What is the Pay Rate for NSW Teachers?

TThis article explains the salaries for NSW teachers in the public, catholic, and independent sectors. It covers full-time classroom teachers. If you are interested in pay rates for casual relief teachers in NSW, see What is the Relief Teacher Pay in NSW?

NSW Public School Teacher Salaries

According to the NSW Public Teacher Enterprise Agreement, teachers will be paid according to which of the following bands they fall under. A beginning teacher in NSW can expect to earn $73,737, while an experienced teacher can earn a salary of $109,978. These pay rates are outlined in the table below:

See more: How to Increase your Salary as a Teacher

Teachers who are at the Graduate career stage according to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers will be paid at Band 1. 

Teachers who have moved to the Proficient career stage will be paid at Band 2.0. After two years of service, Proficient teachers will move to Band 2.1. After this, teachers will move to 2.2 and 2.3 after each year of continued service.

To move to Band 3, you must become a certified Highly Accomplished or Lead teacher.

See more: Do Teachers Really Get Paid for the Holidays?

NSW Catholic School Teacher Salaries

The annual salaries for school teachers in NSW Catholic schools range from $65,165 to $107,779, with one more pay rise if you become an accredited Highly Accomplished Teacher. The exact rates for each Band are in the table below. These are found in the NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement:

See more: Pay for Teachers Around the World: How Australia Stacks Up

Conditionally Accredited Teachers

Unlike the NSW public school system, Catholic schools have a salary level for Conditionally Accredited Teachers. If you are a teacher who has yet to be officially accredited, you will be paid at either Level 1 or Level 2. 

Level 1 is for those who have started a teacher education degree but still need to complete all necessary course credits to graduate. Level 2 is for those who have completed all the course requirements of a teaching degree but still need to get official accreditation. 

Accredited Teachers

A teacher who has two years of teaching experience and is a certified Proficient teacher will be paid at Band 2. Teachers will start on Level 1 and move up one level for each year of teaching experience.

Teachers will move to Band 3 once they become a certified Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher.

See more: Is it Worth Becoming a Highly Accomplished Teacher?

NSW Independent School Teacher Salaries

Teachers in NSW Independent schools will be paid between $84,470 and $119,677 as of 2023, depending on which Band they fall in. The exact rates for each Band are in the table below. This is according to the NSW Independent Schools Multi-Enterprise Agreement. 

In the Independent school system, the Band 1 salary is for teachers who are conditionally accredited or at the Proficient career stage. 

A teacher will move to Band 2 once they have attained Proficient Teacher status. 

Band 3 is for experienced teachers who have 7 or more years of teaching experience.

See more: How to Pick a Realistic Side Hustle as a Teacher

Pay rates in different Independent Schools

NSW Independent schools must pay the rates above at minimum. Many Independent schools in New South Wales will pay their teachers more than the above rates, but they cannot pay less.

How does NSW compare to other states?

• WA
• NT
• VIC
• SA
• QLD

See more:

Work, Health and Safety in NSW Public Schools

Flexible Working Arrangements in NSW Schools

Understanding Allowances for NSW Schools: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Casual Teachers’ Pay and Entitlements in NSW