School-based Administrative Officer Pay Rates in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory Public Sector 2025 to 2029 Enterprise Agreement, approved by the Fair Work Commission on 30 January 2026 (AG2025/4592) and operating from 6 February 2026. School-based administrative employees have their own set of conditions inside the agreement, with three employment arrangements (92%, 96% and 100%) at AO2 to AO4, and Schedule 11 prints a separate salary table for the 92% and 96% arrangements.
School-based Administrative Officers on the 92% arrangement, from 13 August 2026 (In force)
| Classification | Full-time a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO2 pay point 1New school-based AO2s start here | $58,817 | $49,594 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 2 | $60,231 | $50,533 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 3 | $61,361 | $51,285 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 4 | $62,509 | $52,049 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 5 | $63,688 | $52,832 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 1 | $65,172 | $53,820 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 2 | $66,358 | $54,608 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 3 | $67,566 | $55,425 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 4 | $70,026 | $57,097 | $70,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 1 | $73,291 | $59,318 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 2 | $74,576 | $60,191 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 3 | $76,786 | $61,694 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 4 | $78,998 | $63,199 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 5 | $81,206 | $64,700 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 6 | $83,558 | $66,300 | $85,000 page |
Schedule 11 of the agreement, table 'School-Based Administrative Officers (92%)', column 'salary rates effective 13.08.26'. Each figure is 92% of the full AO rate on our NT public service page, rounded to the dollar.
School-based Administrative Officers on the 96% arrangement, from 13 August 2026 (In force)
| Classification | Full-time a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO2 pay point 1 | $61,374 | $51,294 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 2 | $62,849 | $52,275 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 3 | $64,029 | $53,059 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 4 | $65,227 | $53,855 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 5 | $66,457 | $54,674 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 1 | $68,005 | $55,723 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 2 | $69,243 | $56,565 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 3 | $70,503 | $57,422 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 4 | $73,070 | $59,168 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 1 | $76,477 | $61,484 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 2 | $77,819 | $62,397 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 3 | $80,124 | $63,965 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 4 | $82,432 | $65,533 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 5 | $84,736 | $67,100 | $85,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 6 | $87,191 | $68,770 | $85,000 page |
Schedule 11, table 'School-Based Administrative Officers (96%)', column 'salary rates effective 13.08.26': 96% of the full AO rate. The 100% arrangement is paid at the full rate, listed on our NT public service page.
92% arrangement from 12 August 2027 (3.5% increase) (Approved, starts later)
| Classification | Full-time a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO2 pay point 1 | $60,875 | $50,961 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 2 | $62,338 | $51,935 | $60,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 3 | $63,509 | $52,714 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 4 | $64,697 | $53,503 | $65,000 page |
| AO2 pay point 5 | $65,917 | $54,315 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 1 | $67,453 | $55,348 | $65,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 2 | $68,680 | $56,182 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 3 | $69,930 | $57,032 | $70,000 page |
| AO3 pay point 4 | $72,477 | $58,764 | $70,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 1 | $75,856 | $61,062 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 2 | $77,186 | $61,966 | $75,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 3 | $79,473 | $63,522 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 4 | $81,762 | $65,078 | $80,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 5 | $84,048 | $66,633 | $85,000 page |
| AO4 pay point 6 | $86,483 | $68,288 | $85,000 page |
Schedule 11, 92% table, column 'salary rates effective 12.08.27': the 3.5% increase from the first full pay period on or after 10 August 2027 (clause 35.3). A further 3.5% follows from 10 August 2028, with any Darwin CPI above 3.5% added.
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
The nominal hours of duty for a school-based administrative employee are 36.75 a week, worked between 7.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday (clause 7.1 of the school-based conditions). The three arrangements in clause 7.2 decide the pay: 92% means 6 hours 15 minutes each school day, 96% means 7 hours 21 minutes each school day, and 100% means 7 hours 21 minutes every working day, school holidays included. The tables show the annual salary for each arrangement, as printed; the agreement has no separate hourly rate. Overtime starts after 7 hours 21 minutes in a day (clause 7.4).
