How much do teachers earn in Sydney? Teacher salaries in Sydney are determined primarily by the type of school, the teacher's qualification and accreditation, experience, position and employer. For teachers working in NSW public schools, salaries are set under the NSW teacher salary and award system rather than by the City of Sydney.
The NSW Department of Education currently lists a 7-step salary scale for classroom teachers. A new graduate can earn approximately A$90,177 per year, while the current experienced-teacher rate reaches approximately A$129,536 per year.
For NSW public school classroom teachers, the current salary scale starts at approximately A$90,177 per year for a new graduate.
The scale rises through seven salary steps to approximately A$129,536 per year for an experienced teacher.
These are NSW public-school salary figures. Private schools, independent schools and international schools can use different salary structures and employment packages.
Salary figures on this page refer primarily to NSW public-school classroom teachers. Private, independent and international schools may offer different salaries and benefits.
Sydney public schools are part of the NSW public education system. Consequently, there is not a separate "Sydney teacher salary scale" for NSW public school classroom teachers. The applicable salary structure is the NSW Department of Education's standards-based remuneration system.
The current NSW Department of Education salary information lists seven salary steps for classroom teachers. The published scale starts at approximately A$90,177 for a new graduate and reaches approximately A$129,536 for an experienced teacher.
| Teacher Salary Step | Typical Career Stage | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | New graduate / beginning teacher | A$90,177 |
| Step 2 | Early career teacher | Progressive NSW salary scale |
| Step 3 | Developing teacher | Progressive NSW salary scale |
| Step 4 | Experienced teacher | Progressive NSW salary scale |
| Step 5 | Experienced teacher | Progressive NSW salary scale |
| Step 6 | Highly experienced teacher | Progressive NSW salary scale |
| Step 7 | Experienced teacher at top classroom-teacher step | A$129,536 |
The NSW Department of Education currently describes the classroom-teacher structure as a 7-step salary scale. The exact salary applicable to an individual teacher depends on their salary determination, accreditation and recognised experience.
No separate City of Sydney salary scale applies to teachers employed by NSW public schools. Sydney is located in New South Wales, so public-school teachers are employed under the NSW education system.
This is an important difference from systems where individual cities or municipalities set their own teacher salaries.
Therefore, when searching for "teacher salary Sydney", the most relevant official reference is the NSW Department of Education salary structure.
Teacher salaries generally increase as teachers progress through the NSW standards-based remuneration structure and obtain the experience and accreditation required for higher salary levels.
| Career Stage | Typical Situation | Salary Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Teacher | Recently completed teacher education | Starting salary and accreditation |
| Early Career Teacher | Developing classroom experience | Salary progression and teaching experience |
| Experienced Teacher | Several years of teaching experience | Recognised experience and salary determination |
| Highly Experienced Teacher | Established teaching career | Higher salary step and professional experience |
| Head Teacher / Leadership | Additional school responsibilities | Separate leadership remuneration structure |
Primary school teachers in NSW public schools are employed within the NSW teacher remuneration system.
A primary teacher does not receive a separate City of Sydney salary simply because they teach in Sydney. Salary depends on the applicable NSW classification, accreditation, salary step and recognised experience.
A new graduate entering the NSW public-school system can currently start at approximately A$90,177 per year, while the published classroom-teacher scale reaches approximately A$129,536.
See also: Primary Teacher Salary in Sydney
Secondary school teachers in NSW public schools are also covered by the NSW standards-based remuneration structure.
The actual salary depends on the teacher's accreditation, recognised experience and applicable salary determination.
Teachers of subjects such as mathematics, science, technology and other high-demand areas may also encounter specific recruitment programs and incentives depending on current NSW workforce requirements.
See: Secondary Teacher Salary in Sydney
Kindergarten teaching in Australia needs to be distinguished from school teaching because early childhood education and school education can have different qualification and employment arrangements.
Teachers working in NSW school settings are subject to the applicable NSW school-teacher requirements, while early childhood teachers may work under different regulatory and employment arrangements.
For anyone comparing kindergarten and primary teaching careers in Sydney, it is therefore important to check the exact type of institution and position rather than assuming that all "kindergarten teachers" have the same salary structure.
See: Kindergarten Teacher Salary in Sydney
Special education teachers can work in specialist schools, support programs and mainstream schools with additional learning-support responsibilities.
Salary depends on the position, accreditation, employer and applicable NSW employment structure.
Additional qualifications and specialist experience can also be relevant when applying for specialist teaching positions.
See: Special Education Teacher Salary in Sydney
Experience is an important factor in determining teacher salary in NSW. However, teachers should not assume that every year of employment automatically produces exactly the same salary increase.
The NSW Department of Education has a formal salary determination process for establishing commencing salary rates and recognising relevant previous experience.
