Deputy Principal Salary NSW 2026–27: Take-Home Pay and Comparisons

Deputy Principal Salary NSW 2026–27

If you are a deputy principal in a NSW public school, your salary is set by the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Award. From 9 October 2026, the annual rate for every deputy principal – whether in a high, primary, or central school – is $179,255. This is a single classification rate; there are no steps or increments within the role.

How much reaches your bank account?

After income tax and the Medicare levy, your take-home pay is about $128,275 a year, or $4,934 per fortnight. That calculation uses the 2026–27 resident tax scales and the latest single-person Medicare thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013). It does not include HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, or any salary-sacrifice arrangements.

To put that in perspective, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour and $1,004.90 a week – about $52,255 a year. The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 a week, or $108,352 a year. A deputy principal’s salary is well above both benchmarks, reflecting the leadership responsibility and the requirement to hold teaching qualifications.

How the salary is set

The NSW Department of Education determines deputy principal pay through the teachers’ award. The current rate of $179,255 is the result of a 3% increase applied on 9 October 2026, the final rise under the existing award which runs to 8 October 2027. All deputy principals are paid the same regardless of school size or location, though additional allowances (such as locality allowances for remote schools) may apply on top.

Superannuation and total package

Your salary of $179,255 is before super. The employer contributes an additional 12% super guarantee (from 1 July 2026) on top, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. That means your total remuneration package is higher than the base figure. Super is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an extra benefit.

Comparing the role

The deputy principal salary sits between the classroom teacher top step (Step 7 Proficient at $133,422) and the principal classifications. For example, a Teaching Principal 1 (TP1) earns $153,531, while a Principal 5 earns $236,318. The deputy principal role is a promotion position that typically requires several years of teaching experience and leadership capability.

For more on how your pay compares to other roles, see our Roles guide. To calculate your own take-home pay, use the Take-home pay tool.

Important notes

• The figures here are for resident taxpayers only. They exclude HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary packaging, and payroll tax-table rounding. This is not a tax assessment.
• The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income for full-year residents earning above $35,013. The thresholds of $28,011 and $35,013 are the latest published single-person amounts.
• If you are a deputy principal in a non-government school, your salary may differ. This guide covers NSW public schools only.