Salary and awards
The department is currently working with the NSW Teachers Federation to formalise the teachers award and implementation details. More information will be available soon.
Teachers' commencing salary
Classroom teachers are remunerated on the standards based remuneration structure in accordance with the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award (the Award).
The Award states that any teacher that commences employment with the Department will be paid in accordance with their accreditation. This is stated in section 3.5;
3.5 The rates of pay for teachers on the standards based remuneration structure will be in accordance with the teacher’s level of accreditation on commencement of employment.
3.5.1 A teacher with accreditation at Graduate will commence on the Step 1 salary.
3.5.2 A teacher with accreditation at Proficient will commence on the Step 3 salary.
3.5.3 A teacher with accreditation at Highly Accomplished/Lead will commence on the Highly Accomplished/Lead Teacher salary.
For question regarding the application of the Award contact EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 and select options for payroll.
Refer to the Salary Determination Procedure for more information.
The Salary Determination for Classroom Teachers - Application Form (PDF 197KB) should be completed and submitted with all supporting documents to salarydetermination@det.nsw.edu.au
Documentation
Statement of Service
Statements of service confirming your prior employment will be required to support a salary determination. External service not completed with the Department of Education NSW, must be accompanied by complete statements of service for consideration.
These statements must include.
Your Position/s Held
The Dates worked (Start Date/End Date) for each of the above positions if multiple held
FTE (full time equivalent) or if part-time, how many days per week – for each position held
Unpaid Leave Details or confirmation that none was taken
If any of the above are missing the service is unable to be considered for salary progression. In most cases the Salary Determination team will advise what is missing, however it is suggested that complete statements are provided at the time of application to ensure a quick and accurate review.
Frequently asked questions
Documentation
Yes.
You should provide your pay slip which includes details of hours worked in the relevant pay period, your annual base salary (in numbers) and your position for which the pay is for. This is taken into consideration with your reference from your previous employer when granting a salary determination.
If it is not clear what your base annual salary is (excluding any allowances) the Salary Determination team will be unable to provide a salary match.
No.
You do not need to provide evidence of service in NSW Public Schools. The Salary Determination team will source this information from Department of Education NSW systems.
Service from employers who are not the Department of Education NSW will need to have complete statements of service.
Process
You can apply for a salary determination once you have submitted your application for Approval to Teach.
No outcome from Salary Determination will be provided until an approval to teach has been issued.
There is no time limit on submitting an application.
If you have commenced employment within the last 6 months, the outcome will be effective from your entry on duty. You will receive back-pay for those 6 months of work.
Yes.
It is worth submitting an application to ensure that any eligible service has been recognised for salary progression. However, as you have commenced employment more than 6 months ago, the salary change will be effective from the beginning of the next pay period after the application was received. No back-pay will be provided.
Eligibility
Yes. You are able to apply taking into consideration the statement of service requirements. If a change in salary is due, it will be effective from the beginning of the next pay period.
Yes. You are able to apply. The evidentiary requirements are the same for all teachers and if you commenced employment more than 6 months ago, the effective date of your outcome will be from the beginning of the next pay period.
Yes. You are able to apply. The evidentiary requirements are the same for all teachers and if you commenced employment more than 6 months ago, the effective date of your outcome will be from the beginning of the next pay period.
Yes. You are able to apply. The evidentiary requirements are the same for all teachers and if you commenced employment more than 6 months ago, the effective date of your outcome will be from the beginning of the next pay period.
Qualified International service is considered in full years (or 203 day blocks). Each full year (or 203 day block) of service will represent one (1) increment of salary progression.
Service within Australia will be considered in 50 day blocks. Each period of 50 days will be added to your recognised service. This is available only to service within Australia.
For more information, refer to teachers relocating from interstate or overseas .
You are eligible if the care of the under school aged child occurred after you obtained your teaching qualification and this period of care was either before or following previous employment as a teacher with the department.
Additionally, you must also not have been on any form of paid employment during the period of care. With the exception of a maximum of 50 days of casual teaching with the department in any school year.
Interpretation
Child Rearing referred to the department’s previous (pre-2016) approach in recognising the care of an under school aged child/children for salary progression.
Pre-Service Care is the current approach to recognise when a qualified teacher is unable to teach nor work in any capacity due to the full-time care of an under school aged child/children for salary progression.
All external service is taken into consideration. The salary determination team takes into account the completion of a teaching qualification, the accreditation held during the service and many other details to ensure that a fair and equitable outcome is provided.
Any service seeking to be recognised by salary determination must be accompanied by a complete statement of service.
Salary matching is available for previous classroom teaching experience in Australian primary or secondary schools. This service must be within the past 5 years, and you must have also held proficient or full accreditation at the time the service was completed.
Executive and other leadership positions are not eligible for salary matching. Likewise, service as a casual or tutor are not eligible. While this work is not eligible for salary matching, they may be considered in full year or 203-day blocks if eligible and a statement of service is provided.