Educational Services (Teachers) Award pay rates & rules 2025/2026 (Australia)
A simple, practical guide for small business owners (schools, preschools & early childhood services)
Updated • Based on the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077] consolidated up to and includingBased on 1 July 2025
Written by
Steve Harris
This guide summarises key pay and conditions concepts from the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077] as consolidated by the Fair Work Commission up to and including 1 July 2025.
It is not legal, payroll, HR, financial, or workplace relations advice and must not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Award wages, allowances and rules can change (often after the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review). You must always check the current consolidated Award and/or Fair Work's official tools/guidance before setting wages.
Coverage is not automatic. This Award only applies if:
- your organisation is a national system employer, and
- the employee and work fit the Award's coverage and exclusions, and
- the employee is classified correctly.
Where this guide discusses the NES (National Employment Standards) or "employee choice" for casuals, those rights come from the Fair Work Act. Employers should also read Fair Work Ombudsman guidance.
Looking for MA000077?
This is it. MA000077 is the official Fair Work code for the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, also known as the Teachers Award. This guide covers all MA000077 pay rates, classifications, Schedule A shift penalties and compliance requirements updated for 2025/26.
View official MA000077 on Fair Work →Teachers Award rate calculator (2025/26)
Select schedule type, employment type, and level to see minimum rates under MA000077. Schedule A services (48+ weeks) also show shift penalty breakdowns.
See how RosterElf interprets the Teachers Award
This is an educational example showing how pay rates and shift penalties work under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077). It demonstrates how RosterElf automatically calculates correct pay based on schedule type, classification level, and employment type.
Includes 25% casual loading. Minimum engagement rules apply for children's services settings.
No shift penalties apply for schools/preschools. Teachers in schools and preschools are engaged on an annual salary. Schedule A penalty rates (early/afternoon/Saturday shifts and overtime) only apply to long day care services operating 48+ weeks.
Example employment cost
Example only — not for payroll use
This is a demonstration of how RosterElf calculates award-compliant rates.
The actual cost for your employees will depend on:
- Their specific classification level and employment type
- Actual days/hours worked and shift times
- Whether Schedule A applies (48+ week services)
- Any additional allowances (Educational Leader, Director, vehicle)
- Current award rates (which change annually on 1 July)
- Any applicable enterprise agreement
Calculator limitation
This calculator shows simplified scenarios. The Teachers Award has additional complexity including casual minimum engagements (2hr/4hr for children's services), leave loading (17.5%), non-contact time entitlements for Schedule A services, and the "fewer than 5 consecutive days" casual cap at Level 3. Always verify with the official Fair Work pay guide.
For accurate payroll calculations, always:
- Verify current rates with the official Fair Work pay guide
- Confirm award coverage and correct classification level (1–5) based on accreditation
- Use award interpretation software or consult a payroll professional
- Review your specific enterprise agreement (if applicable)
Do not rely on this example for actual wage payments.
Stop calculating teachers award rates manually
Let RosterElf handle award compliance automatically
Manual award calculations for teachers are complex — salary levels, Schedule A uplifts, shift penalties, leave loading, and allowances all interact. One error can mean underpayments and Fair Work penalties. RosterElf's award interpretation engine does the work for you.
How RosterElf automates award calculations
Create pay templates
Build pay templates for each teacher classification level with award-compliant base rates. RosterElf automatically applies the correct template based on level, schedule type, and shift timing.
Award interpretation →Define rate rules
Configure Schedule A shift penalties (early, afternoon, Saturday), overtime rules, and allowances. The system detects which rate applies based on shift times and days.
Teachers Award guide →Auto-apply to shifts
Every rostered shift automatically calculates the correct pay rate based on the teacher's classification, employment type, and shift timing. No manual work required.
Payroll integration →📚 Learn more:
Quick casual rates 2025/26
Casual teachers are paid per engagement — full day, half day, or minimum engagement. The table below shows the most-searched daily rates under MA000077 effective 1 July 2025.
| Level | Schools/preschool (full day) | Schedule A 48+ wks (full day) | 2hr min (children's services) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $347.35 | $361.23 | $91.40 |
| Level 2 | $379.65 | $394.84 | $99.91 |
| Level 3 | $413.30 | $429.83 | $108.77 |
| Level 4 | $446.95 | $464.83 | $117.62 |
| Level 5 | $480.60 | $499.83 | $126.47 |
Source: Award Schedule B.1.1. Schedule A rates = schools rate × 1.04. 2hr minimums for children's services settings only.
Casual cap rule: Casual teachers engaged for fewer than 5 consecutive days are capped at the Level 3 rate — regardless of their actual classification. See details →
Quick summary for time-poor owners
If you only read one section, read this.
