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WA · Principal

Principal salary in WA

WA government school principals earn $150,934 (Level 3 Principal) to $206,662 (Level 6.4) from Dec 2025. Levels, take-home pay and country schools.

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

From

$150,934

Up to

$206,662

Take-home / fortnight

$4,269

Effective

December 2025

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Principal pay in WA
  2. Principal levels and take-home
  3. How principal levels are decided
  4. Country and remote principalships
  5. Getting there
  6. FAQs

The short answer

WA government school principals are paid from $150,934 (Level 3 Principal 3.3) to $206,662 (School Administrator Level 6.4) from 6 December 2025. The level follows the school's classification. District High School principals are at Level 5 ($173,171 to $186,301) and Colleges of Agriculture principals at Level 6. No further rise is scheduled yet.

Principal pay is set by the School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023. The agreement introduced a new Level 3 Principal structure (3.3 to 3.6) and reclassified District High School principals to Level 5 and WA College of Agriculture principals to Level 6.

Principal pay in Western Australia

ClassificationAnnual salaryTake-home / fortnight
Level 3 Principal 3.3$150,934$4,269
Level 3 Principal 3.6$163,356$4,561
Level 4 (4.1)$159,316$4,466
Level 4 (4.4)$169,438$4,703
Level 5 (5.1)$173,171$4,791
Level 5 (5.1A)$175,144$4,837
Level 5 (5.4)$186,301$5,099
Level 6 (6.1)$193,532$5,258
Level 6 (6.4)$206,662$5,525

WA government school principals are paid from $150,934 (Level 3 Principal 3.3) to $206,662 (Level 6.4) from 6 Dec 2025. The level follows the school's classification. Effective 6 December 2025.

Principal levels and take-home

Principal salary points and take-home, 2026–27
PointSalary (from 6 Dec 2025)Take-home a yearMarginal rate
Level 3 Principal 3.3$150,934$111,00039%
Level 3 Principal 3.6$163,356$118,57739%
Level 4.1$159,316$116,11339%
Level 4.4$169,438$122,28739%
Level 5.1$173,171$124,56439%
Level 5.4$186,301$132,57439%
Level 6.1$193,532$136,70247%
Level 6.4$206,662$143,66147%

After income tax (after LITO) and Medicare, no HECS-HELP or salary sacrifice. Level 5.1A is $175,144. Agreement Tables 13 and 16.

Level 6 crosses the $190,000 threshold, so the top slice of salary is taxed at 47% including Medicare. Moving from 6.1 to 6.4 adds $13,130 gross but about $6,959 after tax.

How principal levels are decided

  • School classification: the department classifies each school, and the principal's level follows it, so size and complexity drive pay.
  • Level 3 Principal: the new 3.3–3.6 structure for smaller schools, overlapping the bottom of Level 4.
  • District High Schools: principals reclassified to Level 5 under cl 17.1(c).
  • Colleges of Agriculture: principals reclassified to Level 6 under cl 17.1(b).

Country and remote principalships

Many first principalships are in small country and remote schools. Remote Teaching Service allowances (R1 $20,870, R2 $18,120, R3 $15,370) and Country Teaching Program allowances (up to $13,730) are paid on top of salary, with RTS leave and transfer rights. A Level 3 Principal at 3.3 in an R1 school earns $171,804 before District Allowance. See WA rural and remote incentives.

Getting there

Most principals come through Head of Learning Area and deputy roles. Read how to become a principal and see WA deputy principal pay.

Free calculator

Take-home pay calculator

Add country allowances and salary sacrifice to any principal level.

Open the calculator

Frequently asked questions

How much does a principal earn in WA?
WA government school principals earn $150,934 to $206,662 from 6 December 2025, depending on the school's classification.
What is the highest principal salary in WA?
School Administrator Level 6.4, at $206,662 a year from 6 December 2025.
What do District High School principals earn in WA?
They were reclassified to Level 5 under the 2023 agreement, which pays $173,171 to $186,301 (5.1A is $175,144).
How much does a WA principal take home?
About $111,000 a year at Level 3 Principal 3.3 and $143,661 at Level 6.4, on 2026–27 tax rates without HECS-HELP.
Do WA principals get remote allowances?
Yes. Remote Teaching Service allowances of $15,370 to $20,870 and Country Teaching Program allowances of up to $13,730 apply to principals too.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.WAIRC: School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023 listing
  2. 2.General Agreement 2023 full text (PDF)
  3. 3.Teachers (Public Sector Primary and Secondary Education) Award 1993 (PDF)
  4. 4.WA Department of Education: Teacher salaries
  5. 5.WA Department of Education: Incentives and allowances
  6. 6.WA Department of Education: Attraction and retention incentive
  7. 7.TRBWA: Fees

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.