What is the hourly rate for a teacher under the award?

For preschools and schools, the minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 teacher is $38.30, based on a 38-hour week. Higher levels range up to $52.99 per hour at Level 5. For long day care centres, rates are 4% higher. See the award for full details.

How is casual loading applied to teachers?

Casual teachers receive a 25% loading on the minimum weekly rate. For a Level 1 teacher in a preschool or school, the full-day casual rate is $363.85 (including loading). Casual employees engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3. The loading is paid on top of the base rate, so you should not enter a rate that already includes casual loading into a calculator.

What tax and Medicare deductions apply to a teachers salary?

For 2026–27, resident tax rates are: nil up to $18,200, 15% from $18,201 to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, 37% to $190,000, and 45% above that. Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Superannuation guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, paid on top, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Use the [take-home pay](/topics/take-home) page to estimate net income.

Understanding Your Teachers Salary: Award Rates, Tax, and Take-Home Pay in 2026

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, a full-time teacher at Level 1 earns $1,455.40 per week or $75,941 per year based on 38 ordinary hours.

Converting a Teachers Salary from Hourly to Annual

If you're an educator covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, understanding your teachers salary starts with knowing your classification and the correct hourly or weekly rate. The award sets minimum pay for teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. To convert an hourly rate to an annual figure, the standard formula is:

Annual gross ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

For full-time teachers, ordinary hours are 38 per week (). So a Level 1 teacher earning $38.30 per hour would have an annual salary of roughly $38.30 × 38 × 52 = $75,941, matching the award's minimum annual rate. This calculation assumes the same rate every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances.

Award Rates for Teachers

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide with current rates. For preschools and schools, the weekly and hourly rates from 1 July 2026 are:

Level 1: $1,455.40 per week ($38.30 per hour)
Level 2: $1,590.70 per week ($41.86 per hour)
Level 3: $1,731.70 per week ($45.57 per hour)
Level 4: $1,872.70 per week ($49.28 per hour)
Level 5: $2,013.70 per week ($52.99 per hour)

For long day care centres, rates are 4% higher (e.g., Level 1: $1,513.60 per week). Part-time teachers are paid pro-rata based on these full-time rates.

Fortnightly Pay

Most teachers are paid fortnightly. Multiply the weekly rate by 2 to get the gross fortnightly amount. For a Level 1 teacher, that's $1,455.40 × 2 = $2,910.80 before tax. The award allows payment fortnightly, every four weeks, or monthly ().

Casual Loading

Casual teachers receive a 25% loading on the minimum rate. For example, a casual Level 1 teacher working a full day (7.6 hours) earns $363.85, which includes the loading. If you use the timesheet to estimate pay, enter the base hourly rate (e.g., $38.30) and check the casual loading box – never type a rate that already includes the 25% loading.

Tax and Medicare on Your Teachers Salary

Once you have your annual gross, the Australian Taxation Office's 2026–27 resident tax rates apply:

Up to $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. For a Level 1 teacher earning $75,941, the tax estimate (before offsets) would be:

Tax on first $18,200: $0
Tax on $18,201–$45,000: $4,020 (15% of $26,800)
Tax on $45,001–$75,941: $9,282 (30% of $30,940)
Total tax: $13,302
Medicare levy: $1,519 (2% of $75,941)

This is a simplified estimate. The take-home pay page can help you calculate net income more precisely, including the tax-free threshold and any offsets.

Superannuation Paid on Top

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee at 12% of ordinary earnings, on top of your salary. For a $75,941 annual salary, that's an extra $9,113 into your super fund, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. Super is not deducted from your pay; it's an additional cost for the employer. See super and packaging for more details.

Comparing with Other Benchmarks

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for 38 hours). A Level 1 teacher's $38.30 is well above that. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports average weekly earnings for full-time adults at $2,083.70 (May 2026), so a Level 5 teacher's $2,013.70 is close to the national average. Use reference tables to compare award rates with other occupations.

Summary

Understanding your teachers salary involves knowing your award classification, converting hourly or weekly rates to annual figures, and accounting for tax, Medicare, and super. The Fair Work Ombudsman's award and pay guide are the authoritative sources. For a quick estimate, use the timesheet with your base hourly rate and the casual loading checkbox if applicable. Always check your actual pay against the award to ensure you're receiving the correct minimum entitlements.