What is the minimum early childhood teacher salary under the award?

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, a full-time Level 1 teacher (graduate) in a preschool or school earns a minimum annual salary of $75,941. For long day care centres, the minimum is $78,979. These rates apply from 1 July 2026 and are based on 38 ordinary hours per week over 52 weeks. Higher levels (Level 2–5) pay more, up to $105,076 for a Highly Accomplished teacher in a school.

How is casual loading calculated for an early childhood teacher?

Casual employees under the award receive a 25% loading on top of the ordinary hourly rate. For a Level 1 teacher in a preschool, the casual full-day rate is $292.43 (weekly rate divided by 5 plus 25%). The loading is added to the base rate before any penalties or allowances. The on-site calculator lets you check a box to add casual loading automatically.

Does superannuation apply on top of the early childhood teacher salary?

Yes. The superannuation guarantee requires employers to contribute 12% of ordinary earnings on top of the salary, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 (2026–27). For a Level 1 teacher earning $75,941, the super contribution would be about $9,113 per year. This is paid in addition to the salary, not deducted from it.

Understanding the Early Childhood Teacher Salary: Award Rates, Casual Loading, and Annual Pay

A full-time early childhood teacher at Level 1 under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 earns a minimum annual salary of $75,941 (preschools/schools) or $78,979 (long day care), based on a 38-hour week and 52-week year.

Early Childhood Teacher Salary: Award Rates and Annual Conversion

If you are an early childhood teacher or considering the profession, understanding how your hourly rate translates to an annual salary is essential. The early childhood teacher salary is governed by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077), which sets minimum pay rates for teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. This article explains how to convert an hourly rate to annual pay using a 38-hour week, a 52-week year, and the fortnightly pay cycle. We also cover casual loading, superannuation, and tax.

Award Minimum Rates for Early Childhood Teachers

The award classifies teachers from Level 1 (graduate) to Level 5 (Highly Accomplished/Lead). For a full-time employee working 38 ordinary hours per week, the minimum annual salary for a Level 1 teacher in a preschool or school is $75,941. In a long day care centre, the rate is higher at $78,979 because the centre operates for at least 8 hours a day, 48 weeks or more per year.

These rates are the legal minimum. Many employers, especially those covered by the Early Childhood Education and Care Multi-Employer Agreement 2024-26, may pay above the award. For example, that agreement includes an ECEC Worker Retention Payment that can boost the standard rate.

Converting Hourly to Annual: The Formula

To estimate your annual gross pay, use the formula:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For a full-time early childhood teacher, the standard week is 38 hours. So if your hourly rate is $40, your annual salary would be:

$40 × 38 × 52 = $79,040

This matches the award structure: the weekly rate is the annual rate divided by 52.18 (the award uses 52.18 to account for leap years), but for simplicity, 52 weeks is a common approximation. The on-site timesheet calculator uses 52 weeks.

Fortnightly Pay and the Award

Most teachers are paid fortnightly. Under the award, wages must be paid no later than the last working day of each fortnight, or monthly by agreement. To find your fortnightly gross, multiply your weekly rate by 2. For a Level 1 teacher in a preschool, the weekly rate is $1,455.40, so the fortnightly amount is $2,910.80 before tax and super.

Casual Loading for Early Childhood Teachers

Casual early childhood teachers receive a 25% loading on the ordinary hourly rate. The award specifies that a casual engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3. For a Level 1 casual, the full-day rate is the weekly rate divided by 5, plus 25%. That equals $292.43 per day. The on-site calculator has a checkbox to add casual loading automatically—never type a rate that already includes the loading.

Superannuation: Paid on Top

Superannuation is an additional 12% of your ordinary earnings, paid by your employer into a fund. It is not deducted from your salary. For a full-time early childhood teacher earning $75,941, the super contribution would be about $9,113 per year, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is separate from your take-home pay.

Tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay depends on tax brackets. For 2026–27, the resident tax rates are:

$0–$18,200: nil
$18,201–$45,000: 15%
$45,001–$135,000: 30%
$135,001–$190,000: 37%
Over $190,000: 45%

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. The on-site take-home pay tool estimates net pay after tax and Medicare.

Comparing Award Rates to the National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour for a 38-hour week, or $1,004.90 per week. Early childhood teachers are covered by the award, which pays significantly more. For example, a Level 1 teacher’s hourly rate (preschool) is about $38.45 ($1,455.40 ÷ 38). This is well above the minimum wage, reflecting the qualification and responsibility required.

Using the On-Site Calculator

The hourly conversion page lets you enter your hourly rate and see annual, fortnightly, and weekly figures. Remember: the calculator assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top. Tax uses the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold.

Summary

Understanding your early childhood teacher salary starts with knowing the award rate for your classification and setting. Use the formula hourly × 38 × 52 to get an annual estimate. Check your pay guide for any allowances, such as the director’s allowance or educational leader allowance, which add to your base rate. For more detail, see the pay guides and reference tables on this site.