Skip to content

QLD · Head of Department

Head of Department salary in Queensland state schools

Queensland Heads of Department earn $145,320 to $148,003 from 7 Sep 2026, the same band as Guidance Officers. Take-home pay, higher levels and arbitration.

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

From

$145,320

Up to

$148,003

Take-home / fortnight

$4,138

Effective

September 2026

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Head of Department pay in QLD
  2. What a Queensland HOD is paid
  3. Is it worth stepping up from the classroom?
  4. HOD pay and arbitration
  5. Getting the job
  6. FAQs

The short answer

A Head of Department in a Queensland state school earns $145,320 to $148,003 a year from 7 September 2026 (Head of Program Level 1, paypoints 2 and 3). The same range covers HODs (Curriculum), Guidance Officers and HOSES 2. Senior Guidance Officers and HOSES 3 earn $152,651 to $155,351.

Queensland doesn't use the title Head Teacher. Its middle-leader role is Head of Department (HOD), part of a broader Head of Program classification that also covers curriculum heads, guidance officers and heads of special education services.

Head of Department pay in Queensland

ClassificationAnnual salaryTake-home / fortnight
Head of Program Level 1 Paypoint 2 (HOD, HOD-Curriculum, Guidance Officer, HOSES 2)$145,320$4,138
Head of Program Level 1 Paypoint 3$148,003$4,200
Head of Program Level 2 Paypoint 2 (Senior Guidance Officer, HOSES 3)$152,651$4,310
Head of Program Level 2 Paypoint 3$155,351$4,373

Heads of Department, HODs (Curriculum), Guidance Officers and HOSES 2 are paid $145,320-$148,003 from 7 Sep 2026 (Head of Program Level 1). Effective 7 September 2026.

What a Queensland HOD is paid

  • Head of Program Level 1 Paypoint 2 (H0102): $145,320.
  • Head of Program Level 1 Paypoint 3 (H0103): $148,003.
  • Head of Program Level 2 (Senior Guidance Officer, HOSES 3): $152,651 to $155,351.
Worked example

HOD on $145,320, 2026-27

Tax and Medicare
$37,745
PAYG per fortnight
about $1,454
Take-home $107,575 a year / $4,138 a fortnight

Is it worth stepping up from the classroom?

Compared with Experienced Senior Teacher ($127,549), a HOD earns $17,771 more before tax, but only about $11,362 more after tax because part of it falls in the 39% bracket. A Lead Teacher ($147,050) earns almost the same as a HOD without the management role. The promotion pay calculator shows the after-tax difference for any move.

HOD pay and arbitration

HODs are on agreement rates, so they got the 3% interim rise from 7 September 2026 rather than 4.75%. Any rise from the QIRC final decision applies to them directly. See the Queensland pay rise explainer.

Getting the job

HOD roles are advertised and filled on merit against selection criteria. Prepare with the AI selection criteria coach and the teacher interview coach.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Head of Department earn in Queensland?
$145,320 to $148,003 a year from 7 September 2026 in state schools, about $107,575 to $109,212 after tax.
Do Queensland schools have Head Teachers?
Not by that title. The equivalent middle-leader role is Head of Department, paid as Head of Program Level 1.
Is a Guidance Officer paid the same as a HOD in Queensland?
Yes. Guidance Officers, HODs, HODs (Curriculum) and HOSES 2 share the Head of Program Level 1 range of $145,320 to $148,003.
How much more does a HOD earn than a classroom teacher?
$17,771 a year more than Experienced Senior Teacher before tax, or about $11,362 after tax.
Did Queensland HODs get the 4.75% pay rise?
No. HODs got the 3% interim agreement rise from 7 September 2026, because their agreement rate is higher than the award rate.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.DoE Salary Schedule (xls, updated 1 Sep 2026)
  2. 2.QTU Updated Salary Schedule flyer (1 Oct 2026)
  3. 3.QTU: Salaries under CA2022
  4. 4.QTU: EB referred to arbitration (QTJ Vol 131 No 1)
  5. 5.QTU: Pathway to arbitration and QTU submissions (QTJ Vol 131 No 4)
  6. 6.Teach Queensland: Pay and benefits
  7. 7.Teach Queensland: Beginning teacher incentives and support
  8. 8.QIRC: CA2022 certificate 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.