What is the minimum wage for a Queensland teacher?

The minimum wage depends on the setting. For teachers in preschools and schools covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award MA000077, the minimum hourly rate from 1 July 2026 is $38.30 for Level 1. For teachers in long day care centres, the minimum is $39.83 per hour. Queensland state school teachers are covered by the DoE State School Teachers CA 2022 enterprise agreement, which sets higher rates—for example, a beginning teacher with a four-year degree earns approximately $86,601 per year (about $43.80 per hour based on a 38-hour week). The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is a backstop but does not apply to award-covered teachers.

Do Queensland teachers get superannuation on top of their salary?

Yes. The superannuation guarantee requires employers to pay an additional 12% of ordinary time earnings into the employee's super fund. This is on top of the base salary or wage. For teachers under the award or enterprise agreement, super is calculated on the ordinary time earnings, not including overtime or penalty rates. The super contribution is not part of the minimum wage but is a separate employer obligation.

Can a Queensland teacher be paid less than the award rate?

No, unless an exception applies. The award rate is the legal minimum for employees covered by that award. An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate but cannot undercut the award. However, some employees may be paid less if they are juniors (under 21), apprentices, or trainees, but most teachers are adults and not in those categories. Casual teachers receive a casual loading (usually 25% on top of the hourly rate) as specified in the award. The Fair Work Ombudsman enforces compliance.

QLD Teacher Salary: Which Pay Floor Applies Under the Award and Agreement?

The minimum pay for a Queensland teacher depends on the award classification and any applicable enterprise agreement; for a Level 1 teacher in a school under the award, the hourly rate is $38.30, well above the national minimum of $26.44.

Understanding the QLD Teacher Salary Pay Floor

When searching for "qld teacher salary", many people want to know the minimum they can legally be paid. The answer is not a single number—it depends on whether you work in a private school, a long day care centre, or a Queensland state school. Each setting has its own legal minimum under either a modern award or an enterprise agreement. The national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) is the absolute floor for award-free employees, but most teachers are covered by higher instruments.

The Educational Services (Teachers) Award

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the Educational Services (Teachers) Award MA000077. This award sets minimum rates for teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres that are not covered by a state government enterprise agreement. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the rates are:

Preschools and schools (full-time/part-time): Level 1 teacher $38.30 per hour ($1,455.40 per week). Levels 2–5 go up to $52.99 per hour.
Long day care centres: Level 1 teacher $39.83 per hour ($1,513.60 per week). Levels 2–5 go up to $55.11 per hour.
Casual teachers: A casual engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3. For a full day, Level 1 casual rate is $363.85 (equivalent to about $47.87 per hour for a 7.6-hour day).

These award rates are the legal minimums for employees covered by the award. An employer cannot pay less, even if the national minimum wage is lower. The award also includes penalty rates for Saturday, overtime, and shift work.

Queensland State School Teachers: Enterprise Agreement

Teachers employed by the Queensland Department of Education are covered by the DoE State School Teachers CA 2022 enterprise agreement. This agreement sets higher rates than the award. According to the Teach Queensland website, a beginning teacher with a four-year degree earns approximately $86,601 per year as at September 2026. That works out to about $43.80 per hour based on a 38-hour week. Casual teachers are paid approximately $99 per hour.

The Queensland Teachers' Union (QTU) provides a detailed salary schedule. From 7 September 2026, employees receive the higher of a 3% interim increase or the 4.75% State Wage Case award increase. Some classifications receive the award rate because it is higher. This shows how enterprise agreements can layer on top of the award.

Separating the Legal Minimum from Other Figures

It is easy to confuse the legal minimum with survey averages or advertised salaries. The ABS May 2026 report shows full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week—that is an average, not a minimum. A teacher's actual pay may be higher or lower depending on experience, qualifications, and location. The legal minimum is what the law requires; anything above is negotiated or set by policy.

Superannuation is an additional employer payment. The super guarantee is 12% on top of ordinary time earnings. For a teacher earning $86,601 per year, the employer must pay an extra $10,392 into super. This is not part of the salary but is a separate entitlement.

Common Misunderstandings

"The national minimum wage applies to everyone." No. Award-covered employees must be paid at least the award rate, which is often higher. The national minimum is a backstop for award-free employees.
"Casual teachers get the same hourly rate as permanent." Casual teachers receive a loading (usually 25%) to compensate for lack of leave entitlements. Under the award, casual rates are higher than the permanent hourly rate.
"All Queensland teachers are on the same pay scale." Private school teachers may be on the award, while state school teachers are on the enterprise agreement. Long day care teachers have a different award classification.

For more details on how minimum wages work across different industries, see our Rate tables and Guides. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage; the Fair Work Ombudsman explains and enforces it. If you are unsure which award or agreement covers you, check with your employer or the Ombudsman.

Summary

The legal minimum for a Queensland teacher depends on the setting. Under the Educational Services Award, a Level 1 school teacher earns at least $38.30 per hour. Under the state school enterprise agreement, a beginning teacher earns about $43.80 per hour. Both are well above the national minimum of $26.44. Superannuation is paid on top. Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to your role.