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
School-based positions are created at AO2, AO3 or AO4 on a 92%, 96% or 100% arrangement, and a filled position can be converted between them on a proposal from the employee or the CEO (clause 7.9, which calls them School Assistant positions). A new employee starts at pay point 1 of the designation and moves up one pay point after 12 months at a point, or 12 months of broken service in the preceding 24 months (clause 36.2). Part-time staff progress on the same calendar time (clause 36.3).
- The 100% arrangement is paid at the standard NTPS rate: $63,931 at AO2 pay point 1, $70,839 at AO3 and $79,664 at AO4 from 13 August 2026, with every pay point on the NT public service pay scales page. The school vacation, extra duty and leave loading clauses below do not apply to 100% staff (clause 7.2).
- Staff on 92% and 96% are not required to attend on days the school is closed, apart from the two working days before the school year starts, and are paid at ordinary rates for those days (clause 7.3). Recreation leave is taken in the December and January holidays. If the principal needs you on a non-school day you are paid an extra half of normal time on top of salary, or time and a half on a public holiday (clause 7.3(e)).
- Recreation leave loading is paid automatically in the last pay before 25 December each year (clause 7.5). Someone employed for less than the full school year is paid for the term and end-of-year holidays pro rata, for each completed month of service (clause 7.3(f)).
- Pay rises under the agreement: 3% from 17 November 2025, 3% from 13 August 2026, 3.5% from 12 August 2027 and 3.5% from 10 August 2028, plus any Darwin CPI above 3.5% in the final year (clause 35.3).
- Assistant Teachers in NT schools (AT1 to AT7) are on the teachers' agreement, not this one; their rates are on the NT teacher pay page.
Student wellbeing, engagement and youth work roles are often employed outside the school support structure, by a council or a community organisation under the SCHADS award: see youth worker pay rates for those minimums.
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 NT teacher pay page, and the award minimum for private and Catholic schools on the teacher aide pay rates page.
- NSW SLSO pay rates: School Learning Support Officer
- 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
- TAS TA pay rates: Teacher Assistant
- ACT school assistant pay rates: School Assistant
Frequently Asked Questions
NT school-based AO pay questions and answers
How much does a school support officer earn in the NT?
From 13 August 2026 a school-based Administrative Officer at AO2 pay point 1 is paid $58,817 a year on the 92% arrangement, $61,374 on 96% and $63,931 on 100%. AO3 starts at $65,172 (92%) or $68,005 (96%), and AO4 at $73,291 (92%) or $76,477 (96%), under the NTPS 2025 to 2029 Enterprise Agreement.
What is the difference between a 92% and a 96% school-based AO in the NT?
Hours per school day. A 92% employee works 6 hours 15 minutes each school day and a 96% employee 7 hours 21 minutes, against 36.75 hours a week for a 100% employee, who also works through the school holidays (clause 7.2). Pay is scaled the same way: AO2 pay point 1 is $58,817, $61,374 or $63,931.
Are NT school-based AOs paid during school holidays?
Yes. On the 92% and 96% arrangements you are not required to attend when the school is closed, apart from two working days before the school year, and you are paid at ordinary rates for those days (clause 7.3). The lower percentage is what pays for that time. Recreation leave is taken in the December and January break.
When is the next pay rise for NT school support staff?
3.5% from the first full pay period on or after 10 August 2027 (12 August 2027), taking AO2 pay point 1 on the 92% arrangement from $58,817 to $60,875. Another 3.5% follows from 10 August 2028, with any Darwin CPI above 3.5% added on.
How we worked this out▼
Rates are copied from the instrument’s own table for the date shown. Annual salaries are as printed. 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
- 1Northern Territory Public Sector 2025 to 2029 Enterprise Agreement (AG2025/4592), School-Based Administrative Employees conditions and Schedule 11, Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (NT)
- 2General NTPS, administrative stream, rates of pay (rates effective 13 August 2026), Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment (NT)
Last verified: 22 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
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