Teacher salary Melbourne: Award minimums and averages
If you're looking up a teacher salary in Melbourne, the first thing to know is that the legal minimum is set by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, which covers most teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. The award gives five classification levels, each with a minimum weekly, annual, and hourly rate. But actual pay can be higher, especially in government schools and many private schools. To see where a specific salary sits against the national full-time average, you can place a salary on the line.
Minimum rates under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the award rates, which are updated each 1 July. From 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly pay for a full-time teacher (38 ordinary hours) in a preschool or school is:
- Level 1 (graduate or provisional registration): $1,455.40 per week, $75,941 per year, $38.31 per hour
- Level 2 (proficient registration): $1,590.70 per week, $83,004 per year, $41.86 per hour
- Level 3 (proficient after 3 years at Level 2): $1,731.70 per week, $90,362 per year, $45.57 per hour
- Level 4 (proficient after 3 years at Level 3): $1,872.70 per week, $97,720 per year, $49.28 per hour
- Level 5 (Highly Accomplished or Lead accreditation): $2,013.70 per week, $105,076 per year, $53.00 per hour
These annual figures use the award's calculation of 52.18 weeks per year. If you enter the annual salary into the tool on this site, it will divide by 52 weeks to show a weekly amount, so the displayed weekly figure may differ slightly from the award's weekly rate. The hourly rate is based on 38 ordinary hours.
For long day care centres, the minimums are slightly higher: Level 1 is $1,513.60 per week ($78,979 per year).
How teacher pay compares to the Victorian average
Victoria's full-time adult average weekly ordinary-time earnings are $2,041.10, or about $106,137 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). That's the average across all full-time workers in the state, not just teachers. The national full-time average is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year).
A Level 1 teacher's minimum of $1,455.40 is well below both averages. But a Level 5 teacher's minimum of $2,013.70 is close to the Victorian average and only about 3% below the national average. Many experienced teachers in Melbourne earn above the award minimum, especially in the public system. The Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 provides higher salaries: for example, a classroom teacher at the top of the range (Band 2, Step 6) earns about $116,000 per year. Private schools often match or exceed that.
You can compare teacher pay to other occupations using the job medians page, or see how it stacks up by industry.
Reading your pay as a year, week, and hour
The tool on this site lets you enter a yearly salary before tax and see it as a weekly amount (based on a 38-hour week) and an hourly rate. It also shows how far that salary sits from the national full-time average line. For a teacher in Melbourne, you might enter:
- The award minimum for your level (e.g., $75,941 for Level 1)
- Your actual salary if you know it
- A salary you're considering in a job offer
The line on the chart is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings figure of $2,083.70 per week. If your salary is above that, you're earning more than the typical full-time worker; if below, you're earning less. The site also shows the full-time median ($90,532) and the all-employees median ($74,100) for context.
What about experienced teachers?
Teachers with proficient accreditation or higher move up the award levels. After three years at Level 2, you reach Level 3, then after another three years at Level 3 you reach Level 4. Level 5 requires Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher accreditation. Each step adds roughly $140–$150 per week. Many teachers in Melbourne reach Level 3 or 4 within a decade, earning $90,000–$98,000 per year under the award. Actual earnings in government schools are often higher, as enterprise agreements provide additional increments.
For more detail on how award rates are set and updated, see the data page. You can also read guides on understanding your pay and how it compares across states and territories.
Tax and take-home pay
Teacher salaries are subject to Australian income tax and the Medicare levy. For 2026–27, the tax rates are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. The Medicare levy is 2% (reduced for low-income earners). A teacher earning $90,000 per year would pay about $20,000 in tax plus $1,800 Medicare levy, leaving about $68,200 take-home. Use the ATO's tax calculator for your exact situation.
Summary
A teacher salary in Melbourne starts at $75,941 per year under the award for a graduate, rising to $105,076 for a Lead Teacher. The Victorian full-time average is $106,137, and the national average is $108,352. Many teachers earn above the award, especially in government schools. To see where your pay sits, place it on the line and compare it to the national average, medians, and minimum wage.