Salary Trends Across South Australian Non-Government Schools – March 2026
The IEU’s latest review of salaries across South Australia’s non-government schools shows continued progress in teacher and support staff pay, particularly in workplaces with union-negotiated agreements.
Beginning teacher salaries are now typically in the mid-to-high $80,000s, with an average of $87,808 and a median of $88,638. While this reflects a broader recognition of the need to attract early-career teachers, the range remains wide from $61,418 to $115,475 highlighting ongoing inequity across the sector.
At the top of the pay scale, experienced teachers are seeing the strongest outcomes. Average salaries now sit at $119,161, with some employers exceeding $125,000 with the highest salary being $133,257. However, a spread of more than $54,000 between the lowest and highest rates shows that not all teachers are benefiting equally.
Education Support Officers (ESO Grade 2, Year 3) continue to earn significantly less than average weekly earnings*, with an average salary of $73,869. While many fall within the $70,000–$75,000 band, salaries as low as $50,795 persist, reinforcing the need for further improvements for support staff.
Salary movement between February and March was minimal across all classifications, with only two schools implementing increases. This reflects scheduled rises in the year.
What remains clear is that the best salaries continue to be achieved in schools with strong, union-negotiated Enterprise Agreements (EAs). In contrast, schools without EAs relying on Modern Award rates lag significantly behind.
The message is simple: where members are organised and active, outcomes improve.
If you’re working in a school without an EA or where salaries are falling behind, joining the IEU is the first step toward change. Together, members have the collective strength to secure fair pay, better conditions, and a stronger future for all educators.
- Get your friends and colleagues to join the union
The more members we have, the stronger our bargaining power for better pay and conditions.
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*Average Weekly Earnings – Australian Bureau of Statistics
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/earnings-and-working-conditions/average-weekly-earnings-australia/latest-release
