Teachers Award pay guide 2026/2027

Casual rates for ordinary hours for long day care centre teachers, generated from the current Fair Work pay guide:

If you only skim one section, make it this one:

• The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 [MA000077] covers teachers in schools, preschools and long day care, classified Levels 1–5.
• Minimums are reviewed each July. The FY2026/27 pay guide took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, lifting all rates by 4.75%.
• Example 2026/27 adult minimum pay:
  • School/preschool teacher Level 1: $38.30/hr (salaried; $1,455.40/week), Level 5 $52.99/hr.
  • Long day care teacher Level 1: full-time/part-time $39.83/hr, casual $49.79/hr.
• School teachers have no standard weekend penalty; long day care teachers get Saturday +25% and shift loadings.
• Director’s allowance applies to centre directors.
• Get stream, level and employment type right for every employee.

The Teachers Award covers teachers (and directors) in:

• Preschools and schools — paid an annualised salary across Levels 1–5.
• Long day care centres — paid rostered hours with shift and Saturday penalties.

Important — who’s covered by other awards: childcare educators and assistants (not qualified teachers) are covered by the Children’s Services Award; support and administrative staff in schools may fall under other awards. Confirm coverage with Fair Work’s PACT tool before applying rates.

A snapshot of the current FY2026/27 long day care teacher rates (which power the calculator), followed by the salaried school/preschool teacher rates.

Ordinary hours rates for long day care centre teachers Levels 1–5 (used by the calculator):

Casuals receive the same base rate plus a 25% loading. Ordinary casual rates:

Teachers in schools and preschools are paid an annualised salary with no standard weekend penalty:

• Level 1: $1,455.40/week ($38.30/hr)
• Level 2: $1,590.70/week ($41.86/hr)
• Level 3: $1,731.70/week ($45.57/hr)
• Level 4: $1,872.70/week ($49.28/hr)
• Level 5: $2,013.70/week ($52.99/hr)

Casual school/preschool teachers are paid by full-day, half-day and hourly rates (a casual engaged for fewer than five consecutive days is paid no higher than Level 3).

Classification follows the setting, qualifications and experience:

• Levels 1–5 apply to qualified teachers and progress with years of experience and responsibility.
• Preschool/school teachers are salaried; long day care teachers are paid rostered hours with penalties.
• Directors of early childhood services receive a director’s allowance on top of their classification rate.
• Childcare educators (Certificate III/Diploma, not degree-qualified teachers) are under the Children’s Services Award.

Write each employee’s stream, level and employment type into your payroll/rostering system. If unsure, confirm the right level.

How teachers are paid depends on the stream:

• School & preschool teachers: paid an annualised salary; there is no standard weekend penalty. Additional duties are managed through the salary and span-of-hours provisions.
• Long day care centre teachers (on the calculator):
  • Saturday: 125% (full-time/part-time); casual higher again.
  • Afternoon, night and early-morning shifts attract loadings on the ordinary rate.
  • Overtime: time-and-a-half for the first hours then double time.
• Director’s allowance applies to early childhood service directors (about $8,733–$13,138 per annum by level).

The calculator above covers ordinary and Saturday rates for long day care teachers. For shift loadings, overtime and the salaried school rates, use Fair Work’s PACT tool or award-interpreting software.

• Full-time teachers are paid an annualised salary (preschool/school) or a weekly rate (long day care); part-time is pro-rata.
• Both receive paid annual and personal/carer’s leave and other NES entitlements. School terms and non-term weeks are managed through the salary.

• Casual long day care teachers are paid a 25% casual loading on the ordinary rate; the Saturday penalty applies to the loaded casual rate.
• Casual school/preschool teachers are paid by full-day, half-day and hourly rates, capped at Level 3 for engagements under five consecutive days.

The main allowance under this award is the director’s allowance for early childhood service directors, paid on top of the classification rate:

• Level 1: about $8,733.22 per annum (full-time)
• Level 2: about $10,821.59 per annum
• Level 3: about $13,137.79 per annum

Other allowances (e.g. for additional responsibilities) may apply. Exact amounts update each pay guide — see the Fair Work pay guide.

• Confirm the award and stream (school/preschool salaried vs long day care rostered; educators are under the Children’s Services Award).
• Download the latest pay guide (FY2026/27).
• Classify each teacher by stream and level; apply the director’s allowance where relevant.
• Set rates and, for long day care, apply Saturday and shift loadings and overtime.
• Use award-interpreting software so shift loadings are calculated automatically, and keep records for 7 years.

• Two streams: salaried school/preschool teachers and rostered long day care teachers (Levels 1–5).
• School teachers have no weekend penalty; long day care teachers get Saturday +25% and shift loadings.
• Director’s allowance applies to centre directors.
• Childcare educators are under the Children’s Services Award.
• Update every July and keep good records.

For official guidance, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.