Compare · public school teachers
New South Wales vs Australian Capital Territory: teacher pay 2026
The ACT's rates are in dispute, so this page doesn't say which pays more.
Which pays more?
Australian Capital Territory: rates in dispute: not ranked. Offer not accepted, dispute continuing
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Australian Capital Territory
Rates since 4 Dec 2025. The Australian Capital Territory page
| Figure | NSW | ACT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | $92,882 | $91,396 | not compared |
| Top of the classroom scale | $133,422 | $129,106 | not compared |
| Steps to the top | 7 steps | 8 levels | — |
Not compared: the Australian Capital Territory's rates are in dispute. Disputed and proposed rates are never ranked.
Base salary for public school teachers at today's rates, before tax. Differences only where both states' rates are decided.
After tax, and the dates
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Australian Capital Territory
Rates since 4 Dec 2025. The Australian Capital Territory page
Side by side, as usual
What happens next with pay?
New South Wales
Nothing decided yet
The NSW award ends 8 Oct 2027. Rises are usually backdated when a new one arrives.
What happens next in New South WalesAustralian Capital Territory
Being decided
Offer not accepted, dispute continuing
What happens next in Australian Capital TerritoryEmployer super
Registering to teach
Country and remote schools
New South Wales
6 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapAustralian Capital Territory
No country or remote allowances on record for Australian Capital Territory public schools.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between NSW and ACT
Moving from NSW to ACT
Start at Level 1, up to Level 8 · Assessed case by case
Prior experience is recognised in full years, including work outside teaching. The detailed guidelines are not published. Source
The Australian Capital Territory rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Moving from ACT to NSW
Start at Step 3, up to Step 7 · Salary matched
Teaching in another state counts in whole terms of 50 days each, and overseas teaching in full years (203 days). Teachers with Proficient accreditation can also ask for salary matching: NSW matches their base salary from the past five years, at the next step up if it falls between two steps. There is no time limit to apply, but applying within six months of starting gets back pay to the first day. Source
The New South Wales rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Also shown, not compared
What do relief and casual teachers earn?
Every step, side by side
New South Wales
Step 7 · top
$3,841 a fortnight after tax
$3,841 a fortnight after tax
+$8,726
Step 6
$3,613 a fortnight after tax
$3,613 a fortnight after tax
+$8,724
Step 5
$3,386 a fortnight after tax
$3,386 a fortnight after tax
+$7,551
Step 4
$3,189 a fortnight after tax
$3,189 a fortnight after tax
+$4,265
Step 3
$3,078 a fortnight after tax
$3,078 a fortnight after tax
+$4,267
Step 2
$2,967 a fortnight after tax
$2,967 a fortnight after tax
+$7,007
Step 1 · first year
$2,784 a fortnight after tax
$2,784 a fortnight after tax
Australian Capital Territory
Level 8 · top
$3,728 a fortnight after tax
$3,728 a fortnight after tax
+$1,830
Level 7
$3,681 a fortnight after tax
$3,681 a fortnight after tax
+$7,174
Level 6
$3,494 a fortnight after tax
$3,494 a fortnight after tax
+$7,178
Level 5
$3,307 a fortnight after tax
$3,307 a fortnight after tax
+$4,305
Level 4
$3,194 a fortnight after tax
$3,194 a fortnight after tax
+$4,305
Level 3
$3,082 a fortnight after tax
$3,082 a fortnight after tax
+$4,308
Level 2
$2,970 a fortnight after tax
$2,970 a fortnight after tax
+$8,610
Level 1 · first year
$2,746 a fortnight after tax
$2,746 a fortnight after tax
Steps aren't the same length in each state, so compare first year and top rather than step by step.
See sources (13) ▾Hide sources ▴
- ACT Education Directorate: Pay and benefits (as at 4 Dec 2025)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 (as at 5 Jan 2023)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 — Annex A (as at 4 Dec 2025)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: Explanatory Notes: Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 (issued June 2023)
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools Broken Bay Enterprise Agreement 2024 (AE527705) (as at 29 Jan 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Limited - Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE531390) (as at 11 Dec 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE531578) (as at 24 Dec 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: NSW Catholic Independent Schools (Teachers-Model A) Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE533287) (as at 9 Jul 2026)
- Fair Work Commission: Teachers (Daramalan College, Marist College Canberra, and St Edmund's College, Canberra) Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE529321) (as at 18 Jun 2025)
- NSW Department of Education / Industrial Relations Commission of NSW: Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 (as at 9 Oct 2025)
- NSW Department of Education: Rural and remote incentives, policy PD-2024-0483-06 (effective 6 September 2024, reviewed 30 July 2026) (as at 6 Sep 2024)
- NSW Department of Education: Salary of a teacher (as at 28 May 2026)
- NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office: Aware Super Regulation 2023 (NSW), 2023 No 464, cl 5: employer contribution percentages under s 8(2A) of the Aware Super Act 1992 (as at 25 Aug 2023)