Education support salary: award rates, enterprise agreements and the salary index

What is education support salary?

Education support salary refers to the pay received by non-teaching staff who work in schools. These employees include teacher aides, classroom support workers, school administration officers, library assistants, wellbeing staff, and operational services such as cleaners, canteen workers, and bus drivers. The term covers a broad group of roles that keep a school running beyond the classroom.

The main source of minimum pay for these workers is the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award, known as MA000076. This award sets out hourly and weekly rates, penalty rates, and allowances for school support staff across Australia. In some states, enterprise agreements or government school determinations set higher rates. For example, the Victorian government has a separate Education Support Class salary schedule that applies to its public schools.

Where the pay comes from

The Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes a pay guide for this award. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum rates are:

• Level 1.1: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week
• Level 1.2: $27.08 per hour, $1,029.10 per week
• Level 2.1: $28.24 per hour, $1,073.10 per week
• Level 3.1: $29.47 per hour, $1,119.90 per week
• Level 4.1: $31.11 per hour, $1,182.10 per week
• Level 5.1: $33.73 per hour, $1,281.70 per week
• Level 6.1: $36.61 per hour, $1,391.30 per week
• Level 7.1: $40.25 per hour, $1,529.50 per week
• Level 8: $46.64 per hour, $1,772.30 per week

These rates apply to full-time and part-time adult employees. Casual staff get a 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Saturday and Sunday penalty rates also apply, with Sunday work attracting double the ordinary rate for most classifications.

Victorian government school agreement

The Australian Education Union Victoria published a salary schedule for Education Support Class employees in Victorian government schools. The rates are annual salaries, with increases scheduled through to November 2029. Current rates (as of 17 July 2026) range from $51,622 at Level 1-1 to $155,033 at Level 6-5. This schedule is labelled "without prejudice", meaning it is a proposed agreement not yet finalised, but it gives a clear picture of what experienced education support staff can earn in that system.

Gross pay, super, and tax

Gross pay and the salary index

The Salary Index compares a worker's annual gross pay to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 (index 100) based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026. Using this benchmark:

• Award Level 1.1 annualised (52 weeks): $52,255 → index 48.2
• Award Level 8 annualised: $92,160 → index 85.1
• Victorian Level 1-1: $51,622 → index 47.6
• Victorian Level 6-5: $155,033 → index 143.1

So an entry-level education support worker earns about half the national average, while a senior classification in a Victorian government school can earn well above it.

Super guarantee

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid on top of gross salary. The maximum contribution base is $270,830 per year. For a Level 4.1 award employee earning $61,477 annualised, the employer must contribute an extra $7,377 into super. That brings total remuneration to $68,854, though the super is not accessible until retirement.

Tax and take-home pay

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare levy):

• Tax-free threshold: $0–$18,200
• 15% on $18,201–$45,000
• 30% on $45,001–$135,000
• 37% on $135,001–$190,000
• 45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy. For a Level 3.1 award employee earning $58,235 annualised:

• Tax: $5,092 (15% on $26,800) + $3,970 (30% on $13,235) = $9,062
• Medicare: $1,165
• Take-home: $58,235 – $10,227 = $48,008

For a Victorian Level 5-3 earning $121,395:

• Tax: $5,092 + $13,500 (30% on $45,000) + $5,106 (37% on $13,800) = $23,698
• Medicare: $2,428
• Take-home: $121,395 – $26,126 = $95,269

These estimates ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and the Medicare levy surcharge, which can change the final figure.

State and industry context

The states page shows how average earnings differ across Australia. For example, the ACT has an index of 109.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. Education support salaries in the ACT may be higher due to public sector agreements. The industries page shows Education and Training has an index of 105.5, above the national line. However, that industry average includes teachers and university staff, not just support workers.

Education support roles are classified under the Education and Training industry, but the award covers only school general staff. The index for this specific group is lower than the industry average because the roles are often part-time, casual, or lower-paid. The national minimum wage index is 48.2, and many entry-level education support jobs sit at or just above that level.

How to find your exact rate

Your actual education support salary depends on your classification, employer, and any applicable enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guides can help you check award rates. If you work in a state government school, your union or employer’s HR department should have the current salary schedule. The topics section on our site covers more detail on award interpretation and penalty rates.

Remember that the salary index is a benchmark, not a quote for a specific job. It helps you see where a pay figure sits against the national line. For education support, the range is wide: from index 48 at the bottom to over 140 at the top end of Victorian government school classifications. That reflects the diversity of work, from part-time classroom aides to senior administrative managers.