
A Queensland state school Senior Teacher earns $124,601 and an Experienced Senior Teacher (EST1 or EST2) earns $127,549 from 1 September 2026. These are award rates, 4.75% higher than in 2025. You can opt in to Senior Teacher after one year at Band 3 Step 4 ($119,357), EST1 after two years as a Senior Teacher, and EST2 after three years at EST1.
- EST1 and EST2 are paid the same for now, because the award rate beats the interim agreement rate.
- Senior Teacher is about $3,566 a year more than Band 3 Step 4 after tax.
- Pay could change again when the QIRC decides the teachers' agreement arbitration.
- HAT ($134,694) and Lead Teacher ($147,050) need national HALT certification.
Senior Teacher and EST pay rates in 2026
Source: Department of Education salary schedule (updated 1 September 2026), cross-checked with the QTU's 1 October 2026 schedule. The QTU rounds a few dollars differently; we use the Department's figures. The 4.75% award rise was processed in the fortnight ending 18 October 2026, with back pay to 1 September.
Work out your take-home pay
⚙Your details
Salary
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Take-home pay fortnightly
$2,723
Gross pay
$3,468
Income tax
$676
After the low income tax offset
Medicare levy
$69
Employer super
$442
12.8% paid on top
Where each dollar goes
- Take-home$70,792 (79%)
- Income tax$17,569 (19%)
- Medicare levy$1,803 (2%)
- HECS-HELP$0 (0%)
- Salary sacrifice & packaging$0 (0%)
What your payslip should show
PAYG withheld each fortnight should be about $746 (ATO Scale 2, tax-free threshold claimed). Small differences come from rounding and 27-pay years. Your marginal rate is 32% including Medicare, so each extra $1,000 of salary adds about $680 to take-home.
Estimates for an Australian resident for 2026–27 who claims the tax-free threshold, with no other income, no dependants and private hospital cover not required. Medicare levy uses the 2025–26 low-income thresholds (2026–27 not yet published). Pay data: Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022, verified 16 October 2026.
Why the rates are 'award' and 'interim' at the same time
Queensland's teachers' agreement (CA2022) passed its nominal expiry on 30 June 2025. Members rejected the government's offer in October 2025 (67.6% voted no) and the dispute went to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission for arbitration. In the meantime two separate rises landed in September 2026: a 3% interim rise on agreement rates from 7 September and a 4.75% State Wage Case rise on award rates from 1 September.
You get whichever is higher. For Bands 1 to 3, Senior Teacher and EST, the award rate wins, so these classifications rose 4.75%. For Coach, HAT, Lead Teacher and leaders, the agreement rate is still higher, so they got 3%. That's also why EST2 currently pays no more than EST1: the award rate for both ($127,549) is above EST2's interim agreement rate. A final arbitration decision is expected in late 2026 or 2027, and the QTU is claiming 3% plus 7%, 7% and 7%. Follow it on our Queensland pay rise page.
How to become a Senior Teacher in Queensland
Senior Teacher, EST1 and EST2: the requirements
- 1
Senior Teacher (ST)
One year at Band 3 Step 4 if you're four-year trained, or two years at Band 3 Step 1 if you're three-year trained. You also need a current Annual Performance Review (APR) and a Senior Teacher Undertaking and Action Plan (STAP), which records higher-level duties you take on (for most teachers, duties they already do).
- 2
Experienced Senior Teacher 1 (EST1)
Two years as a Senior Teacher (or as a senior instrumental music teacher), plus an APR discussion in the last 12 months. There's no undertaking.
- 3
Experienced Senior Teacher 2 (EST2)
Three years at EST1, plus an APR discussion in the last 12 months that refers to the AITSL Highly Accomplished focus areas. Your APR doesn't need a goal set against them.
- 4
Get notified, then apply
Since 2024 the Department emails eligible teachers about three months before their eligibility date. You complete the teacher progression form (linked in the email and in MyHR) and your principal or delegate submits it.
- 5
Pay starts
From the later of your eligibility date or the date you submit the form, so don't sit on the email. The classifications are opt-in.
A principal can't refuse Senior Teacher access, but the form shouldn't be submitted if you're in a formal managing unsatisfactory performance process. Informal performance conversations don't stop it. From 1 January 2022, service for ST and EST counts in years regardless of your work fraction, so part-time teachers aren't held back. See part-time FTE explained.
How long it takes to get there
Our estimate from the progression rules: annual steps from Band 2 Step 1 to Band 3 Step 4 (about 7 years), then the ST and EST waiting periods. Your timeline depends on your start date, any recognised prior service and when you submit forms.
Take-home pay for Senior and Experienced Senior Teachers
Queensland ST and EST take-home pay (2026-27 tax, full-time)
- Band 3 Step 4: $119,357
- $90,643 a year, $3,486 a fortnight
- Senior Teacher: $124,601
- $94,209 a year, $3,623 a fortnight
- EST1 or EST2: $127,549
- $96,213 a year, $3,701 a fortnight
- Senior Teacher with a HELP debt
- $85,948 a year, $3,306 a fortnight
- EST with a HELP debt
- $87,510 a year, $3,366 a fortnight
From our 2026-27 tax engine (income tax after LITO, plus 2% Medicare). All three rates sit in the 30% bracket, so each extra dollar keeps about 68 cents. Employer super at 12.75% adds $15,887 on ST and $16,262 on EST.
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Teacher take-home pay calculator
See your fortnightly pay as a Queensland Senior Teacher or EST, with HELP and salary packaging.
Calculate my payST and EST vs HAT, Lead Teacher and Head of Department
Take-home from our 2026-27 tax engine, no HELP. HAT, Lead Teacher and HOD rates are interim agreement rates from 7 September 2026. Lead Teacher crosses into the 37% bracket.
EST is close to the ceiling for service-based pay. Going further means HALT: HAT pays $7,145 more than EST before tax, and Lead Teacher $19,501 more. Certification takes real evidence and time, but no vacancy is needed. Read Queensland HALT pay and the HALT application process. If you'd rather lead people, a Head of Department role pays more again; see Queensland head of department pay.
Senior teacher pay in Queensland Catholic schools
Catholic diocesan schools use their own agreement. Brisbane Catholic Education's rates from 5 July 2025 include Proficient 8 at $124,725 and an Experienced Proficient Teacher (EPT) at $126,797, the nearest equivalents to ST and EST. Staff are voting on a 4% / 3.5% / 3.5% offer from 19 to 29 October 2026, so these rates may rise soon. See Brisbane Catholic Education pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Senior Teacher earn in Queensland?
What is an Experienced Senior Teacher salary in QLD?
How do I become an Experienced Senior Teacher in Queensland?
Is Senior Teacher automatic in Queensland?
Can a principal refuse Senior Teacher?
Do part-time teachers qualify for Senior Teacher?
Will Queensland senior teachers get a pay rise in 2027?
Is Senior Teacher the same as HAT in Queensland?
Sources we checked · last verified 2026-10-19
- 1.Queensland Department of Education: Salary schedule (XLS, updated 1 Sep 2026)
- 2.QTU: Updated salary schedule flyer (1 Oct 2026)
- 3.QTU: ST and EST update 2023 (process)
- 4.QTU: Salaries under CA2022
- 5.QTU: Pathway to arbitration and QTU submissions
- 6.Teach Queensland: Pay and benefits
- 7.QIRC: Certified Agreement 2022 (CB/2022/135)
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.