Compare · public school teachers
South Australia vs Northern Territory: teacher pay 2026
The Northern Territory pays $13,761 more at the top of the classroom scale. The Northern Territory pays $11,209 more in the first year.
Which pays more?
Top of the classroom scale
NT +$13,761 (11.2%)
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
After tax, and the dates
South Australia
Rates since 1 May 2026. The South Australia page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
Every step, side by side
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
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?
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 AustraliaNorthern 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?
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
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
Employer super
Country and remote schools
South Australia
2 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 SA and NT
Moving from SA 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 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
Registering to teach
South Australia
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
Northern Territory
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
See sources (7) ▾Hide sources ▴
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools (Northern Territory) Collective Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE530890) (as at 31 Oct 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: South Australian Catholic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2020 (AE517602) (as at 11 Oct 2022)
- 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)
- 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)