Teaching Salary WA 2026: Public School Pay Scale by Level

Published: 3 November 2026

A qualified teacher starting in a WA public school earns $88,178 a year (Level 2.1), rising by annual increments to $127,737 at the top of the classroom scale (Level 2.9). Level 3 classroom teachers earn up to $147,077. These are the Department of Education's rates from December 2025, after the final 3% increase under the current agreement took effect on 6 December 2025.

Last fact-checked: 3 November 2026. Pay rates, rules and job numbers change; follow the linked source before you act.

Key points

Graduate starting salary in WA public schools: $88,178 a year (Level 2.1), as of December 2025.
Top of the classroom teacher scale: $127,737 (Level 2.9). You get there through 8 annual increments if you teach to a satisfactory standard.
Senior teachers earn $132,557 to $134,165. Level 3 classroom teachers earn $137,567 to $147,077.
The School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023 gave 5% from 6 December 2023, 4% from 6 December 2024 and 3% from 6 December 2025. That was the final increase under this agreement.
Country Teaching Program schools pay an extra $5,000 to $13,730 a year, depending on location.
On 3 November 2026 we tracked 204 live teaching and education jobs in Perth. 25 Department of Education classroom teacher ads all quoted $88,178 to $127,737.

What is the WA teacher pay scale in 2026?

The WA public school teacher pay scale runs from $88,178 for a new teacher to $147,077 for a Level 3.3 classroom teacher. These rates took effect in December 2025 and still apply in November 2026. The Department of Education publishes them on its teacher salaries page.

WA public school teacher salaries by level, as of December 2025 (Department of Education). Fortnightly figures are Jobs In Perth calculations (annual ÷ 26.09), before tax.
Level	Annual salary (from December 2025)	About per fortnight
2.1 (graduate start)	$88,178	$3,380
2.2	$95,627	$3,665
2.3	$103,568	$3,970
2.4	$107,175	$4,108
2.5	$110,925	$4,252
2.6	$114,820	$4,401
2.7	$118,868	$4,556
2.8	$123,141	$4,720
2.9 (top of classroom scale)	$127,737	$4,896
Senior teacher 1	$132,557	$5,081
Senior teacher 2	$134,165	$5,143
Level 3.1 classroom teacher	$137,567	$5,273
Level 3.2 classroom teacher	$141,551	$5,426
Level 3.3 classroom teacher	$147,077	$5,637

Part-time teachers are paid pro rata.

School leaders are on separate administrator levels. The WA Government said that under the agreement a senior school principal can earn up to $206,662. In the Department of Education ads we tracked on 3 November 2026, deputy principal, head of department, head of learning area and program coordinator roles all quoted $141,551 to $154,896 a year.

Which agreement sets WA teacher pay?

WA public school teacher pay is set by the School Education Act Employees' (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2023. It works alongside the Teachers Award 1993. The WA Industrial Relations Commission lists the agreement as AG 24/2024, delivered on 4 November 2024 and in force.

Pay increases under the 2023 General Agreement (WA Government media statements; SSTUWA)
Increase	Effective date	Notes
5%	6 December 2023	Paid in October 2024 and backdated, because the agreement was lodged with the WAIRC in 2024
4%	6 December 2024
3%	6 December 2025	The final increase under this agreement

That is the 12% over three years the government announced. No increase is scheduled after 6 December 2025, so the next pay rise depends on a new agreement. The State School Teachers' Union of WA (SSTUWA) is preparing its 2026 log of claims. Check the Department's salary page for any new rates.

How do WA teachers move up the pay scale?

You move up one step each year, from Level 2.1 to Level 2.9, as long as you teach to a satisfactory standard. That's 8 increments. A teacher who starts at 2.1 reaches the top of the classroom scale after about 8 years and earns $39,559 more than they started on.

Starting above 2.1. The Department considers your work experience and qualifications when it sets your starting salary. Once employed, you can apply for a higher salary based on prior teaching service, or as a 5-year trained teacher. Only full years of continuous service count, not casual work.
Senior teacher. Current teachers who meet the eligibility criteria can apply. Senior teachers mentor other teachers, including graduates, and help with curriculum and school planning. Pay is $132,557 (ST1) or $134,165 (ST2).
Level 3 classroom teacher. This status recognises outstanding teaching practice. You apply through the Department's intranet, and it isn't an automatic step. Level 3 teachers are the Department's highest-paid classroom teachers, on $137,567 to $147,077. Level 3.3 roles started as a trial in 30 schools, and only existing Level 3 classroom teachers can apply for them.
Leadership. Head of learning area, program coordinator, deputy principal and principal roles are on administrator salaries. See our guide to WA Government selection criteria if you're applying.

Graduates also get a graduate allowance, which the 2023 agreement increased from $1,600 to $2,000 a year.

