Overview of this occupation
Primary School Teachers teach a range of subjects within a prescribed curriculum to primary school students and promote students' social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Note data does not include 241211 Kaiako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Teacher) or 241212 Pouako Kura Kaupapa Māori (Māori-medium Primary School Senior Teacher).
What they do:
- Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress
- Arrange childcare or educational settings to ensure physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of children
- Assess educational needs of students
- Assign learning activities to students
- Create technology-based learning materials
- Develop educational or training programs
- Develop instructional objectives
- Develop strategies or programs for students with accessibility needs
- Display or showcase student work
- Distribute instructional or library materials
- Document lesson plans
- Encourage students
- Enforce rules or policies governing student behaviour
- Establish rules or policies governing student behaviour
- Evaluate student work
- Guide class discussions
- Maintain student records
- Modify teaching methods, materials, or environments to accommodate student needs
- Monitor student behaviour, social development or health
- Monitor student performance
- Order instructional or library materials or equipment
- Plan and lead experiential learning activities
- Plan educational activities
- Prepare academic or educational tests
- Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance
- Read aloud and share stories with others
- Select educational materials, resources, or equipment
- Set up classroom materials or equipment
- Supervise school or student activities
- Supervise student research or internship work
What technology tools they use:
- Business intelligence and decision support software
- E-learning software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Inventory management software
- Project management software
- Statistical and data analysis software
- Student and learning management systems
What their interests are:
- Creative – they enjoy designing, creating and decorating; composing, dancing and singing; writing and storytelling.
- Social – they enjoy focusing on social welfare and working with people.
Source: Australian Skills Classification, job and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence and Jobs and Skills Australia, ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Quick facts
Primary School Teacher
All employees nationwide 1
The number of people employed in an occupations as their main job across all Australian states.
Projected growth 2
The projected increase in employment in Australia from May 2023 to May 2028.
Working in NSW 3
The distribution of people employed in an occupation in NSW.
Median weekly earnings before tax 4
Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed.
Median age of all workers 5
This shows the median age of all workers in this occupation.
Part-time workers 6
Those who usually work less than 35 hours per week.
See footnotes for source details and additional information.
Skills and knowledge
What are they good at?
This table lists skills and knowledge categories according to how relevant they are for this occupation.
High expertise | Intermediate |
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Source: Australian Skills Classification, Jobs and Skills Australia, Commonwealth of Australia. Used under Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence.
Education and qualifications
Primary School Teacher – Skill level 1
Occupation at Skill Level 1 have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor's degree of higher qualification .
At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification
Source: Conceptual basis of ANZSCO, ABS Survey, Release Nov 2021.
Qualifications in this workforce
This table shows the distribution of employment by highest qualification completed (in any field of study).7
Year 12 and below
Certificate III or IV
Diploma or Advanced Diploma
Bachelor`s degree
Post-graduate
Source: ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on place of usual residence.
Use this as a guide for understanding what qualifications are the most common in this field. For personalised support on your education journey, talk to a Careers NSW specialist.
Talk to one of our specialists
At any career stage you can talk with a specialist from Careers NSW about your goals and how you can achieve them.