NSW teacher salary 2025 PDF: where it sits on the Australian salary index

What the NSW teacher salary 2025 PDF tells you about pay

The keyword "nsw teacher salary 2025 pdf" points to official documents that set out what teachers in New South Wales public schools earn. These PDFs come from the NSW Department of Education and sometimes from the Independent Education Union (IEU). They contain salary tables, step increases, and conditions. But a raw dollar figure only tells part of the story. To understand whether a teacher's pay is above or below the Australian average, you can use the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352 a year).

Where the 2025 rates sit on the index

According to the website and the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2024, a graduate teacher at Step 1 earns $90,177 from October 2025. That works out to an index of 83.2 – well below the national line. An experienced teacher at Step 7 earns $129,536, which gives an index of 119.5, comfortably above the line. The Education and Training industry index is 105.5, so the average teacher in Australia earns slightly more than the national benchmark. But within NSW, individual salaries span a wide range.

Two different pay scales in 2025

There is not just one NSW teacher salary 2025 PDF. The award applies to most teachers in NSW public schools and includes a seven-step scale plus a Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher level. However, teachers employed after 1 January 2025 fall under a different agreement, published by the IEU. That scale uses steps like 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, and so on, with slightly different rates. For example, Step 1.1 in 2025 is $90,100, very close to the award's Step 1 of $90,177. The IEU scale also includes future increases of 4.5% in 2026 and 4% in 2027. When you search for "nsw teacher salary 2025 pdf", make sure you know which document applies to you.

Casual and leadership pay

Casual teachers in NSW public schools are paid a daily rate. From October 2025, Casual Teacher 1 (CT1) gets $466.44 per day, CT2 gets $523.04, and CT3 gets $582.38. These rates are set by the award and increase each October. On the index, a casual teacher working five days a week for the whole year would earn roughly $121,274 (CT1) to $151,419 (CT3), but casuals do not always get full-time hours. School leaders earn significantly more: an Assistant Principal or Head Teacher earns $149,059 (index 137.6), a Deputy Principal $174,034 (index 160.6), a Principal $229,435 (index 211.8), and an Executive Principal $245,989 (index 227.0).

How the salary index helps you compare

The index is simple: divide the annual gross salary by $108,352 and multiply by 100. A figure below 100 means the pay is less than the average full-time worker; above 100 means it is more. For example, the national minimum wage from July 2026 is $52,255 a year, index 48.2. A graduate teacher at $90,177 is nearly double that but still below the national line. An experienced teacher at $129,536 is well above it. You can use the index to compare any role across industries or states. The how the index works page explains the calculation in more detail.

What the PDF does not show

The PDF gives gross salaries before tax and super. From 1 July 2026, the superannuation guarantee is 12%, so a teacher on $90,177 would receive an additional $10,821 in super contributions (subject to the maximum contribution base of $270,830). Take-home pay depends on tax rates: for 2026–27, a resident earning $90,177 would pay about $19,342 in income tax plus $1,804 in Medicare levy (2%), leaving roughly $69,031 after tax (ignoring HELP, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge). The PDF also does not include benefits like salary packaging, which allows teachers to convert part of their salary into pre-tax benefits such as a car or laptop. Rural and remote teachers may get relocation subsidies and rental assistance, which boost total compensation.

Why the keyword matters

Searching for "nsw teacher salary 2025 pdf" is a direct way to find the authoritative pay tables. The PDFs are the official record of what teachers should be paid under the award or agreement. They are updated each year with new rates. If you are a teacher negotiating a job offer or checking your pay, the PDF is the best source. But remember that the index gives you context: a $90,177 salary might sound good, but it is below the national average for full-time workers. On the other hand, a Step 7 teacher is earning well above the line. The Salary Index has more comparisons for education roles and other professions.

Final note on the 2025 PDF

Whether you look at the award PDF from the Department of Education or the IEU payscale, the 2025 rates are clear. The graduate starting point is around $90,000, and experienced teachers can reach $130,000. The index shows that teaching in NSW can be a below-average earner early in your career but an above-average earner later. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official PDFs and check the date of the document. The pay guides section on this site explains how to read award rates and compare them to the index.