Compare · public school teachers
New South Wales vs Western Australia: teacher pay 2026
New South Wales pays $5,685 more at the top of the classroom scale. New South Wales pays $4,704 more in the first year.
Which pays more?
Top of the classroom scale
NSW +$5,685 (4.5%)
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Western Australia
Rates since 6 Dec 2025. The Western Australia page
After tax, and the dates
New South Wales
Rates since 9 Oct 2026. The New South Wales page
Western Australia
Rates since 6 Dec 2025. The Western 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
Western Australia
Level 2.9 · top
$3,693 a fortnight after tax
$3,693 a fortnight after tax
+$4,596
Level 2.8
$3,573 a fortnight after tax
$3,573 a fortnight after tax
+$4,273
Level 2.7
$3,462 a fortnight after tax
$3,462 a fortnight after tax
+$4,048
Level 2.6
$3,356 a fortnight after tax
$3,356 a fortnight after tax
+$3,895
Level 2.5
$3,255 a fortnight after tax
$3,255 a fortnight after tax
+$3,750
Level 2.4
$3,157 a fortnight after tax
$3,157 a fortnight after tax
+$3,607
Level 2.3
$3,063 a fortnight after tax
$3,063 a fortnight after tax
+$7,941
Level 2.2
$2,856 a fortnight after tax
$2,856 a fortnight after tax
+$7,449
Level 2.1 · first year
$2,662 a fortnight after tax
$2,662 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 WalesWestern Australia
Nothing decided yet
The WA agreement ends 5 Dec 2026. Rises are usually backdated when a new one arrives.
What happens next in Western 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
Western Australia
No daily rate printed. See the casual pay page.
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 mapWestern Australia
5 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between NSW and WA
Moving from NSW to WA
Start at Level 2.1, up to Level 2.9 · Assessed case by case
Experience is assessed after you start, from statements of service. The Department publishes no formula or ceiling. Source
The Western Australia rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Moving from WA 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
See sources (13) ▾Hide sources ▴
- Catholic Education Western Australia Limited: SALARY SCHEDULES September 2026 (Catholic Education Western Australia Limited) (as at 18 Sep 2026)
- 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)
- WA Department of Treasury and Finance: Superannuation guarantee contributions (page of 8 September 2026) (as at 8 Sep 2026)
- Western Australian Department of Education: Incentives and allowances (Attraction and Retention Initiative, CTP and MTP counts)
- Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission: District Allowance (Government Officers) General Agreement 2010, PSAAG 7/2010, registered 31 August 2010 (as at 31 Aug 2010)
- Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission: School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023 (2024 WAIRC 00949) (as at 6 Dec 2025)