Relevant teaching experience, prior employment and certain career experience can be considered under the applicable rules.
| Experience Level | Typical Situation | Important Salary Factor |
|---|---|---|
| New Graduate | Beginning teaching career | Accreditation and initial salary level |
| Early Career | Developing teaching experience | Progression through salary structure |
| Experienced Teacher | Several years of relevant teaching | Recognised experience and salary determination |
| Senior Teacher | Longer professional experience | Salary step and accreditation |
| Leadership | Head teacher, assistant principal or principal role | Separate leadership classification |
This is particularly important for teachers moving to Sydney from another Australian state or from overseas.
The NSW Department of Education has a formal salary determination process that can consider relevant teaching experience and, in certain circumstances, prior employment and career experience.
Experienced teachers from other education systems can submit evidence of their previous service when seeking salary determination.
The Department specifically advises experienced teachers from interstate and overseas to provide appropriate statements of service and supporting documentation.
Keep detailed evidence of previous teaching employment, including the employer, position held, employment dates and full-time-equivalent workload. This documentation can be important when NSW determines the appropriate commencing salary.
Sydney is Australia's largest city and is one of the country's major employment centres for education.
However, comparing a Sydney teacher salary with a national teacher salary requires care. Public-school salaries are determined at the state or territory level, while private and independent schools can have their own employment arrangements.
For NSW public schools, the official NSW Department of Education salary structure is more useful than a generic national average.
International schools in Sydney do not necessarily use the NSW public-school salary scale. Each school can have its own employment contract, salary structure and benefits package.
International-school teacher salaries can depend on:
Teachers considering international schools should compare the entire employment package rather than looking only at the advertised annual salary.
See: International School Teacher Salary in Sydney
Sydney has a large education and language-training market, including schools, English language providers, tutoring companies and private education businesses.
However, being a native English speaker does not automatically qualify someone to work as a school teacher in NSW.
School teaching normally requires the appropriate teacher education, accreditation and employment requirements.
English-language teaching outside the school system can have different qualification and employment requirements.
See: English Teacher Salary in Sydney
Vocational education and training is another major part of the Australian education system.
VET teachers and trainers can work in TAFE institutions, registered training organisations and other education providers.
Their salary structure is different from the NSW public-school classroom-teacher scale, so vocational teaching should be treated as a separate career category.
See: Vocational Teacher Salary in Sydney
School leadership positions have different remuneration arrangements from ordinary classroom-teacher positions.
The NSW Department of Education publishes separate remuneration information for school leaders.
Current NSW information lists examples of leadership salaries including approximately:
| Leadership Position | Published Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Assistant Principal / Head Teacher | A$149,059 |
| Deputy Principal | A$174,034 |
| Principal | A$229,435 |
| Executive Principal | A$245,989 |
Leadership remuneration depends on the applicable classification, school and current NSW remuneration arrangements. These figures should not be treated as the salary of an ordinary classroom teacher.
See: School Principal Salary in Sydney
Teacher salaries in Australia are normally quoted as annual gross salaries. To get a simple monthly equivalent, divide the annual salary by 12.
| Annual Salary | Approximate Monthly Gross Equivalent |
|---|---|
| A$90,177 | Approximately A$7,515 |
| A$100,000 | Approximately A$8,333 |
| A$110,000 | Approximately A$9,167 |
| A$120,000 | Approximately A$10,000 |
| A$129,536 | Approximately A$10,795 |
These are simple annual-salary divided-by-12 calculations. Actual payroll payments, tax withholding, superannuation and other employment arrangements can differ.
A teacher's net income can be lower after Australian income tax, Medicare levy, employee deductions and other applicable amounts. Employer superannuation should also be considered when comparing employment packages.
Teachers employed in Australia generally have superannuation arrangements as part of their employment package.
When comparing teaching jobs, check whether the advertised salary is quoted as base salary plus superannuation or as a total remuneration package including superannuation.
This distinction is important when comparing a NSW public-school position with a private or international school position.
Teachers can work full-time or part-time depending on the position and employer.
A part-time teacher generally receives salary in proportion to their employment fraction. For example, an 80% position would normally provide a lower annual base salary than the same position at 100% employment.
Part-time employment can also affect superannuation, leave arrangements and other employment benefits, so salary alone should not be used to compare two teaching jobs.
Yes. Overseas-trained teachers can work in Sydney, but they need to satisfy the relevant NSW teacher accreditation and employment requirements.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) assesses teacher accreditation requirements. NESA specifically provides an accreditation pathway for people who completed qualifications outside Australia.
For overseas-qualified teachers, NESA states that eligibility involves qualifications comparable to an accredited Australian teaching degree and requires evidence such as qualifications, identity and English-language proficiency where applicable.
See our related guide: Jobs in Sydney for Foreigners
For school teaching in NSW, teacher accreditation through the NSW Education Standards Authority is an important part of the professional requirements.
NESA operates the teacher accreditation system for NSW and provides information for Australian-trained and overseas-qualified teachers.