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077] sets minimum pay and conditions for many teachers in:
- the school education industry, and
- the children's services and early childhood education industry.
Your compliance "must-get-right" items:
- 1️⃣ Award coverage: does MA000077 apply to your employer and this worker?
- 2️⃣ Which stream applies: school/preschool vs early childhood service, and whether you're Schedule A (48+ weeks).
- 3️⃣ Correct teacher classification level (1–5) – based on accreditation/service.
- 4️⃣ Employment type (full-time, part-time, casual) and the special rules that follow.
Two "sanity check" examples (minimums)
Full-time Level 1 (schools/preschools):
$1,389.40/week • $72,497/year
Full-time Level 1 (long day care 48+ weeks):
$1,444.90/week • $75,397/year (+4%)
Casual Level 1 full day (excl. Schedule A):
$347.35/day
Casual Level 1 full day (Schedule A):
$361.23/day (shift penalties may apply)
What this Award is
Think of this Award as a minimum "rulebook + pay floor" for covered teachers. It works alongside the NES (National Employment Standards), and together they form the minimum conditions of employment for covered employees.
You can always pay more or offer better conditions — but you generally can't go below the Award/NES minimums.
Who the Teachers Award covers (and who it doesn't)
It commonly covers
The Award is an industry award covering employers throughout Australia in:
- the school education industry, and
- the children's services and early childhood education industry,
and their employees as defined in the Award. It includes an "on-hire" (labour hire) coverage rule for on-hire employees performing work in those industries.
Key exclusions to watch for (very common mistake)
The Award does not cover, among others:
- Principals or deputy principals
- A person employed as a teacher/integration aide, helper, classroom assistant, or director/supervisor in or in connection with childcare etc (other than a university-qualified early childhood teacher)
- Certain specialist individual instructors (e.g., music/dance/language on an individual basis) unless teaching the school curriculum
Compliance warning: If you misapply this Award to the wrong role (or miss that another award applies), everything downstream — rates, allowances, overtime — can be wrong.
Teachers Award vs Children's Services Award (the #1 confusion)
A very common search is effectively: "Is my early childhood worker under the Teachers Award or Children's Services Award?"
The practical answer
- Teachers (as defined in MA000077) may fall under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award.
- Many early childhood educators / assistants / trainees are often under the Children's Services Award [MA000120], not the Teachers Award.
Why this matters
MA000077 pay structures (weekly salaries, teacher classification criteria, Schedule A overtime/shiftwork for 48+ week services, teacher allowances) are not interchangeable with MA000120 rules.
Actionable compliance tip: If you have a mixed workforce (teachers + educators), you may legitimately be running two different awards in the same centre.
2025/26 minimum pay rates snapshot (effective 1 July 2025)
Warning: Use these as a sanity check, not as your payroll "source of truth". Always confirm with the current consolidated Award/pay guide and tools.
Full-time minimum rates (weekly + annual)
Last verified: 8 Apr 2026From clause 17.1, the Award lists separate minimums for preschools/schools vs long day care centres (48+ weeks — extra 4%).
| Level | Schools/preschools (weekly) | Schools/preschools (annual) | Long day care 48+ wks (weekly) | Long day care 48+ wks (annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $1,389.40 | $72,497 | $1,444.90 | $75,397 |
| Level 2 | $1,518.60 | $79,240 | $1,579.30 | $82,410 |
| Level 3 | $1,653.20 | $86,264 | $1,719.30 | $89,715 |
| Level 4 | $1,787.80 | $93,289 | $1,859.40 | $97,021 |
| Level 5 | $1,922.40 | $100,311 | $1,999.30 | $104,323 |
Source: Award clause 17.1 and 17.2.
Part-time rates
Part-time employees are paid pro rata at the same rate as full-time in the same classification. The Award sets a "90% rule" (a part-time employee is generally under 90% of full-time hours; above 90% they're considered full-time, subject to a request exception).
Casual rates: full day + half day (key figures)
The Award uses "full day" and "half day" casual rates, and also minimum 2-hour/4-hour engagements for casuals in children's services/early childhood.
Casual full day rates (excluding Schedule A)
| Level | Full day rate | Half day rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $347.35 | $173.68 |
| Level 2 | $379.65 | $189.83 |
| Level 3 | $413.30 | $206.65 |
| Level 4 | $446.95 | $223.48 |
| Level 5 | $480.60 | $240.30 |
Schedule A casual full day rates (48+ weeks) with shift penalties
| Level | Base day | Early (110%) | Afternoon (115%) | Saturday (125%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $361.23 | $397.35 | $415.41 | $451.54 |
| Level 5 | $499.83 | $549.81 | $574.80 | $624.79 |
Source: Schedule B.1.1 (noting the 4% for Schedule A).
