Compare · public school teachers
New South Wales vs South Australia: teacher pay 2026
New South Wales pays $10,186 more at the top of the classroom scale. New South Wales pays $7,911 more in the first year.
Which pays more?
Top of the classroom scale
NSW +$10,186 (8.3%)
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia page
After tax, and the dates
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia 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
South Australia
Tier 9 · top
$3,575 a fortnight after tax
$3,575 a fortnight after tax
+$6,038
Tier 8
$3,418 a fortnight after tax
$3,418 a fortnight after tax
+$5,929
Tier 7
$3,264 a fortnight after tax
$3,264 a fortnight after tax
+$4,379
Tier 6
$3,149 a fortnight after tax
$3,149 a fortnight after tax
+$4,381
Tier 5
$3,035 a fortnight after tax
$3,035 a fortnight after tax
+$4,396
Tier 4
$2,921 a fortnight after tax
$2,921 a fortnight after tax
+$4,378
Tier 3
$2,807 a fortnight after tax
$2,807 a fortnight after tax
+$4,385
Tier 2
$2,692 a fortnight after tax
$2,692 a fortnight after tax
+$4,379
Tier 1 · first year
$2,578 a fortnight after tax
$2,578 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 WalesSouth Australia
Nothing decided yet
The SA agreement ends 25 Mar 2027. Rises are usually backdated when a new one arrives.
What happens next in South AustraliaWhat do relief and casual teachers earn?
New South Wales
$480.43 to $599.85
a day, Casual Teacher 1 (CT1) to Casual Teacher 3 (CT3), from 9 Oct 2026. Includes a 5% loading. Source
South Australia
$355.03 to $590.59
a day, Temporary Relieving Teacher, Special Authority to Temporary Relieving Teacher Tier 9, from 1 May 2026. Includes a 25% loading. Source
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 mapSouth Australia
2 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between NSW and SA
Moving from NSW to SA
Start at Tier 1, up to Tier 8 · Assessed case by case
Everyone starts on Tier 1, then can apply to be reclassified to a tier between 2 and 8, based on qualifications and length of teaching service. Source
The South Australia rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Moving from SA 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
South Australia
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
See sources (12) ▾Hide sources ▴
- 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: South Australian Catholic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2020 (AE517602) (as at 11 Oct 2022)
- 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)
- SA Department for Education / South Australian Employment Tribunal: South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (as at 1 May 2024)
- SA Department for Education: School Teacher Web Rates (as at 8 May 2026)
- Super SA (South Australian Superannuation Board): Understanding your employer obligations (page of 21 September 2026) (as at 21 Sep 2026)