Moving states
Where would I start, and what would I earn?
For a public school teacher moving to another state: where that state's own rule says you would start, and what it pays today.
Each state has its own published rule for teachers moving in. Pick the two states and your years of teaching, and the rule gives the answer. Public schools only.
Moving from South Australia to Victoria, with 5 full years' teaching
You'd start on
Range 2-1
$106,758 a year
5 steps below the top: Range 2-6, $133,456
You earn now
Pick your current step above to see your pay
Good to know
- Casual teaching doesn't count towards your step in Victoria.
- Top of Victoria's classroom scale: Range 2-6, $133,456 a year ($26,698 more than Range 2-1). 5 more full years of approved teaching would start you there.
A guide from each state's published rule. Your new employer confirms your step. The details are below.
Base salaries in force today, before tax, without allowances or super. Rises that are decided but not yet in force are left out.
SourceThe Victoria rule · Rule read on 14 Oct 2026Open the source ↗
Your move
Classroom teacher steps only. For leaders, see Leaders and principals below.
Your pay now, from your state's own scale.
Don't count a year you're part-way through. Part-time counts pro rata. Casual teaching often doesn't count; see the rule below.
How it's worked out, and the rule
Where you'd start in Victoria
Classroom Teacher Range 2-1
$106,758 a year
How it's worked out
The starting step plus one step for each of your 5 full years.
Per step: one subdivision per full-time-equivalent year of approved teaching experience.
The rule
Starts on 1-1 plus one subdivision per full-time year of approved teaching experience, up to 2-6 (2-1 for positions advertised as range 2). Teaching in another Australian state counts; casual or sessional teaching does not.
The Victoria rule · Rule read on 14 Oct 2026
See the wording
salary subdivision 1-1, plus a salary subdivision for each equivalent full time year of approved teaching experience ... up to a maximum of subdivision 2-6
This is a guide from the state's published rule. Your new employer confirms your step when you start.
What you earn now in South Australia
Pick your current step above to see your pay.
Moving your registration to Victoria
Where you start on the pay scale
A teacher starts on subdivision 1-1 plus one subdivision for each full-time year of approved teaching experience, up to 2-6. Teaching in another Australian state counts.
Victorian Department of Education, Salary on employment, transfer or promotion · Checked 7 Oct 2026
Who registers teachers
Teachers in Victoria are registered by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). New graduates get Provisional registration for two years.
Victorian Institute of Teaching · Checked 7 Oct 2026
Fees
For 2026-27, first registration costs $175.60 with Victorian qualifications or $203.00 with interstate or overseas qualifications, plus $77.40 for the national criminal history check. The annual fee is $131.30 if paid by 30 September, or $173.10 if paid between 1 October and 31 December.
Victorian Institute of Teaching · Checked 7 Oct 2026
How long it lasts
Every teacher completes annual registration by 30 September. The registration year runs from 1 October to 30 September.
Victorian Institute of Teaching · Checked 7 Oct 2026
Moving from another state
Teachers registered in another state or New Zealand can apply for registration in Victoria under mutual recognition.
Victorian Institute of Teaching · Checked 7 Oct 2026
Not moving from another state? Check your starting step
Some schools pay extra to attract teachers. See the Pay map.
How each state places you
8 of 8
let a teacher registered in another state or New Zealand apply to register there
Every state and territory
3 of 8
place you by your years of teaching, one step for each full year
Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory
1 of 8
can match your current salary to place you
New South Wales
4 of 8
assess your experience case by case, with no step worked out in advance
Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT
Leaders and principals
Leadership and principal pay belongs to the position you apply for. No state carries a leadership level across from another state. Here is how each state sets the pay when you're appointed.
New South WalesEach leadership role (head teacher, assistant principal, deputy principal) has one rate in the award, and a principal’s rate depends on the school’s classification. Appointments are on merit, so the pay is the same whatever your experience elsewhere.
Where it's set
Award cl 9.1, cl 3.23 to 3.25, Schedules 2A and 3
In full
“All initial appointments must be on the basis of merit.”
Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024 · checked 17 Oct 2026
VictoriaOn promotion you start at the minimum of the advertised range. The principal can approve a higher salary, up to the range maximum, to attract you. Interstate teaching experience counts towards the starting salary for classroom teachers only.
Where it's set
Policy and Advisory Library, Salary on employment, transfer or promotion, and Attraction
In full
“On promotion an employee will commence at the minimum remuneration of the position that was advertised.”
Remuneration, Teaching Service: Salary on employment, transfer or promotion (Victorian Policy and Advisory Library, updated 8 September 2025) · checked 17 Oct 2026
QueenslandLeaders are chosen by merit selection. The award sets a starting step only for Queensland employees moving up a band (the lowest step that gives at least a 1% rise). It has no rule for leaders appointed from interstate.
Where it's set
Award cl 12.3.4
In full
“On employment in a head of program or school leader position at a higher salary band, the employee shall be paid at the salary step with the lowest salary that provides an increase of no less than one per cent compared to the salary of their substantive position.”
Western AustraliaSchool administrator levels have pay steps. The 2023 General Agreement sets a starting step only for a WA Level 3 Classroom Teacher promoted to a Level 3 administrator (the step above their current salary). It has no rule for leaders appointed from elsewhere.
Where it's set
General Agreement 2023 cl 15.6
In full
“will commence at the Level 3 School Administrator increment immediately above their current salary”
School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023 (2024 WAIRC 00949) · checked 17 Oct 2026
South AustraliaEach Leader band and each principal level has a single rate, so the pay for the position is the same whatever your experience elsewhere.
Where it's set
School Teacher Web Rates, effective 8 May 2026
In full
School Teacher Web Rates · checked 17 Oct 2026
TasmaniaYou start at the minimum salary for the position, unless the employer decides your qualifications and practical experience justify more.
Where it's set
Award S197 Part II cl 3
In full
“shall be the minimum salary for that position on the appropriate scale, except in any case where in the opinion of the employer, the qualifications and practical experience of such person or employee justify a higher salary”
Teaching Service (Tasmanian Public Sector) Award S197, Order No 5 of 2026 (consolidated) · checked 17 Oct 2026
ACTThe agreement sets pay on engagement for classroom teachers (by qualifications and experience). It has no published rule for the starting pay of school leaders.
Where it's set
Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 cl Q1.8
In full
“based on recognition of qualifications and prior experience, including both teaching and other work experience”
ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 — Annex A · checked 17 Oct 2026
Northern TerritorySenior Teacher and Principal levels are promotion positions, each with its own rate set by job evaluation. A principal can apply for pay progression after 12 months, based on performance.
Where it's set
Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 cl 37.5, 37.6 and 40
In full
“The ST1 – ST8 levels are promotion based classifications”
Northern Territory Public Sector Educators 2024-2027 Enterprise Agreement · checked 17 Oct 2026