Teachers who completed qualifications outside Australia are specifically identified by NESA as overseas-qualified teachers and must provide the required evidence for their application.
Teachers who qualified outside Australia should investigate NESA's accreditation requirements before applying for NSW teaching positions.
The assessment is not simply based on the number of years a person has taught. Qualifications, evidence and the applicable accreditation requirements are important.
Do not assume that a teaching degree from another country automatically provides the same professional status as an Australian teaching qualification. Check the current NESA requirements and obtain the required accreditation before relying on a Sydney teacher salary estimate.
Sydney's large education sector provides teaching opportunities across public schools, independent schools, Catholic schools, international schools, language education, vocational education and private tutoring.
Higher remuneration in education is not necessarily determined simply by the title "teacher." Additional responsibility, leadership, accreditation, experience and specialist skills can affect remuneration.
Sydney has a high cost of living compared with many Australian cities, particularly for housing.
A teacher comparing job offers should therefore look at the relationship between gross salary, estimated take-home pay, rent, transportation, groceries, childcare and other household expenses.
A salary that looks attractive in annual terms can have a very different practical value depending on where you live in Sydney and whether you are supporting a family.
Useful IsSydney guides:
Salary negotiation depends strongly on the type of school.
For NSW public-school teachers, salary progression is structured through the applicable NSW remuneration system and salary-determination rules. Therefore, negotiation does not necessarily work in the same way as negotiating a salary at a private company.
Private and international schools can have more variation in their salary packages. When comparing offers, consider:
| Teaching Career | Sydney / NSW Salary Information |
|---|---|
| Graduate Teacher | NSW public-school classroom teacher starting salary is approximately A$90,177 |
| Experienced Teacher | NSW public-school classroom-teacher scale reaches approximately A$129,536 |
| Primary Teacher | Covered by the NSW classroom-teacher remuneration structure |
| Secondary Teacher | Covered by the NSW classroom-teacher remuneration structure |
| Special Education | Salary depends on position, accreditation and employer |
| Head Teacher / Assistant Principal | Separate leadership remuneration structure |
| Deputy Principal | Separate leadership remuneration structure |
| Principal | Separate NSW school leadership classification |
| International School Teacher | Depends on school, curriculum, subject and experience |
| English Teacher | Depends strongly on employer and teaching qualification |
| Vocational Teacher | Separate VET employment and salary structures may apply |
For NSW public-school classroom teachers, the current published salary scale starts at approximately A$90,177 per year for a new graduate and reaches approximately A$129,536 per year for an experienced teacher. Private and independent schools can use different salary structures.
There is no single official "average Sydney teacher salary" covering every school. NSW public-school teachers are paid according to the NSW remuneration structure, while private, independent, Catholic and international schools can have different salary arrangements.
Primary teachers employed in NSW public schools are covered by the NSW classroom-teacher salary structure. A new graduate currently starts at approximately A$90,177, while the published classroom-teacher scale reaches approximately A$129,536.
Secondary teachers in NSW public schools are also covered by the NSW standards-based remuneration structure. Salary depends on accreditation, salary step and recognised experience.
The answer depends on whether the teacher works in a school kindergarten setting or the early-childhood sector. Different qualification, regulatory and employment arrangements can apply, so the term "kindergarten teacher" should be defined before comparing salaries.
Teachers working in Australia generally have superannuation arrangements. When comparing job offers, check whether the advertised salary is quoted before or after employer superannuation and whether the package is described as base salary or total remuneration.
Yes. Overseas-qualified teachers can seek teaching work in Sydney, but they need to meet the relevant NSW accreditation and employment requirements. NESA provides a specific process for teachers with overseas qualifications.
For school teaching in NSW, NESA accreditation is an important professional requirement. The exact pathway depends on the teacher's qualifications and circumstances.
Relevant previous teaching experience can be considered through the NSW salary determination process. Teachers should provide appropriate evidence of their previous employment and teaching service.
The current NSW Department of Education information lists approximately A$90,177 per year as the salary for a new graduate classroom teacher.
The current published seven-step classroom-teacher structure reaches approximately A$129,536 per year for an experienced teacher. Leadership positions such as head teacher, deputy principal and principal have separate remuneration structures.
NSW school principals are paid under separate leadership classifications. The NSW Department of Education currently publishes leadership remuneration ranging from head-teacher or assistant-principal levels through deputy principal and principal positions, with higher remuneration for more senior classifications.
Yes. The NSW Department of Education has a salary-determination process that can consider relevant experience from other education systems, including interstate and overseas teaching experience. Supporting documentation is required.
Teaching provides a structured professional career with established remuneration arrangements in NSW public schools. Anyone comparing teaching with another career should also consider taxes, housing costs, workload, qualifications, career progression and employment conditions.
IsSydney has separate salary guides for different professions. Use these pages to compare career and salary information in Sydney.