Teaching Jobs in Australia: AUD $80K–$140K+ for Qualified Teachers | ESLstarter
Secure high-paid international teaching jobs in Australia! Earn AUD $80K-$140K+ with benefits, visa support & a world-class lifestyle. Find premium primary, secondary, and STEM roles now!
Teaching jobs in Australia
For qualified primary and secondary teachers. We place PGCE, QTS and B.Ed teachers in private and independent schools across Australia, with help on registration and visas, and no placement fee.
School teaching jobs for qualified teachers
Australia is one of the best places in the world to be a qualified teacher. Pay is high, schools are well resourced and the lifestyle is hard to beat, from city life in Sydney and Melbourne to the beaches of Queensland and Western Australia.
We recruit experienced primary and secondary teachers for private and independent schools in every state and territory. Demand is strongest for STEM, Business Studies and ICT specialists, with roles for experienced primary teachers and senior leaders too.
What the roles offer
Packages vary by school and state. We'll give you the full details for each role before you interview.
Annual salary, set by state, experience and role
Employer pension contributions on top of your salary
Breaks between each of the four school terms
Employer-sponsored work visas for eligible roles
Offered by many schools, with details agreed per role
Funded CPD and routes into Head of Department and leadership
Why teach in Australia?
- Earn and save. Teacher pay in Australia is among the highest in the English-speaking world, and super contributions build your savings on top.
- Well-resourced schools. Smaller classes, modern facilities and real investment in professional development.
- A life outdoors. Weekends at the beach, holidays on the Great Barrier Reef or in the outback.
- A long-term future. Employer-sponsored visas can lead to permanent residency for teachers who want to stay.
Who can apply?
- A recognised teaching qualification, such as a PGCE, QTS or Bachelor of Education
- Ideally two or more years of full-time teaching experience after qualifying
- Native-level English
- Eligibility for registration with the state teacher regulator, including background checks
- Specialists in STEM, Business Studies and ICT are especially in demand
Not a qualified teacher? These roles need a teaching qualification, but there are other ways to teach abroad. See your options below.
Add a Level 5 TEFL to your CV
The 168-hour Level 5 Certificate in TEFL is an Ofqual-regulated qualification at the same level as CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL. You study online with a personal tutor, in your own time, alongside your teaching job.
Already a qualified teacher?
Many Australian classrooms include students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D). A Level 5 TEFL gives you specialist language-teaching skills that strengthen your application and open EAL/D and English-language support roles.
Not a qualified teacher yet?
With a degree and a Level 5 TEFL, you can teach English in countries such as Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia, where ESLstarter places teachers for free.
From £239
168-hour Level 5 Certificate in TEFL, ESLstarter price with our partner TEFL UK. Or start with the 120-hour TEFL from £63.
Where you could teach
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
Roles are in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, as well as regional towns.
How it works
Apply with ESLstarter
Send the form below with your CV. We'll check your qualifications and experience.
Get matched
We and Impact Teaching match you with schools that suit your subject, level and preferred location.
Interview
Video interviews with schools, with tips from us beforehand.
Registration and visa
We guide you through state teacher registration, any skills assessment and your work visa.
Move to Australia
Relocate and start teaching, usually at the start of a school term.
Teach Monday to Friday. Live on the coast.
Most Australians live close to the coast, so for many teachers the beach is a short trip once the school day ends.
Teaching in Australia, your questions answered
How much do teachers earn in Australia?
The roles we recruit for pay around AUD 80,000 to 140,000+ a year. Pay depends on the state, your experience and your role, with the top of the range for senior and leadership positions. Your employer also pays superannuation (pension) contributions on top of your salary.
What qualifications do I need to teach in Australia?
You need a recognised teaching qualification such as a PGCE, QTS or Bachelor of Education, and ideally at least two years of full-time classroom experience after qualifying. You must also register with the teacher regulator in the state where you'll work and pass background checks.
Can I teach in Australia without a teaching degree?
Not in these school roles, as Australian schools require a recognised teaching qualification and state registration. If you have a degree but no teaching qualification, a TEFL opens English teaching jobs in countries such as Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia, where ESLstarter places teachers for free.
Do I need a TEFL to teach in Australia?
No, a TEFL isn't required for these roles. Many Australian classrooms include students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D), so a Level 5 TEFL adds specialist skills that can strengthen your application and support EAL/D roles.
Which visa do teachers need for Australia?
Most overseas teachers move on an employer-sponsored work visa, such as the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, or a skilled migration visa. Skilled migration usually requires a teacher skills assessment from AITSL. We guide you through which route suits your situation.
How do I register as a teacher in Australia?
Each state has its own teacher regulator, such as NESA in New South Wales, the Victorian Institute of Teaching and the Queensland College of Teachers. You apply to the regulator in the state where your school is, with your qualifications, references and background checks. We help you prepare the paperwork.
Does ESLstarter charge a fee?
No. Our recruitment service for teaching jobs in Australia is completely free for teachers.
Ready to teach in Australia?
We're recruiting all year. Applying takes five minutes, and our service is free.
