Teachers Award.
Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. Verified penalty rates, shift loadings, leave loading and RDO arrangements, with a live calculator under the NES.
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| Component | Formula | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual rate (FULL-TIME) | 4 wks × 38h ÷ 52 | 2.923 hrs/wk |
| Hours accrued | 2.923 × 52 wks | 152.42 hrs |
| Hourly base rate | - | $35.00 |
| Base leave value | 152.42 × $35.00 | $5,334.62 |
| 17.5% leave loading | base × 0.175 | + $933.56 |
| Total payout | - | $6,268.17 |
Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.
Teachers Award pay rates and penalties.
Dollar rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Penalty rates verified against the MA000077 award text.
Hourly rate by classification level
7 levels, measured from $0 so the gaps between them are true to scale.
- Level 1Teacher (graduate, first year)
- Level 2Teacher (1-2 years experience)
- Level 3Teacher (3-4 years experience)
- Level 4Experienced teacher (5+ years)
- Level 5Leading teacher / curriculum coordinator
- Level 6Assistant principal
- Level 7Deputy principal
National Minimum Wage, 4-year trend
Lifted each year by the Annual Wage Review. Up 23.7% since FY2023. Percentages are the movement in the NMW itself, which exceeded the award increase in the years the Commission realigned it to the C13 rate.
Where these numbers come from
- Dollar rates
- FWO Pay Guides and FWC Annual Wage Review [2026] FWCFB 3500, effective 1 July 2026.
- Penalty rates and allowances
- MA000077 on awards.fairwork.gov.au, the official award text.
- Industry figures
- ABS Labour Force, May 2026; ABS EEH, Aug 2025. Covers the broader industry, not only employees under this award.
- Your own figures
- Check your classification in the FWO Pay Calculator.
Penalty rates in full
Every loading in the award, side by side for full-time, part-time and casual employees.
| Hours worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (incl. loading) |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 100% | 125% |
| Sunday | 100% | 125% |
| Public holiday | 100% | 125% |
All values are percentages of the base hourly rate. Casual rates shown are inclusive of the 25% casual loading on top of the FT/PT rate. For your own dollar amounts, use the FWO Pay Calculator.
Pay rates by classification
Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual hourly includes the 25% loading.
| Level | Classification | Weekly rate | Hourly rate | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Teacher (graduate, first year) | $1,267.40 | $33.35 | $41.69 |
| Level 2 | Teacher (1-2 years experience) | $1,342.70 | $35.33 | $44.16 |
| Level 3 | Teacher (3-4 years experience) | $1,428.70 | $37.60 | $47.00 |
| Level 4 | Experienced teacher (5+ years) | $1,547.80 | $40.73 | $50.91 |
| Level 5 | Leading teacher / curriculum coordinator | $1,675.20 | $44.08 | $55.10 |
| Level 6 | Assistant principal | $1,897.40 | $49.93 | $62.41 |
| Level 7 | Deputy principal | $2,137.80 | $56.26 | $70.33 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 after the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase. Weekly rates are for 38 ordinary hours. Casual rates include the 25% loading on top of the hourly rate. Source: FWO Pay Guides.
Allowances
Paid on top of the base rate. Amounts effective from 1 July 2026.
| Allowance | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional development allowance | Up to $1,500 | per year | Reimbursement for mandatory registration and CPD costs. |
| Remote teaching allowance | $31.80 - $58.90 | per week | For teachers in remote or very remote locations. |
| First aid allowance | $15.90 | per week | For appointed first aid officers. |
The numbers that drive this award.
Set by Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077) and the NES.
Award-specific provisions.
Where this award goes beyond, or sits at, the NES floor.
Standard NES floor of 4 weeks per year of full-time service. Pro-rata for part-time.
Flat 17.5% loading on minimum hourly rate while taking annual leave. Run the numbers in the annual leave loading calculator.
No formal RDO accrual cycle in this award. Time off in lieu of overtime (TOIL) may still be available.
Calculate your leave under this award
The Teachers Award sets your pay rates, but your paid leave runs on the National Employment Standards. Work out 4 weeks of holidays with the annual leave calculator, and your 10 days of paid sick and carer's leave with the personal leave calculator. To confirm which award applies to you and how it lifts entitlements above the NES floor, read our guide to modern awards.
Who this award covers.
The Teachers Award (MA000077) is the common name for the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. Industries, work types and exclusions are taken from the Fair Work Ombudsman summary.
Industries
Work types
Notes & exclusions. Two distinct cohorts. Teachers in schools and preschools operate on an annualised salary that absorbs weekend, evening and public-holiday work, and the award sets no penalty rates for them; annual leave is taken during school holidays and the salary is structured to cover this. The rates shown here describe that cohort. Teachers in early childhood services operating at least 48 weeks per year fall under Schedule A, which does set explicit penalties: Saturday 125%, afternoon shift 115%, night shift 117.5%, permanent night shift 130%, plus a formal 19-day/4-week RDO cycle under clause A.2. Excludes principals and deputy principals.
Roles paid under this award.
Each classification has its own pay grade. Use the FWO Pay Calculator for current dollar rates.
- 01teacher
- 02teacher aide
- 03director
- 04supervisor
- 05assistant
- 06educator
- 07trainer
Teachers Award questions, answered.
Penalty rates, leave entitlements and award-specific provisions under MA000077. Verified against the modern award text.
Who does the Teachers Award cover?
Are there Saturday penalty rates under the Teachers Award?
Are there Sunday penalty rates under the Teachers Award?
What rate applies for public holidays under the Teachers Award?
How many weeks of annual leave do I get under the Teachers Award?
Is annual leave loading paid under the Teachers Award?
What is the casual loading under the Teachers Award?
Does the Teachers Award include rostered days off (RDOs)?
Where do I find current pay rates by classification under the Teachers Award?
Verified against the modern award text.
Penalty rates, shift loadings and continuous-shift eligibility on this page were verified against Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077) on the Fair Work Commission's awards.fairwork.gov.au.
For up-to-date pay rates by classification, refer to the FWO Pay Calculator. Modern awards are reviewed and varied periodically by the Fair Work Commission; check the source for the latest text.