School Learning Support Officer Pay Rates in New South Wales
Crown Employees (School Administrative and Support Staff) Award 2024, made by the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW. It runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027 (cl 33.2) and covers SLSOs, School Administrative Officers and Managers, Aboriginal Education Officers and Business Managers in NSW public schools.
Permanent and long-term temporary staff, from 1 July 2026 (In force)
| Classification | Hourly | Full-time equivalent a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLSO 1New SLSOs start here (cl 4.5.1) | $38.33 | $62,286 | $51,900 | $60,000 page |
| SLSO 2 | $39.01 | $63,391 | $52,635 | $65,000 page |
| SLSO 3 | $41.77 | $67,876 | $55,635 | $70,000 page |
| SLSO 4 | $44.53 | $72,361 | $58,686 | $70,000 page |
| SLSO (Specialist Health Support) | $46.06 | $74,848 | $60,377 | $75,000 page |
| School Administrative Officer (SAO) | $41.86 | $68,023 | $55,736 | $70,000 page |
Schedule 1, 1.1 of the award, after the 3% increase from the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2026 (cl 5.2). Annual = hourly rate × 31.25 hours × 52 weeks, our full-time equivalent; the award publishes hourly rates only. SLSO (Personal Support) levels 1–4 are paid the same as SLSO 1–4.
Short-term temporary staff, from 1 July 2026 (In force)
| Classification | Hourly | Full-time equivalent a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLSO 1 | $44.09 | $71,646 | $58,199 | $70,000 page |
| SLSO 2 | $44.87 | $72,914 | $59,062 | $75,000 page |
| SLSO 3 | $48.02 | $78,033 | $62,542 | $80,000 page |
| SLSO 4 | $51.22 | $83,233 | $66,078 | $85,000 page |
| SLSO (Specialist Health Support) | $52.97 | $86,076 | $68,011 | $85,000 page |
| School Administrative Officer (SAO) | $48.15 | $78,244 | $62,686 | $80,000 page |
Schedule 1, 1.2: the permanent rate plus a 15% loading paid instead of recreation leave (cl 5.7). Annual = hourly × 31.25 × 52.
Take-home pay uses 2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and Medicare levy, no HECS, on the full-time figure; the linked page is the nearest $5,000 salary.
Hours, Part-Time and Term-Time Pay
Full-time is 31 hours 15 minutes a week, worked between 7.30am and 6pm on school days (cl 8.1). School Administrative Managers work 33 hours 20 minutes and Business Managers 35 hours.
To turn an hourly rate into your own pay, use the hourly to salary calculator or the pro-rata salary calculator for part-time hours.
Where You Start and How You Move Up
A new SLSO starts at SLSO 1 (cl 4.5.1) and moves up the levels under the award's progression rules.
- Other staff on the same award, hourly from 1 July 2026: Aboriginal Education Officer 1 to 4 $45.78, $47.11, $48.44 and $49.82; School Administrative Manager 1 to 4 $48.42, $49.74, $51.15 and $52.71 (SAMs work 33 hours 20 minutes a week full-time).
- Pay rose 4% from 1 July 2024, 3% from 1 July 2025 and 3% from the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2026 (cl 5.2). The award runs to 30 June 2027 and no later rate is set.
- Permanent staff are paid in 26 equal fortnightly pays across the year (cl 5.3), and long-term temporary staff are paid in school vacations at the same rate as in term (cl 5.4).
- The Department of Education's public rates page still shows 2022 rates and says it is under review, so the rates here are read from the award itself.
Teacher Aide Pay in Other States
Each state sets its own rates. Compare them on the school support staff pay hub, see teacher salaries on the NSW teacher pay page, and the award minimum for private and Catholic schools on the teacher aide pay rates page.
- VIC ES pay rates: Education Support (ES) staff
- QLD teacher aide pay rates: Teacher Aide
- WA EA pay rates: Education Assistant
- SA SSO pay rates: School Services Officer
Frequently Asked Questions
NSW SLSO pay questions and answers
What is the SLSO pay rate in NSW?
From the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, SLSO 1 is $38.33 an hour, SLSO 2 $39.01, SLSO 3 $41.77 and SLSO 4 $44.53, under the Crown Employees (School Administrative and Support Staff) Award 2024. A Specialist Health Support SLSO is paid $46.06 an hour.
How much does a full-time SLSO earn a year?
Full-time for an SLSO is 31.25 hours a week, so SLSO 1 at $38.33 an hour works out to about $62,286 a year and SLSO 4 to about $72,361 (hourly × 31.25 × 52). Many SLSOs work fewer hours, so multiply the hourly rate by your own hours.
What do temporary SLSOs get paid?
Short-term temporary SLSOs get a 15% loading on the permanent rate instead of recreation leave: $44.09 an hour at SLSO 1 and $51.22 at SLSO 4 from 1 July 2026. Long-term temporary staff are paid the permanent rate, including in school holidays.
When is the next SLSO pay rise?
The 2024 award sets its last increase, 3%, from the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026 and runs until 30 June 2027. Any later rise depends on a new award or variation, which has not been published.
How we worked this out▼
Rates are copied from the instrument’s own table for the date shown. The instrument publishes hourly rates, so the full-time equivalent is hourly × 31.25 hours × 52 weeks, and it is labelled as derived. Nothing is estimated from job ads.
Take-home pay uses 2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and Medicare levy, no HECS, on the full-time figure; the linked page is the nearest $5,000 salary. General information, not advice: your payslip and your school’s HR team are the final word.
Sources & References
- 1Crown Employees (School Administrative and Support Staff) Award 2024 — Schedule 1, rates of pay— Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (copy published by the Public Service Association of NSW)
Last verified: 24 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
Areas of Expertise