Compare · public school teachers
New South Wales vs Northern Territory: teacher pay 2026
The Northern Territory pays $3,575 more at the top of the classroom scale. The Northern Territory pays $3,298 more in the first year.
Which pays more?
Top of the classroom scale
NT +$3,575 (2.7%)
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
After tax, and the dates
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
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
Northern Territory
CT9 · top
$3,929 a fortnight after tax
$3,929 a fortnight after tax
+$5,648
CT8
$3,787 a fortnight after tax
$3,787 a fortnight after tax
+$4,594
CT7
$3,667 a fortnight after tax
$3,667 a fortnight after tax
+$4,593
CT6
$3,547 a fortnight after tax
$3,547 a fortnight after tax
+$4,595
CT5
$3,428 a fortnight after tax
$3,428 a fortnight after tax
+$7,605
CT4
$3,229 a fortnight after tax
$3,229 a fortnight after tax
+$4,593
CT3
$3,110 a fortnight after tax
$3,110 a fortnight after tax
+$4,592
CT2
$2,990 a fortnight after tax
$2,990 a fortnight after tax
+$4,597
CT1 · first year
$2,870 a fortnight after tax
$2,870 a fortnight after tax
Steps aren't the same length in each state, so compare first year and top rather than step by step.
More, state by state
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 WalesNorthern Territory
4.3% from 1 Jan 2027
Printed in the Northern Territory Public Sector Educators' 2024–2027 Enterprise Agreement (FWC AE526566)
What happens next in Northern TerritoryWhat do relief and casual teachers earn?
Employer super
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 mapNorthern Territory
4 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between NSW and NT
Moving from NSW to NT
Start at CT1, up to CT9 · Years counted
Experienced teachers are placed by completed years of service after qualifying. For example, a teacher with one year of experience starts on CT2. A year is 180 teaching days. The salary assessment procedure itself is not published. Source
The Northern Territory rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Moving from NT 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
Registering to teach
New South Wales
$100 each year. Source
Northern Territory
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
See sources (11) ▾Hide sources ▴
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools (Northern Territory) Collective Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE530890) (as at 31 Oct 2025)
- 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)
- 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)
- NT Department of Education: Northern Territory Teacher Salaries & Allowances (as at 1 Jan 2026)
- NT Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment: Northern Territory Public Sector Educators 2024-2027 Enterprise Agreement (as at 11 Oct 2024)