NSW teachers may soon become the highest-paid educators in the nation.

A proposed pay deal has been put forth by the state government, under which:

  • First-year teachers could see an increase of nearly $10,000

  • The maximum salary for experienced teachers could rise by almost $9,000 to approximately $122,100

  • Highly experienced school counsellors' pay may increase from $113,000 to $140,000, equivalent to that of head teachers

The NSW Teachers Federation, led by acting president Henry Rajendra, is poised to present the proposal to its council for a vote. 

Rajendra says the more attractive salaries aim to address the teacher shortage issue and make NSW an appealing destination for educators.

The agreement, described by Education Minister Prue Car as the most significant wage increase since the 1990s, is seen as a crucial step towards retaining and attracting quality educators. 

It aims to improve educational outcomes for students and mitigate the existing teacher shortage crisis.

While the deal has been welcomed, both parties acknowledge that there is more work to be done to alleviate the pressure on teachers and improve the overall education system. 

The agreement's details for the remaining three years are yet to be negotiated, with the government indicating that subsequent raises will align with the state's public service wages policy.

This development comes a month after the Minns government faced criticism for initially abandoning a similar proposal, which had followed extensive wage negotiations dating back to April.

The NSW Teachers Federation's Executive has agreed in principle to this historic agreement, which addresses the teacher shortage crisis by making NSW teachers the highest paid in the nation. 

It includes the withdrawal of the previous four-year proposal with a 2.5 percent increase in years two, three, and four.

The starting salary for a NSW teacher is set to increase from $75,791 to $85,000, while top-scale teacher salaries will rise from $113,042 to $122,100. School counselors will also see pay adjustments.

The deal is also intended to acknowledge the importance of addressing teacher workloads and burnout. Provisions in the deal prevent contact by principals or parents outside work hours.

The specific financial details for the following three years will be determined based on the government's wages policy, with further information expected in the upcoming state budget.