Do country and remote teachers in WA earn more?

Yes. Many country and remote schools pay incentives and allowances on top of the base salary. What you get depends on the school, and the Department's allowances and benefits calculator shows what applies to each one.

Country and remote teaching incentives in WA public schools (Department of Education)
Program or incentive	What the Department publishes
Country Teaching Program	146 country schools. $5,000 to $13,730 a year depending on location, plus permanency at your last program school after 2 years of continuous, satisfactory service.
Metropolitan Teaching Program	72 Perth schools with location or socio-economic challenges. Up to $3,000 a year, plus permanency after 2 years of continuous, satisfactory service.
Remote Teaching Service	37 schools in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields and Midwest. Free housing, extra financial incentives, 10 extra weeks of paid leave a year after 3 years (22 weeks after 4 years), and permanency after 2 years.
Regional Attraction and Retention Incentive	Temporary payment of up to $5,250 at 40 eligible regional schools, extended into 2027. You get 25% when you start and 75% at the end of the school year if you stay.
HELP debt reduction	Commonwealth scheme. Teachers in very remote areas may be able to reduce their HELP debt.

The 2023 agreement also replaced the old locality allowance and country incentive allowance with a district allowance. Short-term country work is available through the Teacher Flying Squad, with appointments of 4 to 10 weeks and travel and accommodation included. Browse teaching jobs across Western Australia to see current regional vacancies.

How much do relief teachers earn in WA?

The Department of Education doesn't publish a relief teacher daily rate on its website, so we haven't quoted one. Relief teachers cover classes for less than 20 consecutive days and get bookings through the Casual Staff Seeker – Teacher system. You need a teaching degree, TRBWA registration, a Working with Children Check and a criminal history check. Rates on aggregator sites vary, so confirm the rate with the school before you accept a booking.

How many teaching jobs are there in Perth right now?

On 3 November 2026, Jobs In Perth tracked 204 live teaching and education jobs in Perth. Across Western Australia we tracked 359. We looked closely at the 50 most recent Perth jobs, posted between 27 October and 3 November:

37 were Department of Education jobs. The rest came from universities, TAFEs, health services and private employers.
25 were Department classroom teacher ads, and all of them quoted $88,178 to $127,737 a year, which is exactly Levels 2.1 to 2.9. 12 were full time, 10 part time and 3 fixed term.
8 were school leadership roles quoting $141,551 to $154,896, covering deputy principals, heads of department, heads of learning area and program coordinators.
44 of the 50 ads gave a salary.

See every open role on our Perth teaching jobs page or the Department of Education jobs page. For pay data across all employers, see teacher salaries.

How do you become a teacher in WA?

You need a teaching qualification from an accredited initial teacher education program and registration with the Teacher Registration Board of WA (TRBWA). All teachers in WA schools must be registered, including relief teachers and teachers moving from overseas.

Complete an accredited teaching degree. The TRBWA generally expects 4 years of higher education study at bachelor level or higher. You can apply for registration in your final semester.
Register with the TRBWA. Recent graduates usually start on provisional registration (graduate teacher), which covers people who graduated from an Australian program within the past 5 years. You pay an annual fee by 31 March to stay registered.
Get your checks. You need a Working with Children Check and a Department of Education criminal history check.
Apply for jobs or relief work. Apply for advertised teaching jobs, or sign up to Casual Staff Seeker to start relief teaching.

Some teachers with a 3-year qualification may be able to work under limited registration; Teach in WA can advise on (08) 9264 4127. For more on public sector careers, read our guide to government and public service jobs in Perth.

What do education assistants earn in WA?

Education assistants in WA public schools are paid by the hour, under a separate agreement. In the Department ads we tracked on 3 November 2026, mainstream EAs were offered $34.75 to $39.05 an hour and special needs EAs $36.87 to $41.37. Many teachers start as EAs. Our guide on how to become an education assistant in WA covers the courses, checks and pay.

Frequently asked questions

What is the starting salary for a graduate teacher in WA?

$88,178 a year at Level 2.1 in a WA public school, as of December 2025. Graduates also receive a graduate allowance of $2,000 a year under the 2023 General Agreement.

What is the highest salary for a classroom teacher in WA?

$127,737 at Level 2.9, the top of the standard scale. Level 3 classroom teachers, who apply for the status, earn up to $147,077 at Level 3.3.

When is the next WA teacher pay rise?

The 2023 General Agreement has no increase scheduled after 6 December 2025, when the final 3% took effect. Any further rise depends on the next agreement, and the SSTUWA is developing its 2026 log of claims.

What is the average teacher salary in WA?

The Department of Education doesn't publish an average. The public school scale runs from $88,178 to $127,737 for classroom teachers. The middle step, Level 2.5, is $110,925.