Becoming a teacher

What will I earn as a new teacher?

What the Commonwealth pays you on placement while you study, what public schools pay in your first year, and what registering costs, in every state.

2 · Your first year

What public schools pay a graduate

Each state's first-year salary in force today, highest first, with what it pays a fortnight before and after tax. Tap a state for the fortnight before tax and where graduates start.

Northern Territory
$2,870 a fortnight after tax · since 1 Jan 2026 ·
$96,180
$3,687
$2,870
Rise decided: 4.3% from 1 Jan 2027 ($100,316)
A fortnight, before tax: $3,687
Where graduates start in Northern Territory
A teacher with less than 12 months experience after qualifying starts on CT1. Source
Northern Territory pay and conditions
New South Wales
$2,784 a fortnight after tax · since 9 Oct 2026 ·
$92,882
$3,560
$2,784
A fortnight, before tax: $3,560
Where graduates start in New South Wales
A graduate starts on Step 1. A new teacher already accredited as Proficient starts on Step 3. Source
New South Wales pay and conditions
Victoria
$2,784 a fortnight after tax · since 1 Oct 2026 ·
$92,882
$3,560
$2,784
Rise decided: 4% from 1 Nov 2027 ($96,598)
A fortnight, before tax: $3,560
Where graduates start in Victoria
A graduate classroom teacher starts on subdivision 1-1, or 2-1 if the job is advertised at range 2. Source
Victoria pay and conditions
Australian Capital Territory
$2,746 a fortnight after tax · since 4 Dec 2025 ·
$91,396
$3,503
$2,746
A fortnight, before tax: $3,503
Where graduates start in Australian Capital Territory
Teachers are placed by their qualifications and prior experience. Government job ads for graduate teachers quote the Teacher Level 1 salary. Source
Australian Capital Territory pay and conditions
Queensland
$2,713 a fortnight after tax · since 1 Sep 2026 ·
$90,164
$3,456
$2,713
A fortnight, before tax: $3,456
Where graduates start in Queensland
A four-year-trained teacher starts on Band 2 Step 1. A three-year-trained teacher starts on Band 1 Step 1. Source
Queensland pay and conditions
Western Australia
$2,662 a fortnight after tax · since 6 Dec 2025 ·
$88,178
$3,380
$2,662
A fortnight, before tax: $3,380
Where graduates start in Western Australia
A qualified teacher starts on level 2.1. Five-year-trained teachers can apply for a higher salary once employed. Source
Western Australia pay and conditions
Tasmania
$2,587 a fortnight after tax · since 1 Mar 2026 ·
$85,313
$3,270
$2,587
Rise decided: 3% from 1 Mar 2027 ($87,872)
A fortnight, before tax: $3,270
Where graduates start in Tasmania
A four- or five-year-trained graduate starts on Band 1 Level 5. Source
Tasmania pay and conditions
South Australia
$2,578 a fortnight after tax · since 1 May 2026 ·
$84,971
$3,257
$2,578
A fortnight, before tax: $3,257
Where graduates start in South Australia
All teachers start on Tier 1. Source
South Australia pay and conditions

Catholic and independent schools pay their own rates: see Find your school.

1 · While you study

The Commonwealth Prac Payment

$338.60a week, since 1 Jan 2026

A weekly payment for the mandatory placement weeks of a teaching degree.

Half the single Austudy maximum basic rate (no dependent child) on 1 January of the year (Other Grants Guidelines 2022 s 4 (weekly Austudy rate for a year), s 86(3)).

Up to $5,417.60

Up to 16 weeks in a bachelor degree

Up to $4,063.20

Up to 12 weeks in a master's

Worked out: $338.60 × 16 and $338.60 × 12. Not printed figures.

The payment's 5 rulesWho can get it · How much · For how many weeks · The means test · How to get it

Who can get it
Commonwealth supported students in a bachelor or master's teaching degree accredited for teacher registration, for each week of a mandatory placement that averages 30 hours or more a week.
s 81(2), s 84(1), s 86(8) · The Guidelines
How much
The weekly Austudy rate: half the single Austudy maximum basic rate on 1 January of that year. It changes each 1 January.
s 4, s 86(3) · The Guidelines
For how many weeks
Up to 16 weeks in a bachelor teaching degree, or up to 12 weeks in a master's teaching degree.
s 87(d), s 87(e) · The Guidelines
The means test
You qualify if you receive an income support payment such as Youth Allowance or Austudy, a veterans' children or military rehabilitation tertiary education allowance, or a Living Allowance under the Student Assistance Act 1973. Or if, in the four study weeks before your placement, you worked more than 15 hours a week on average and earned less than a weekly limit. The limit was 1,500 dollars a week before tax for 2025 and is indexed each 1 January. The guidelines don't print the indexed figure.
s 86(4), s 88 · The Guidelines
How to get it
Apply through your university. It pays by the end of the month you applied in, or the end of the month the placement week ended, whichever is later.
s 86(1), s 86(2), s 86(6) · The Guidelines

4 · Next steps

3 · Registering

What registering costs

Each state's own registration fees, as its board publishes them. Fees differ in what they cover, so they aren't added up or compared.

New South Wales

Each year$100

Victoria

For 2026-27, first registration costs $175.60 with Victorian qualifications or $203.00 with interstate or overseas qualifications, plus $77.40 for the national criminal history check. The annual fee is $131.30 if paid by 30 September, or $173.10 if paid between 1 October and 31 December. Source

Registering in Victoria

Queensland

Each year$107.64

Western Australia

Each year$95

South Australia

To apply $218

Each year$137

Tasmania

To apply $65.09 · First year $186.41

Each year$121.32

Australian Capital Territory

Each year$115

Northern Territory

Not on record yet.