What is the Pay Rate for QLD Teachers?

(Last Updated On: July 15, 2023)

This article covers the salaries of full-time classroom teachers in Queensland. For the pay rates for QLD casual relief teachers, see What is the Relief Teacher Pay Rate in Queensland?

QLD Public Schools Pay Rates

In Queensland public schools, teachers are paid according to the Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022A beginning QLD teacher in 2023 will earn a salary of $71,986, but an experienced teacher can earn up to $119,518.

The pay rates for each classification level are in the table below. This also includes the pay increase that teachers will receive midway through 2023:

Classification LevelPay PointSalary as of 1/7/2022Salary as of 1/7/2023
Band 1Step 1$69,218 $71,986
Step 2$71,602 $74,467 
Band 2Step 1$78,490 $81,628 
Step 2$82,325$85,617 
Step 3$86,233$89,682 
Step 4$90,292$93,903 
Band 3Step 1$94,015$97,775
Step 2$97,874 $101,790 
Step 3$101,780$105,850 
Step 4$104,193 $108,359
Senior Teacher (4 yr trained)$108,970$113,329
Experienced Senior TeacherStep 1$113,118$117,642
Step 2$114,921$119,518 
Highly Accomplished Teacher$122,077 $126,961 
Lead Teacher$133,277$138,607 
Source

See more: How to Increase Your Salary as a Teacher

Moving up a Classification Level

In Queensland public schools, classroom teachers will be paid at Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3.

Band 1 is for teachers who are doing an internship. You will move up a step within this Band once you have a year of experience in the classroom. Once a teacher is fully qualified, they will be paid at Band 2. Again, you will move through the Band for each year of service.

Once a Graduate teacher has become a certified Proficient teacher, they will move to Band 3. 

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

Senior Teacher

Three months before you reach the final Step of Band 3, you can begin your application to move up to Senior Teacher. To do this, you will need to complete an undertaking and personal action plan.

You will be able to access your undertaking and action plan on OnePortal. This is only for Qld Department of Education employees, so you will not have access if you are not working in a Queensland public school. 

Experienced Senior Teacher

Senior Teachers with two or more years of working at this level can move up to Experienced Senior Teacher.

Before you become an EST, you will need to undertake a process. This includes filling out a form and assessment by a local panel, which needs to be agreed upon by you and the panel members. 

To move to Step 2 of the Experienced Senior Teacher Classification level, you will need to have been on Step 1 of EST for three years. Once you have reached that, you will be eligible to request an Annual Performance Review (APR) discussion with your supervisor. This discussion will be about how your teaching practice aligns with the Highly Accomplished Teacher career stage. Based on this discussion, your supervisor will make a decision about whether you are ready to be classified as an EST2.

See more: What is the QLD Teacher Annual Performance Review Process?

It is important to note that the Highly Accomplished Teacher level of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is only relevant if you are planning on becoming an EST2. If you are an EST1, your Annual Performance Review doesn’t need to be based on the standards at HAT level. 

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

QLD Catholic Schools Pay Rates

Teachers who are working in Queensland Catholic schools will be paid according to the table below:

ClassificationAnnual Salary as of 1/7/2022
3 Year TrainedStep 1$69,507
Step 2$71,886
Graduate$78,490
Proficient 1$82,325
Proficient 2$86,233
Proficient 3$90,292
Proficient 4$97,874
Proficient 5$101,780
Proficient 6$104,193
Proficient 7$108,970
Proficient 8$113,045
Experienced Proficient Teacher$114,920
Highly Accomplished Teacher$122,080
Lead Teacher$133,277
4 Year TrainedGraduate$78,490
Proficient 1$82,325
Proficient 2$86,233
Proficient 3$90,292
Proficient 4$97,874
Proficient 5$101,780
Proficient 6$104,193
Proficient 7$108,970
Proficient 8$113,045
Experienced Proficient Teacher$114,920
Highly Accomplished Teacher$122,080
Lead Teacher$133,277
Source

Years of Training

The table above has two scales: one for 3 year trained teachers and one for 4 year trained teachers. This refers to the number of years of teacher training that you have undertaken. 

If you spent 3 years at university, you will be paid according to your classification on the 3 year trained scale. If you spent 4 years because you did a post-graduate degree, you will be paid according to the 4 year trained scale. 

It is important to note that both 3 year and 4 year trained teachers will be paid the same salary by the time they gain full registration and become a certified Proficient teacher. 4 year trained teachers will start at the Graduate classification, while 3 year trained teachers will start at Step 1.

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

Moving up in Classification

Teachers will move through the different classifications annually. The exception is moving to become a Proficient teacher, which requires you to become a certified Proficient teacher and gain full teacher’s registration. 

This is the same for the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher classifications. You cannot reach these classifications and pay rates automatically through experience. You will need to become a certified Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher to reach these levels of the pay scale. 

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

QLD Private Schools Pay Rates

Every private school in Queensland has the ability to determine their own pay for their teachers. 

There are a few smaller sectors in Queensland such as the Lutheran and Anglican schools. These sectors will have similar if not the same salary structure. 
If you want more information about a particular school or sector, you will need to either contact the Independent Education Union or the school itself. The IEU has an archive of collective agreements that include salary negotiations with different sectors and schools.

How does QLD compare to other states?

Elise is an enthusiastic and passionate Australian teacher who is on a mission to inspire and support fellow educators. With over a decade of experience in the classroom, Elise leverages her expertise and creativity to provide valuable insights and resources through her blog. Whether you're looking for innovative lesson ideas, effective teaching strategies, or just a dose of inspiration, Elise has got you covered.

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