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SA · Temporary Relieving Teacher (TRT)

Relief teacher (TRT) pay in South Australia

SA Temporary Relieving Teachers earn $407.21 to $590.59 a day from 8 May 2026, including a 25% loading. How steps, tax, super and ClassCover bookings work.

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

Day rate

$407.21

5 days

$2,036

Rate from

May 2026

Super on top

12%

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Temporary Relieving Teacher (TRT) pay in SA
  2. How the SA relief rate works
  3. What a year of relief work pays
  4. Tax, super and leave
  5. How to get relief work in SA
  6. FAQs

The short answer

Temporary Relieving Teachers (TRTs) in SA government schools are paid a daily rate based on their salary step plus a 25% loading. From 8 May 2026 that is $407.21 a day at Step 1, rising to $561.65 at Step 8 and $590.59 at Step 9. TRTs teaching on a Special Authority get $355.03 a day.

Unlike states that pay all casuals one flat rate or a few tiers, SA pays relief teachers by the same nine steps as permanent teachers. Experienced TRTs therefore earn far more per day than new ones, and TRTs can apply for Step 9 too.

Temporary Relieving Teacher (TRT) pay in South Australia

RatePer dayPer 5-day week
Step 1$407.21$2,036
Step 2$428.19$2,141
Step 3$449.21$2,246
Step 4$470.19$2,351
Step 5$491.26$2,456
Step 6$512.25$2,561
Step 7$533.24$2,666
Step 8$561.65$2,808
Step 9$590.59$2,953

TRTs are paid the teacher step salary plus a 25% loading (Step 1 annualised $106,214). TRTs on Special Authority get $355.03 a day. Hourly engagements: annual salary x 6 / 313 / 37.5 (EA cl. 4.1.2). TRTs can progress to Step 9. Bookings are made through ClassCover. Permanent Relieving Teachers get loadings of 5% (local), 12.5% (area) or 17.5% (statewide); Itinerant Teachers 12.5%. Effective 8 May 2026.

How the SA relief rate works

The Department for Education's rate sheet lists a "Temporary Relieving Teacher – 25%" rate for each step. It is the teacher's annual salary plus a 25% loading, so Step 1 annualises to $106,214, and the daily rate is one tenth of the fortnightly figure. The sheet doesn't say what the loading is for. In practice it stands in for the paid leave and holiday pay that TRTs don't get.

SA TRT daily rates from 8 May 2026 (including 25% loading)
StepDaily rateStepDaily rate
Step 1$407.21Step 6$512.25
Step 2$428.19Step 7$533.24
Step 3$449.21Step 8$561.65
Step 4$470.19Step 9$590.59
Step 5$491.26Special Authority$355.03

Source: SA DfE School Teacher Web Rates, effective 8 May 2026. Hourly engagements use the agreement formula: annual salary × 6 ÷ 313 ÷ 37.5 (cl. 4.1.2).

What a year of relief work pays

Worked example

100 days at Step 1

Gross pay
$40,721
Income tax (after LITO) + Medicare
$3,653
Take-home about $37,067
Worked example

150 days at Step 1

Gross pay
$61,082
Income tax (after LITO) + Medicare
$9,983
Take-home about $51,100
Worked example

150 days at Step 9

Gross pay
$88,589
Income tax (after LITO) + Medicare
$18,869
Take-home about $69,721

Full-year 2026–27 figures, assuming relief teaching is your only job and you claim the tax-free threshold. No HECS-HELP.

Tax, super and leave

  • Tax: PAYG is withheld from each pay as if you earned that amount every fortnight, so a busy fortnight can be over-taxed and you get it back at tax time. Claim the tax-free threshold with one employer only. See relief teacher tax.
  • Super: 12% Superannuation Guarantee on your ordinary earnings, into Super SA or your chosen fund.
  • No holiday pay: you are paid only for days worked. Plan for the school holidays, when there's no relief work.
  • Country loading: the Country Incentives Zone Allowance covers temporary teachers in Zone 2 to 5 schools for the length of the appointment. Check with the school whether a relief booking counts.

How to get relief work in SA

  1. 1

    Get registered

    Apply to the Teachers Registration Board of SA. The application fee is $218 and the annual fee $137 (from 1 Feb 2026). See SA registration.

  2. 2

    Get your Working with Children Check

    You need a current SA Working with Children Check from the DHS Screening Unit and a national criminal history check.

  3. 3

    Join the department's relief pool and ClassCover

    SA government schools book TRTs through ClassCover. Set up your profile and availability, and contact schools near you directly.

  4. 4

    Make sure your step is right

    Your daily rate depends on your step. Give payroll evidence of past teaching so you are placed correctly, and track your service so you move up.

Free calculator

Relief teacher pay calculator

Enter your days and daily rate to see gross and take-home pay.

Open the calculator

Frequently asked questions

How much do relief teachers get paid in SA?
From 8 May 2026, SA TRTs earn $407.21 a day at Step 1 up to $590.59 a day at Step 9, including a 25% loading.
What is a TRT in South Australia?
A TRT is a Temporary Relieving Teacher, SA's term for a casual relief teacher who covers absent teachers on a daily or short-term basis.
Do SA relief teachers get paid in the school holidays?
No. You are paid only for the days you work. The 25% loading in the daily rate stands in for holiday pay and paid leave.
Can relief teachers move up the pay steps in SA?
Yes. TRTs are paid by step, and they can apply for Step 9 under the same Professional Development Plan process as permanent teachers.
How do I find relief work in SA government schools?
Get registered with the TRB SA and hold a Working with Children Check, then set up a ClassCover profile. Schools book relief teachers through ClassCover.
Do SA relief teachers get super?
Yes. You get the 12% Superannuation Guarantee on your ordinary earnings.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.SAET: South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (ET-24-00640)
  2. 2.SA DfE: School teachers pay rates, effective 08/05/2026 (PDF)
  3. 3.SA DfE: Pay rates, forms for new employees and enterprise agreements
  4. 4.TRB SA: Payment of registration fees
  5. 5.AEU SA: EA27 campaign next phase (Oct 2026)
  6. 6.IEU SA: Same Work, Different Pay (Mar 2026)
  7. 7.IEU SA: Catholic EB24 – more than just numbers (Aug 2026)

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.