Queensland teacher salary 2026: the pay scale explained

Queensland teacher pay is in an unusual spot. The 2022 certified agreement passed its expiry date on 30 June 2025, teachers voted down the government's replacement offer, and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) is now deciding the next deal by arbitration. In the meantime two different rises landed in September 2026, and you get whichever one is higher for your classification.

The table on this page uses the Department of Education's own salary schedule, updated 1 September 2026. That matters, because some widely shared figures (including the Teach Queensland infographic) show lower rates that most classroom teachers are not actually paid.

QLD teacher pay scale from 1 September 2026

QLD teacher pay rises

Leadership and other roles in QLD

Your QLD take-home pay

How the Queensland teacher pay scale works

The scale has three parts. Band 1 (two steps, $80,615 and $83,302) is for people teaching on Permission to Teach or as interns. Band 2 and Band 3 (four steps each) are the normal classroom scale you move through one step a year. Above that sit the application steps: Senior Teacher, Experienced Senior Teacher 1 and 2, Coach, and the two HALT classifications, Highly Accomplished Teacher and Lead Teacher.

• Graduate start: Band 2 Step 1, $90,164 from 1 Sep 2026 (four-year trained).
• Top of the incremental scale: Band 3 Step 4, $119,357, usually about seven years after you start.
• Senior Teacher: $124,601, by application after one year on Band 3 Step 4.
• Experienced Senior Teacher: $127,549 (EST1 and EST2 are the same right now, see below).
• HALT-certified: $134,694 (Highly Accomplished) or $147,050 (Lead Teacher).

Why some steps rose 4.75% and others 3%

Two instruments set Queensland teacher pay. The certified agreement (CA2022) got a 3% interim rise from 7 September 2026, ordered by the QIRC while arbitration continues. The Teaching in State Education award got the 4.75% State Wage Case rise from 1 September 2026. The rule is simple: you are paid the higher of the two.

One odd result: EST1 and EST2 now pay the same $127,549. The award rate for EST1 is higher than the interim agreement rate for EST2 (about $126,795), so both get the award figure. That will change if arbitration lifts agreement rates. Our Queensland pay rise tracker explains what the arbitration could do to each step.

Progression: steps, Senior Teacher and HALT

What changes next

There is no further scheduled rise. The next change comes from the QIRC Full Bench's final arbitration decision, expected late 2026 or 2027, or from the 2027 State Wage Case. The QTU is asking for 3% then 7% a year for three years; the government's position, as the union describes it, is to follow wage policy with no further increase until 2027. The government's rejected October 2025 offer (every classroom teacher on $100,000+ and a new $135,000 classroom level) is off the table and does not apply. Track every step on the Queensland teacher pay rise page.

How Queensland compares

At $90,164, a Queensland graduate earns less than a NSW graduate on $92,882, and the top of the Queensland classroom scale ($119,357) is well below the NSW top step of $133,422. Victoria's graduates are still on $79,589 until a new agreement is approved, then due to move to $92,882. Queensland's edge is its rural and remote package (RoRRS payments, locality allowance, flights and extra leave). Compare directly on NSW vs QLD, VIC vs QLD or which state pays teachers the most.

Catholic and independent schools

The DoE scale covers state schools only. Diocesan Catholic schools have their own agreement, which expired on 30 June 2026 and is being renegotiated by the IEU-QNT; see Queensland Catholic teacher pay. Independent schools each set pay through their own enterprise agreement, so rates vary school by school.

How to check your step and pay