What is the minimum hourly rate for a Queensland teacher under the award?

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award MA000077, the minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 teacher (preschools and schools) is $38.30 per hour as of the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. This is the legal floor for most teachers in Queensland, but enterprise agreements or individual arrangements can pay more.

Does the national minimum wage apply to Queensland teachers?

No – the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is a backstop for award‑free employees. Teachers in Queensland are covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award or an enterprise agreement, so the award minimum (currently $38.30 per hour for Level 1) is the relevant floor. An enterprise agreement can set a higher rate, but never lower than the award.

Queensland teacher salary: award minimums and what to expect in state schools

Q: How does the Queensland state school beginning teacher salary compare to the award?

A beginning teacher with a four‑year degree in a Queensland state school earns approximately $86,601 per year (as at September 2026). That works out to about $43.83 per hour for a 38‑hour week, which is well above the award minimum of $38.30. Casual teachers in state schools are paid around $99 per hour.

The minimum hourly rate for a qualified teacher in Queensland under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award is $38.30 (Level 1), while a beginning teacher in a state school earns about $43.83 per hour under the enterprise agreement.

Queensland teacher salary: what the award says and what state schools pay

If you are looking into a queensland teacher salary, the first thing to understand is the legal minimum that applies to your role. Most teachers in Queensland are covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 (MA000077), which sets minimum pay rates for teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official pay guide for this award, and the rates shown there are the legal floor – you cannot be paid less than those figures unless a higher enterprise agreement or individual contract applies.

The award minimum for teachers in schools

For a full‑time teacher in a preschool or school (not long day care), the award rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 are:

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

These are the minimums. If you are a casual teacher engaged for less than five consecutive days, the award caps your rate at Level 3. Casual rates for a full day at Level 1 are $363.85, and at Level 3 $432.93.

How the Queensland state school salary compares

The Queensland Department of Education has its own enterprise agreement – the State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022 – which sets pay above the award. According to the Teach Queensland website, a beginning teacher with a four‑year degree starts on Band 2, Step 1, with a base salary of approximately $86,601 per year (as at September 2026). That works out to about $43.83 per hour for a 38‑hour week – roughly $5.50 above the award Level 1 rate. Casual teachers in state schools are paid about $99 per hour, which is more than double the award casual rate.

Superannuation is an extra cost for employers. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, paid on top of the salary. So the total employment cost for a beginning teacher is around $97,000 per year including super.

Which minimum applies to you?

If you work in a private school, an early childhood centre, or a non‑state school, your employer may still be covered by the Educational Services Award unless they have their own enterprise agreement. You can check your pay by comparing your hourly rate to the award levels above. If you are paid less than the award minimum, your employer is breaking the law.

For award‑free employees (rare in teaching), the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour would apply, but that is far below what any qualified teacher should receive. The award is the relevant floor.

How to check your rate

Find your classification level in the award (usually Level 1 for new graduates, progressing with experience).
Divide your weekly or annual salary by 38 hours (or your agreed ordinary hours) to get an hourly equivalent.
Compare that to the award hourly rate for your level.
Remember that super is paid on top – your base salary should not include the super component.

For more detail on how minimum wages work across different industries, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also browse Rate tables for other awards.

What about the QTU salary schedule?

The Queensland Teachers’ Union publishes an updated salary schedule for the DoE State School Teachers CA 2022. As of 1 October 2026, the schedule reflects a 3% interim increase from 7 September 2026 and a 4.75% State Wage Case increase from 1 September 2026. Some classifications receive the higher of the two. This means the actual pay for state school teachers may be slightly above the $86,601 figure quoted earlier, depending on timing. Always check your payslip against the current agreement.

Key takeaway

The legal minimum for a Queensland teacher is the award rate – currently $38.30 per hour for Level 1. The typical queensland teacher salary in state schools is significantly higher, around $43.83 per hour for a beginner. If you are offered less than the award rate, that is a red flag. If you are offered a rate between the award and the state school rate, it may still be legal if it meets the award – but you could negotiate for more.

For a practical check, take your hourly rate and compare it to the award table above. That is the only number that matters for compliance.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.