Head teacher salary NSW: What you actually take home after tax and Medicare

Understanding the head teacher salary NSW figure

When you see a job advertisement for a head teacher in NSW, the salary figure you are most likely to encounter is $149,059 per year. That number comes directly from the NSW Department of Education’s published award for Assistant Principal or Head Teacher roles. It is the base salary before any deductions and before the compulsory 12% superannuation contribution that your employer must make from 1 July 2026.

Knowing this figure is only the starting point. To compare job offers fairly, you need to work out how much actually lands in your bank account each fortnight after the Australian Tax Office takes its share. That is where the concept of take-home pay becomes essential.

What reaches your bank account

For the 2026–27 income year, the tax rates for a resident earning $149,059 are as follows:

• Tax on first $18,200: nil
• Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents per dollar over $18,200 = $4,020
• Tax on $45,001 to $135,000: 30 cents per dollar over $45,000 = $27,017.70
• Tax on $135,001 to $149,059: 37 cents per dollar over $135,000 = $5,201.83
• Total income tax: $4,020 + $27,017.70 + $5,201.83 = $36,239.53

The Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) does not apply at this income level because it phases out completely above $66,667.

Medicare levy: 2% of $149,059 = $2,981.18. The single-person thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) do not affect full-time salaries like this one.

Total deductions: $36,239.53 (tax) + $2,981.18 (Medicare) = $39,220.71

Annual take-home pay: $149,059 – $39,220.71 = $109,838.29

Fortnightly take-home: $109,838.29 ÷ 26 = $4,224.55

This is the amount you can expect to see deposited into your bank account each fortnight, assuming no other deductions such as HELP/HECS repayments, salary sacrifice arrangements, or the Medicare levy surcharge. For a deeper look at how tax and Medicare interact, see our Tax and Medicare guide.

Comparing job offers using take-home pay

A head teacher salary of $149,059 looks attractive on paper, but the real value of an offer depends on several factors beyond the base figure:

• Superannuation: The 12% super is paid on top of your salary, not taken out of it. That means your total remuneration package is $166,946. Some employers may advertise a “total package” that includes super, so always check whether the quoted figure is base salary or total.
• Location allowances: Teachers in rural and remote NSW public schools can receive relocation subsidies and rental subsidies. These are not reflected in the base salary but can significantly boost your disposable income.
• Salary packaging: Eligible NSW public school teachers can salary package items such as motor vehicles, computers, and additional super contributions. This reduces your taxable income and can increase your take-home pay. Learn more in our Salary packaging guide.

When comparing a head teacher role with other positions, always convert each offer to a fortnightly take-home amount using the same tax assumptions. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) is a useful benchmark for entry-level roles, but a head teacher salary is well above that. The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings in Australia is $108,352, so the head teacher salary sits comfortably above the national average.

How the head teacher salary fits into the NSW education pay scale

The NSW Department of Education publishes a clear career ladder for school leaders:

• Classroom teacher (experienced): $129,536
• Assistant Principal / Head Teacher: $149,059
• Deputy Principal: $174,034
• Principal: $229,435
• Executive Principal: $245,989

These figures are all before tax and super. The head teacher role is a middle leadership position that typically involves managing a faculty or stage of learning. The salary reflects the additional responsibility compared to a classroom teacher.