Compare · public school teachers
Queensland vs Northern Territory: teacher pay 2026
Queensland's rates are being decided in arbitration, so this page doesn't say which pays more.
Which pays more?
Queensland: rates being decided in arbitration: not ranked. In arbitration, interim rise in effect
Queensland
Rates since 1 Sep 2026. The Queensland page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
| Figure | QLD | NT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | $90,164 | $96,180 | not compared |
| Top of the classroom scale | $127,549 | $136,997 | not compared |
| Steps to the top | 11 steps | 9 levels | — |
Not compared: Queensland's rates are being decided in arbitration. 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
Queensland
Rates since 1 Sep 2026. The Queensland page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
Side by side, as usual
What happens next with pay?
Northern 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 TerritoryEmployer super
Registering to teach
Queensland
$107.64 each year. Source
Northern Territory
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
Country and remote schools
Queensland
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 QLD and NT
Moving from QLD 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 QLD
Start at Band 2 Step 1, up to Band 3 Step 4 · Years counted
Prior teaching service is recognised at 100%, 50% or 33% depending on the kind of service. Apply within one month of starting. A late application takes effect only once it is received. Source
Also shown, not compared
What do relief and casual teachers earn?
Northern Territory
$460.93 to $504.96
a day, Relief teacher Tier 1 to Relief teacher Tier 3, from 1 Jan 2026. Includes a 25% loading. Source
Every step, side by side
Queensland
EST Step 2 · top
$3,688 a fortnight after tax
$3,688 a fortnight after tax
+$0
EST Step 1
$3,688 a fortnight after tax
$3,688 a fortnight after tax
+$2,948
Senior Teacher
$3,611 a fortnight after tax
$3,611 a fortnight after tax
+$5,244
Band 3 Step 4
$3,474 a fortnight after tax
$3,474 a fortnight after tax
+$4,096
Band 3 Step 3
$3,368 a fortnight after tax
$3,368 a fortnight after tax
+$3,783
Band 3 Step 2
$3,269 a fortnight after tax
$3,269 a fortnight after tax
+$3,835
Band 3 Step 1
$3,169 a fortnight after tax
$3,169 a fortnight after tax
+$3,861
Band 2 Step 4
$3,068 a fortnight after tax
$3,068 a fortnight after tax
+$4,566
Band 2 Step 3
$2,949 a fortnight after tax
$2,949 a fortnight after tax
+$4,617
Band 2 Step 2
$2,829 a fortnight after tax
$2,829 a fortnight after tax
+$4,435
Band 2 Step 1 · first year
$2,713 a fortnight after tax
$2,713 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.
See sources (11) ▾Hide sources ▴
- Brisbane Catholic Education: Teacher Salary Scale 2025: TEACHERS - Non Governmental Schools, 3% effective 05/07/2025, Brisbane Catholic Education (as at 5 Jul 2025)
- Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools: Salary scale - teachers, July 2025 (first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025), Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools (as at 1 Jul 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools (Northern Territory) Collective Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE530890) (as at 31 Oct 2025)
- 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)
- Queensland Department of Education: Choose your teaching adventure, remote teaching booklet (valid 23 January 2023, last modified 27 July 2026) (as at 27 Jul 2026)
- Queensland Department of Education: Department of Education (Queensland) Salary Schedule spreadsheet, Teachers sheet (header dated 1 November 2026). Fortnightly and annual salaries (annual = fortnightly x 26.089), award rates and certified agreement rates colour-coded, supply teacher day and hour rates (as at 24 Oct 2026)
- Queensland Government, Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel: Superannuation (State Public Sector) Regulation 2023 (Qld), SL 2023 No 47, schedule 1 part 1 item 5 (reprint current as at 1 July 2026) (as at 1 Jul 2026)
- Queensland Government, Public Sector Commission: Locality Allowances Directive 16/18, effective 11 May 2018, schedule of centres with full fortnightly rates (as at 11 May 2018)
- Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, published by Queensland Judgments (ICLRQ and Supreme Court Library Queensland): State of Queensland (Department of Education) v Queensland Teachers Union of Employees [2026] QIRC 267, CB/2025/63, Full Bench (Davis J President, O Connor VP, Hartigan DP). Orders made 24 August 2026, reasons 26 August 2026. Interim salary increase of 3 pct operative 7 September 2026, applied to the higher of the final rate under CB/2022/135 or the relevant Award rate at 30 June 2025, not backdated, pending the arbitration determination (as at 26 Aug 2026)
- Queensland Industrial Relations Commission: Department of Education State School Teachers' Certified Agreement 2022 (CB/2022/135) (as at 19 Dec 2022)