Critical casual trap: "less than 5 consecutive days" cap
If a casual is engaged for less than 5 consecutive days, the minimum casual rate payable is no higher than Level 3. Don't casually "slot in" a higher-level teacher for a 1–2 day shift and automatically pay above Level 3 unless the engagement becomes 5+ consecutive days.
Classifications (Levels 1–5): what they mean in plain English
This Award's teacher levels are strongly tied to registration/accreditation and years of satisfactory teaching service:
- Level 1: Graduate teacher and "all other teachers" (including provisional/conditional registration).
- Level 2: Teacher with proficient accreditation/registration (or equivalent).
- Level 3: Proficient teacher after 3 years satisfactory service at Level 2.
- Level 4: Proficient teacher after 3 years satisfactory service at Level 3.
- Level 5: Teacher with Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher accreditation/registration (or equivalent).
Practical tip: Don't classify by job title ("Room Leader", "ECT", "Coordinator") alone. You must match the Award's criteria.
Employment types and the rules that matter most
Full-time
A full-time employee is engaged to work an average of 38 ordinary hours per week.
Part-time (including the "90% rule")
A part-time employee is engaged for less than, but not more than 90% of full-time hours — and above 90% they're generally considered full-time (with a specific request exception).
Casual
Key Award limits many employers miss:
- Casual engagement is for not more than 4 consecutive weeks (or 4 consecutive term weeks in a school/preschool).
- It can be extended by agreement, but total engagement can't exceed one school term (schools/preschools) or 10 weeks (other cases).
Fixed term
The Award allows fixed term employment in certain circumstances and requires appointment letters to state key details.
Schedule A: long day care (48+ weeks) — overtime & shift penalties
If your early childhood service operates 48 weeks or more and provides services over at least 8 hours each day, you are likely in the "Schedule A" world for teachers. The Award applies an extra 4% and then gives separate overtime/shiftwork provisions.
Overtime (Schedule A)
For authorised work outside or in excess of ordinary/rostered hours:
- 150% of the minimum hourly rate for the first 3 hours
- 200% thereafter
There's also a specific rule for part-time employees who agree to work extra hours (ordinary time up to 8 hours, within ordinary hours of operation, then overtime).
Shiftwork penalties (Schedule A)
Schedule A sets shift penalties as a percentage of the minimum hourly rate:
- Early morning shift: 110%
- Afternoon shift: 115%
- Night shift rotating: 117.5%
- Night shift non-rotating: 130%
- Saturday: 125%
Non-contact time (a heavily searched topic)
Schedule A includes minimum non-contact time entitlements:
- At least 2 hours per week for programming responsibilities, and
- At least 2 hours per week for the Educational Leader
These entitlements can be cumulative (up to 4 hours).
Allowances (often missed)
The Award includes wage-related allowances based on the "standard rate" (Level 1 annual rate) and they automatically adjust when the standard rate changes.
Director's allowance (per annum)
| Level | Amount per annum |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | $8,337.16 |
| Level 2 | $10,330.82 |
| Level 3 | $12,541.98 |
Educational Leader allowance (early childhood)
An Educational Leader's allowance of $4,567.31 per annum applies where the employee is required to discharge the responsibilities of the educational leader under Regulation 118 of the National Regulations, payable in addition to any director's allowance (and pro-rated if acting fewer than 5 days/week).
Vehicle allowance
- Motor car: $0.99 per km
- Motorcycle: $0.33 per km
- Max payment up to 400 km per week
Leave and leave loading (another top search)
Teacher-specific annual leave structure (schools)
The Award contains school-year concepts (term weeks and non-term weeks), and it states a maximum of 205 attendance days in each school year, with the annual salary and allowances paid in full satisfaction of entitlements for the school year (and absence during non-term weeks deemed to include annual leave).
Leave loading: 17.5% (schools/preschools)
A teacher who has served throughout the school year is entitled to 17.5% leave loading on 4 weeks' annual leave, with a formula for pro-rating by term weeks worked.
Employers may instead pay leave loading progressively by increasing the annual rate by 1.342% and notifying this in the letter of appointment.
(Schedule A has different arrangements; the Award expressly notes the school-year formula doesn't apply to Schedule A teachers.)
"Most searched" questions about the Teachers Award
Below are the questions people most commonly look up online about MA000077:
1) "What are the Teachers Award pay rates in 2025/2026?"
Use clause 17.1 for the weekly/annual minimums and Schedule B for casual day/hour minimums. If you are a long day care service operating 48+ weeks, ensure you're applying the 4% uplift and (often) Schedule A overtime/shiftwork rules.
