Teacher Aide Salary in Australia: Award Rates, Super, and Tax

What is a teacher aide salary in Australia?

A teacher aide salary in Australia is not a single figure. Most teacher aides are paid under the Educational Services (Schools) General Staff Award 2020 (MA000076), which sets minimum hourly and weekly rates. The award covers classroom assistants, integration aides, preschool aides, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education workers. Because the role is often part-time and casual, actual earnings depend on hours worked, classification level, and any above-award arrangements.

Where teacher aide salary sits on the national index

The Salary Index compares gross annual pay to full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 per year (index 100). The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 annualised – an index of 48.2. A teacher aide at the lowest award level (Level 1.1) earns the same minimum: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,435 per year if working 38 hours a week. That gives an index of roughly 48.4. At the top of the award (Level 6.1), the rate is $36.61 per hour, $1,391.30 per week, annualising to about $72,600 – an index of 67.0. Both are well below the national line of 100 and also below the education and training industry index of 105.5.

Award classifications and rates

The General Staff Award has six classification levels, each with one or two pay points. The table below shows the minimum weekly and hourly rates for full-time adult employees from 1 July 2026 (source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide).

Classification	Weekly rate	Hourly rate
Level 1.1	$1,004.90	$26.44
Level 1.2	$1,029.10	$27.08
Level 1.3	$1,065.20	$28.03
Level 2.1	$1,073.10	$28.24
Level 2.2	$1,106.20	$29.11
Level 3.1	$1,119.90	$29.47
Level 3.2	$1,139.90	$30.00
Level 4.1	$1,182.10	$31.11
Level 4.2	$1,241.40	$32.67
Level 5.1	$1,281.70	$33.73
Level 5.2	$1,343.10	$35.34
Level 6.1	$1,391.30	$36.61

These rates are the legal minimum. Many schools, especially in the public system, pay above award through enterprise agreements. The award also provides for casual loading (25%) and penalty rates for Saturday and Sunday work.

Part-time and casual work

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, only 22% of teacher aides work full-time. The median age is 46, and 88% are female. Part-time teacher aides are paid pro-rata of the full-time weekly rate based on their ordinary hours. Casual employees receive an additional 25% loading on the hourly rate, which for Level 1.1 becomes $33.05 per hour. Because most teacher aides work part-time or casually, annual earnings are often much lower than the full-time annualised figures.

Superannuation and tax

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026. For a full-time teacher aide at Level 1.1 earning $52,435, the super contribution would be about $6,292 per year, paid into a fund of the employee’s choice (subject to fund rules). Super is in addition to the base salary.

Tax on a teacher aide salary depends on total income. Using 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare levy), a full-time teacher aide earning $52,435 would pay:

• Nil on the first $18,200
• 15% on the next $26,800 ($4,020)
• 30% on the remaining $7,435 ($2,230.50)
• Total tax about $6,250.50, plus Medicare levy of 2% ($1,048.70).
• Net take-home pay around $45,136 per year, or $868 per week.

A teacher aide earning $72,600 (Level 6.1 full-time) would pay more tax, with net take-home around $58,000 after tax and Medicare. These are estimates and do not include HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

How teacher aide salary compares by state and industry

The national index varies by state. For example, Western Australia has an index of 106.9 ($115,825 annualised), while Tasmania is 88.6 ($96,008). Teacher aide award rates are national, but actual pay may differ due to state-based enterprise agreements or cost-of-living adjustments. The education and training industry index is 105.5, but teacher aides are typically paid below that industry average because the role is classified as support staff rather than teaching professionals.

For more context, see our pay guides page for links to current award summaries, or explore how the index works to understand the benchmarks. You can also compare teacher aide pay to other roles in industries like retail (index 75.9) or health care (index 97.8).

Key takeaways

• Teacher aide salary is set by the General Staff Award, with minimum hourly rates from $26.44 to $36.61.
• No median earnings are published by the ABS; most teacher aides work part-time.
• The salary index for a full-time teacher aide ranges from about 48 to 67, well below the national line of 100.
• Super is 12% on top; tax reduces take-home pay further.
• Actual pay may be higher under enterprise agreements, especially in government schools.

If you are a teacher aide or employer, check the latest award rates on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or consult your state’s industrial relations body. For a broader view of Australian salaries, visit Salary Index and explore states for regional comparisons.