Primary school teachers in NSW public schools start around $90,000-$92,000 as graduates in 2025/2026, with salaries increasing with experience to over $129,000 for experienced teachers at the top of the scale, following a 7-step progression based on accreditation and time in the role.
School teachers: Primary and secondary school teachers in NSW earn between $75,000 and $122,000 annually, depending on their experience and qualifications. Early childhood teachers: Early childhood teachers in NSW see a starting salary of around $85,000 on average.
Overall, this means that primary school teachers can earn between $79,000 to over $130,000 depending on their years in the role.
In NSW public schools, casual teacher daily pay varies by accreditation, with rates for 2024-2025 starting around $466 (CT1) up to $523 (CT2) or higher for experienced teachers (CT3), including holiday/sick leave loadings, while rates for 2023 showed a $452.85 base increasing to $565.42 with experience, but always check the NSW Dept of Ed for latest figures.
New teacher pay scales vary significantly by region, but generally show substantial increases, with starting salaries (graduate level) ranging from approximately $79,000 to over $100,000 AUD depending on the state or territory, while experienced teachers can reach $110,000 to $130,000+ annually, with some jurisdictions offering higher figures for leadership roles. Key updates include significant hikes, like WA's graduate pay jumping to $88,178 and ACT's starting range from $88,615 to $101,278 in 2025, reflecting major investments in education.
Across Australia, you'll have a starting salary of between $79,000 and $92,000 as a graduate, depending on your state or territory. An experienced teacher can earn between $111,000 and $131,000. You can find a full breakdown of state/territory-based teacher salaries below.
According to a report, the Government school teacher salary ranges from ₹24,786 - ₹63,694 per month.
No, you generally cannot teach in a mainstream NSW school without a teaching degree, as you need an accredited qualification (like a Bachelor of Education or Master of Teaching) and teacher accreditation from NESA. However, you might find roles as a teaching assistant, or qualify to teach in TAFE/VET with a Cert IV in Training and Assessment, but these are different from being a fully qualified classroom teacher.
Professors in universities and colleges are among the highest-paid teaching professionals in the education sector. In addition to teaching, professors are expected to have in-depth knowledge of their subject matter and conduct independent research to advance their field.
Victoria (VIC) generally has the lowest paid public school teachers in Australia, especially at entry-level, with recent reports from the Australian Education Union (AEU) indicating their salaries lag significantly behind other states like NSW, leading to teacher shortages and retention issues, with unions actively campaigning for substantial pay increases.
Research studies have indicated that teaching is one of the most stressful occupations (Johnson et al., 2005; Herman et al., 2020; Greenier et al., 2021).
GP salaries in Australia vary significantly but typically range from $200,000 to over $350,000 annually for experienced, full-time doctors, with some rural roles or high-billing practices reaching $400,000+; registrar earnings are lower ($85k-$130k), while locums earn per day ($2k-$3k), influenced by location (rural pays more), billing (private higher), experience, and practice type. Full-time GPs (8+ sessions) average around $345k, while part-timers average $240k.
The five highest-paying states based on what they pay the 90th percentile of teachers are:
NSW teachers are set to receive a 3% pay rise in October 2025, following a similar 3% increase in October 2024, as part of a three-year agreement. This is in addition to a 0.5% superannuation increase in July 2025, under the NSW Government's Fair Pay and Bargaining Policy.
2025 teacher pay scales vary significantly by country, state, and experience, but generally show graduate teachers starting around $80,000-$90,000 AUD (e.g., SA, QLD) and rising with years of service, with top experienced teachers potentially earning over $120,000-$140,000 AUD, while roles in high-demand areas like Australia's Northern Territory offer even higher entry points (over $90k) and top scales around $131,000+, reflecting incremental growth and regional needs.
A primary school teacher in Australia earns a salary of $90,000 per year. New primary school teachers starting in the role can take home a salary of $80,000 annually, while experienced teachers earn an upward of $110,000 yearly. The remuneration package usually includes benefits like house and car allowance.
In 2024, preschool teachers made the least, earning around $52,800 annually. High school teachers made the most at around $64,700 per year. In other words, teachers of the oldest students earned about 22.5% more than those teaching the youngest.
Special Education: Supporting Students with Disabilities
Special education remains one of the most in-demand teaching subjects due to the growing need for qualified educators and the unique challenges of the field. Over the past 45 years, the number of students in special education programs has doubled.
The #1 highest-paying job is consistently in the medical field, with Surgeons and Anesthesiologists often topping lists globally and in countries like Australia, earning over $400,000 AUD on average due to extensive training and high-pressure responsibilities, though roles like Financial Dealers, CEOs, and specialized Engineers also rank high.
The 70/30 rule in teaching generally means students should be actively engaged (talking, practicing, applying) for 70% of the time, while the teacher provides instruction, feedback, and prompts for the remaining 30%, shifting focus from teacher-led lecturing to student-centered application for better learning and fluency, especially in language learning. It's a guideline to maximize student participation, fostering deeper understanding through practice rather than passive listening.
The problem is worse in rural and remote areas. An international survey published last year found 58 per cent of Australian principals say they have a shortage of teachers in their school — more than double the OECD average. NSW is short around 962 teachers, while Victoria is currently advertising 1,711 school jobs.
Building a career in your 20s leaves plenty of time for deep-dive professional development. High school teachers in their 20s may find they relate more easily to their students. Young teachers in elementary education bring energy and creativity to the position.
Although teachers don't work during the summer, some school districts give teachers a choice between receiving their annual salary over the 10 months of the school year or spreading paychecks out over a full year.
How to make more money as a teacher