Compare · public school teachers
Queensland vs South Australia: 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
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia page
| Figure | QLD | SA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | $90,164 | $84,971 | not compared |
| Top of the classroom scale | $127,549 | $123,236 | not compared |
| Steps to the top | 11 steps | 9 tiers | — |
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
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia page
Side by side, as usual
What happens next with pay?
South 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 AustraliaEmployer super
Registering to teach
Queensland
$107.64 each year. Source
South Australia
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 mapSouth Australia
2 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between QLD and SA
Moving from QLD 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 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?
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
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
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.
See sources (12) ▾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: South Australian Catholic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2020 (AE517602) (as at 11 Oct 2022)
- 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)
- 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)