'This is the moment': teachers strike over wage deal

Queensland teachers on Wednesday abandoned classrooms for the first time in 16 years, demanding better pay and conditions after government negotiations broke down.

Brisbane's CBD came to a standstill amid a sea of placards as about 4000 people marched on state parliament.

It was part of 30 rallies across the state after more than 50,000 union members voted to strike for the first time since 2009.

Almost 600,000 state primary and high school students were affected by Wednesday's 24-hour industrial action.

"This is the moment to stand up, be seen, be counted and be heard," Gold Coast teacher Damien Richardson told the Brisbane rally.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek was hopeful of returning to negotiations after talks collapsed following 18 meetings with the union in the past five months.

The Queensland Teachers' Union has not ruled out taking more industrial action.

"Sadly, it probably wouldn't end here today. This is not going to be easy," union president Cresta Richardson told the rally.

"We have spoken today. This is a teacher voice that cannot be denied."

The union in June rejected the latest offer of three per cent, 2.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent salary increases respectively over the next three years.

"If we accept the state wages policy, it actually takes us to the lowest-paid teachers in the country," Ms Richardson told reporters.

"We can afford an Olympic Games but we can't afford to pay our teachers properly, come on."

The strike action was also part of a campaign for safer classrooms and solutions to a teacher shortage, the union said. 

"Together, teachers and school leaders will write a new chapter in Queensland's history books and remind the government just how valuable we are to education in our state schools," the union said on Instagram.

Terry Evans retired after being a teacher for more than 20 years but decided to march in Brisbane after the government's latest wage offer. 

"Like most people, I think it's piss poor. It's a ridiculous offer," he told AAP.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles was among a handful of Labor caucus members joining the march. 

"They were promised nation-leading wages," he told AAP.

"I think we have the best teachers in the country and they should be appreciated for it."

Mr Langbroek said the Liberal National government would continue to negotiate in good faith.

"Our second offer to the union ... would see them at $135,000, which would make them number one in the country," he said.

"I want to reassure parents, teachers and students that we're confident we can come to a negotiated settlement.

"It is costly for the people taking this industrial action. They lose a day's pay."

Pay negotiations have been referred to the Industrial Relations Commission for conciliation by the Queensland government.

TEACHER SALARIES NATIONWIDE:

* Queensland: under the government's pay offer, by 2027 a graduate teacher would earn $84,000 per year and a senior educator $135,000.

* NSW: graduate teacher earns $87,550 and senior educator about $125,763.

* Victoria: graduate teacher earns $79,589 and senior educator up to $129,544.

* South Australia: graduate teacher earns $82,496 and senior educator up to $129,841.

* Tasmania: graduate teacher earns $82,828 and senior educator up to $118,328.

* Western Australia: graduate teacher earns $85,610 and senior educator up to $130,257.

* Northern Territory: graduate teacher earns $92,215 and senior educator up to $188,789. 

Australian Associated Press