School Services Officer Pay Rates in South Australia
South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024, Schedule 1.6 (School Services Officers), approved by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 25 March 2024.
School Services Officers from the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 (In force)
| Classification | Full-time a year | Take-home a year | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSO-1 increment 1 | $58,360 | $49,290 | $60,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 2 | $61,383 | $51,299 | $60,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 3 | $63,195 | $52,505 | $65,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 4 | $64,856 | $53,609 | $65,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 5 | $66,525 | $54,719 | $65,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 6 | $68,335 | $55,947 | $70,000 page |
| SSO-1 increment 7 (top tier) | $69,759 | $56,916 | $70,000 page |
| SSO-2 increment 1 | $73,478 | $59,445 | $75,000 page |
| SSO-2 increment 2 | $76,506 | $61,504 | $75,000 page |
| SSO-2 increment 3 | $79,526 | $63,557 | $80,000 page |
| SSO-2 increment 4 (top tier) | $80,950 | $64,526 | $80,000 page |
| SSO-3 increment 1 | $85,566 | $67,665 | $85,000 page |
| SSO-3 increment 2 | $88,598 | $69,727 | $90,000 page |
| SSO-3 increment 3 | $91,624 | $71,785 | $90,000 page |
| SSO-3 increment 4 (top tier) | $92,870 | $72,632 | $95,000 page |
| SSO-4 increment 1 | $98,271 | $76,305 | $100,000 page |
| SSO-4 increment 2 | $100,538 | $77,846 | $100,000 page |
| SSO-4 increment 3 | $102,809 | $79,390 | $105,000 page |
| SSO-4 increment 4 (top tier) | $104,058 | $80,240 | $105,000 page |
| SSO-5 increment 1 | $110,667 | $84,734 | $110,000 page |
| SSO-5 increment 2 | $114,903 | $87,614 | $115,000 page |
| SSO-5 increment 3 | $119,441 | $90,700 | $120,000 page |
| SSO-5 increment 4 | $123,974 | $93,783 | $125,000 page |
| SSO-5 increment 5 (top tier) | $125,220 | $94,630 | $125,000 page |
| SSO-6 increment 1 | $130,413 | $98,161 | $130,000 page |
| SSO-6 increment 2 | $133,908 | $100,538 | $135,000 page |
| SSO-6 increment 3 | $137,901 | $103,050 | $140,000 page |
| SSO-6 increment 4 (top tier) | $139,147 | $103,810 | $140,000 page |
Schedule 1.6 of the 2024 agreement, column 1.5.2026, cross-checked against the Department for Education's rate sheet effective 8 May 2026. This is the last increase in that agreement.
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 rates are standard annual salaries for SSOs with leave conditions. The department also publishes a version with a 16% loading, the same spread over 52 weeks, and casual rates, which are not reproduced here.
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
SSOs move through numbered increments within their level. The top increment of every level is criteria-based: the department's rate sheet says it is only for staff with relevant qualifications who have completed the top tier increment process.
- The 1 May 2026 increase is the last one in the 2024 agreement, and no later SSO rate has been published.
- Administrative staff in schools who are not SSOs may be on the Salaried 2026 agreement instead; see the South Australian public service pay scales.
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 SA 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
Frequently Asked Questions
SA SSO pay questions and answers
What is the SSO pay rate in South Australia?
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-1 is $58,360 to $69,759 a year across seven increments, and SSO-2 is $73,478 to $80,950 across four, under the South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024.
What is the SSO top tier increment?
The highest increment of each SSO level is not automatic. The Department for Education's rate sheet says it only applies to staff with relevant qualifications who have completed the top tier increment process.
When is the next SSO pay rise in SA?
The 1 May 2026 increase was the last in the 2024 education staff agreement. A later rise depends on a new agreement, and no new SSO rates have been published.
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
- 1South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (ET-24-00640)— South Australian Employment Tribunal
- 2School Services Officer pay rates, effective 8/05/2026— Department for Education (SA)
Last verified: 23 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