2) "Casual conversion / employee choice — can my casual teacher become permanent?"
The NES pathway changed from "casual conversion" to the employee choice pathway on 26 August 2024. Review long-running casual engagements against: (1) the Award's casual engagement limits (4 weeks / 4 term weeks, extendable only within limits), and (2) the NES employee choice pathway guidance.
3) "How much super do I pay?"
From 1 July 2025, the Super Guarantee rate is 12% for eligible workers (ATO guidance). Super is not set by the Award — it's legislated. Always check the ATO for the current rate.
Step-by-step compliance plan (simple but effective)
- Confirm award coverage
Check whether MA000077 applies to your teacher role and your employer type, and whether any exclusion applies (e.g., principal/deputy, non-teacher roles).
- Decide whether you're "Schedule A"
If your service runs 48+ weeks, this changes rates and overtime/shiftwork/non-contact time rules.
- Classify every teacher (Level 1–5)
Document the classification basis (registration/accreditation and service years).
- Set base salary correctly
Use clause 17.1 (weekly/annual) and confirm any pro rata for part-time.
- Handle casuals carefully
Apply the correct day/half-day/2hr/4hr minimums. Watch the "fewer than 5 consecutive days" cap (no higher than Level 3). Keep within the Award's casual engagement limits (4 weeks etc). Know the NES employee choice pathway.
- Add allowances
Director, Leadership, Educational Leader, vehicle — and remember these are often automatic %-based and update when the standard rate changes.
- Schedule A: set up overtime/shiftwork rules
Ensure payroll can handle overtime 150%/200% and shift penalties where relevant.
- Keep records and letters of appointment
The Award expects key information in appointment letters (including classification/rate; and for part-time, load/percentage).
Common mistakes (and why they matter)
- Wrong award entirely — Treating educators/assistants as "teachers" under MA000077 (or vice versa), instead of checking Children's Services Award coverage.
- Missing Schedule A — Paying the school/preschool rate in a 48+ week long day care setting (missing the uplift and Schedule A conditions).
- Ignoring casual caps and minimum engagements — Underpay risk (or inconsistent pay) when you don't apply the "fewer than 5 consecutive days" cap or the 2hr/4hr minimums.
- Forgetting leave loading — 17.5% leave loading is explicitly provided (and there's a permitted "rolled up" method with 1.342%).
- Not keeping appointment letter details aligned with the Award — Especially part-time teaching load expressed as a % of full-time.
Sources (official references used)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077] (Fair Work Commission consolidated award incorporating amendments up to and including 1 July 2025)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Children's Services Award [MA000120] summary (useful for "wrong award" checks)
- Fair Work Ombudsman Pay guides page (official list/index)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Becoming a permanent employee (employee choice pathway; key dates and transition notes)
- ATO: Super guarantee (rates and thresholds, including 12% from 1 July 2025)
For official guidance, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Related how-to guides
Practical guides for education HR and payroll teams
Find which award applies
Coverage & exclusions
Calculate penalty rates
Weekends & public holidays
Calculate overtime costs
Schedule A overtime rules
Handle casual conversion
NES employee choice pathway
Calculate leave entitlements
17.5% leave loading
Conduct a payroll audit
Check compliance & records
Tools for teachers award compliance
Automate pay calculations and reduce compliance risk
Award interpretation
Auto-calculate pay rates & penalties
Pay rate builder
Set up Level 1–5 classifications
Digital timesheets
Track casual & relief hours
Time clock app
Clock-in for education staff
Rostering software
Schedule shifts with cost visibility
Payroll integration
Export to Xero, MYOB & more
Frequently asked questions
- Not usually. The Teachers Award (MA000077) covers teachers as defined in the Award. Many early childhood educators, assistants, and trainees are covered by the Children's Services Award (MA000120) instead. If you have a mixed workforce (teachers + educators), you may be running two different awards in the same centre. See Teachers vs Children's Services Award →
- Key exclusions include: principals and deputy principals, teacher/integration aides, helpers, classroom assistants, and directors/supervisors in childcare (other than university-qualified early childhood teachers). Certain specialist individual instructors (e.g., music/dance/language on an individual basis) are also excluded unless teaching the school curriculum. See full coverage details →
- Schedule A applies to teachers in early childhood services operating for at least 48 weeks per year and usually providing services over at least 8 hours each day. Schedule A includes overtime, shiftwork penalties, and non-contact time rules. Long day care rates (4% uplift) also apply. See Schedule A details →
Related award rate guides
Explore other Australian Modern Award pay rate guides
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