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SA · Principal / Preschool Director

Principal salary in South Australia

SA principals and preschool directors are paid on Band A, from $146,492 (A-1) to $222,484 (A-9) from 8 May 2026. Take-home pay, site classification and rises.

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

From

$146,492

Up to

$222,484

Take-home / fortnight

$4,165

Effective

May 2026

On this page (7 sections)
  1. Principal / Preschool Director pay in SA
  2. Band A take-home pay
  3. The new Site Classification scale
  4. What pushes a principal up the bands
  5. Super and salary sacrifice at principal level
  6. Rises and what's next
  7. FAQs

The short answer

Principals and preschool directors in SA government schools are paid on Band A: $146,492 at A-1 up to $222,484 at A-9, from 8 May 2026. The band reflects the school or preschool's size and complexity. An A-9 principal takes home about $152,047 a year after tax, or $5,848 a fortnight.

Band A rates come from Schedule 1.3 of the South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024. The department's current rate sheet also lists a newer Site Classification scale (SC1 to SC6) linked to a new site-leader structure in the agreement (cl. 6.13).

Principal / Preschool Director pay in South Australia

ClassificationAnnual salaryTake-home / fortnight
A-1$146,492$4,165
A-2$156,111$4,391
A-3$165,737$4,617
A-4$175,359$4,842
A-5$184,989$5,068
A-6$194,607$5,280
A-7$204,231$5,476
A-8$213,855$5,672
A-9$222,484$5,848

Principals and preschool directors are paid on Band A, from A-1 $146,492 to A-9 $222,484 from 8 May 2026. A newer Site Classification scale (SC1 $156,111 to SC6 $233,774) also appears on the DfE rate sheet. Effective 8 May 2026.

Band A take-home pay

SA principal Band A salaries from 8 May 2026
BandAnnual salaryTake-home (2026–27)Per fortnight
A-1$146,492$108,290$4,165
A-2$156,111$114,158$4,391
A-3$165,737$120,030$4,617
A-4$175,359$125,899$4,842
A-5$184,989$131,773$5,068
A-6$194,607$137,272$5,280
A-7$204,231$142,372$5,476
A-8$213,855$147,473$5,672
A-9$222,484$152,047$5,848

Take-home after income tax (with LITO) and Medicare, no HECS-HELP. A-6 and above are in the 47% marginal bracket (over $190,000).

The new Site Classification scale

The DfE rate sheet effective 8 May 2026 also shows six Site Classification levels: SC1 $156,111, SC2 $166,411, SC3 $185,432, SC4 $204,453, SC5 $223,474 and SC6 $233,774. These relate to the agreement's new site-leader structure. We haven't confirmed which schools are on which level, or how SC levels map to Band A, so check your letter of offer or ask the department.

What pushes a principal up the bands

  • Size and complexity of the site. Larger schools and more complex sites are classified higher, and the deputy principal's band follows the principal's.
  • Country and remote sites. Principals in Zone 2 to 5 schools also get the Country Incentives Zone Allowance of $2,261 to $11,391 a year.
  • Aboriginal and Anangu schools. Band A leaders get a four-week induction and one term's training and development leave after three years.

Super and salary sacrifice at principal level

The employer's 12% super is $17,579 at A-1 and $26,698 at A-9. At A-9 that leaves only $5,802 of the $32,500 concessional cap for salary sacrifice. Unused cap from earlier years may be carried forward in some cases, so check with your fund before you set up a sacrifice. See salary sacrifice super.

Rises and what's next

Principals got 5% in May 2023, 4% in May 2024 and May 2025, and 3% on 8 May 2026. No further rise is scheduled until the EA27 agreement. See the SA pay rise page and the national guide to becoming a principal.

Free calculator

Take-home pay calculator

Work out your take-home at any Band A level, with salary sacrifice.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a principal earn in SA?
SA government school principals earn $146,492 (A-1) to $222,484 (A-9) a year from 8 May 2026, depending on the site's classification.
What does an SA principal take home after tax?
From about $108,290 a year at A-1 to $152,047 at A-9, on 2026–27 tax rates without HECS-HELP.
What is the highest principal salary in SA?
On Band A it is $222,484 (A-9). The new Site Classification scale on the department's rate sheet goes up to $233,774 (SC6).
Are preschool directors paid on the same scale as principals in SA?
Yes. Principals and preschool directors are both paid on Band A, A-1 to A-9.
When is the next pay rise for SA principals?
None is scheduled. Principals got 3% on 8 May 2026, the final rise under the 2024 agreement. The next depends on EA27.
Do SA principals get country allowances?
Yes. The Country Incentives Zone Allowance of $2,261 to $11,391 a year applies to leaders in Zone 2 to 5 sites.

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.