Early childhood teachers are paid, on average, about $13,000 per year less than their primary school counterparts.
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Yet they meet the same professional standards and study for the same University Bachelor's degrees as primary and secondary teachers.
The disparity in wages is centre to an Equal Remuneration claim before the Fair Work Commission starting on Thursday July 26.
Early childhood teacher and managing director of Port Macquarie Community Preschool Megan Jones says the Independent Education Union has had a long running campaign to achieve pay parity for early childhood teachers since 2010.
She says research shows the long term benefits of preschool programs.
"Research has proven that high-quality preschool programs delivered by a degree-qualified teacher significantly affects students' academic performance up to at least year 10," Ms Jones said.
"We are building the brain, we are building language skills and social skills that are vital for schooling success.
"Early childhood teachers are also identifying children who may have additional behavioural and learning needs and working with therapists and health professionals to transition children to school who are ready for formal leaning.
"I do not believe that families should have to pay to increase teachers' wages by paying higher fees for childcare and preschool.
The NSW government needs to increase their funding so that we could lessen the wage gap because teachers are teachers.
- Megan Jones
"The NSW government needs to increase their funding so that we could lessen the wage gap because teachers are teachers," she said.
ACTU Secretary Sally McManus has called on the Fair Work Commission to grant a union claim for substantial pay rises for early childhood teachers.
“The differences in pay between primary school teachers and early childhood teachers are stark,” Ms McManus said.
"The IEUA is asking the Fair Work Commission to compare pay rates for the female dominated profession of early childhood teaching with male primary teachers and male engineers.
“This case will test whether the equal remuneration principle under the Fair Work Act can help women who are paid less because of the feminised nature of their work,” Ms McManus said.
Ms Jones said early childhood teachers guide and educate children at a crucial stage of their development.
"Our early childhood teachers are committed to early education as they choose to work here for less money and longer hours than they would earn as primary teachers," she said.
"Early childhood teachers at Port Macquarie Community Preschool are better off than most, as our employers recognise the value of retaining highly skilled teachers and pays its teachers above award wages, but this is still not at the same level as our primary and secondary colleagues."
