Secondary school teacher salary: Award rates, casual loading and super explained
A secondary school teacher under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award earns between $38.30 and $52.99 per hour (based on a 38-hour week), with superannuation paid on top of the base rate.
Secondary school teacher salary under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award
If you are a secondary school teacher in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077), which covers teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official pay guide, and the rates are updated each year on 1 July. For the 2026–27 financial year, the award provides five classification levels for teachers in preschools and schools, ranging from a graduate teacher (Level 1) to a highly accomplished or lead teacher (Level 5).
Award rates for secondary school teachers (preschools and schools)
| Classification | Minimum weekly rate | Minimum hourly rate | Annual salary (38-hour week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,455.40 | $38.30 | $75,941 |
| Level 2 | $1,590.70 | $41.86 | $83,004 |
| Level 3 | $1,731.70 | $45.57 | $90,362 |
| Level 4 | $1,872.70 | $49.28 | $97,720 |
| Level 5 | $2,013.70 | $52.99 | $105,076 |
These figures come directly from the pay guide and the consolidated award. A full-time teacher works an average of 38 ordinary hours per week. Part-time teachers are paid pro-rata at the same hourly rate.
How to convert your hourly rate to annual salary
The standard formula used on this site is:
Annual gross pay = hourly rate × hours per week × 52
For a full-time secondary school teacher, we assume 38 hours per week. So a Level 1 teacher earning $38.30 per hour would have an annual salary of $38.30 × 38 × 52 = $75,941, matching the award. You can also calculate your fortnightly pay by multiplying your weekly rate by 2. For example, the weekly rate for Level 1 is $1,455.40, so a fortnightly pay would be $2,910.80 before tax and super.
Use the timesheet to enter your base hourly rate and see your estimated annual, fortnightly, and weekly pay. If you are a casual teacher, tick the casual loading checkbox to add 25% on top.
Casual loading and superannuation paid on top
Casual teachers receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. Under the award, a casual employee engaged for less than five consecutive days is paid no higher than the Level 3 rate. The casual daily rate is calculated as the weekly rate divided by 5, plus 25%. For example, a casual Level 1 teacher would receive $38.30 + 25% = $47.88 per hour (or the applicable daily rate).
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. The super guarantee rate for 2026–27 is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. This means if your base hourly rate is $38.30, your employer must contribute an additional $4.60 per hour to your super fund. The super is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost for the employer. For more details, see our super and packaging page.
National Minimum Wage vs award rates
The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). The casual rate including 25% loading is $33.05 per hour. However, the Educational Services (Teachers) Award sets higher minimum rates for teachers, so secondary school teachers are always paid above the national minimum. The award rates are the legal minimum; many teachers are covered by enterprise agreements that may offer higher pay.
Tax and take-home pay
Your take-home pay depends on your total taxable income. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a Medicare levy of 2% (with possible reductions for low-income earners). Use our take-home pay guide to estimate your net pay after tax and Medicare.
Important notes
- The annual pay shown here assumes the same hourly rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice.
- Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base.
- Tax is based on the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here.
- HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted.
This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax. For official pay guides, visit the pay guides page. For more on casual loading, see casual loading.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.