Teachers salary Victoria: Where the award meets the state average
When you place a salary on the line, the national full-time adult ordinary-time average of $2,083.70 a week (about $108,352 a year) is the benchmark. But for teachers in Victoria, the figure can shift depending on the award classification and the state's own average. Here’s how the numbers stack up.
The award minimums for teachers in Victoria
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, set by Fair Work, covers teachers in preschools, schools, and long day care centres. For full-time employees working 38 hours a week, the minimum weekly rates from 1 July 2026 are:
- Level 1 (graduate teacher): $1,455.40 per week ($75,941 per year)
- Level 2 (proficient accreditation): $1,590.70 per week ($83,004 per year)
- Level 3 (after 3 years at Level 2): $1,731.70 per week ($90,362 per year)
- Level 4 (after 3 years at Level 3): $1,872.70 per week ($97,720 per year)
- Level 5 (highly accomplished/lead teacher): $2,013.70 per week ($105,076 per year)
These are the legal minimums. Many teachers, especially in Victoria’s public schools, are covered by enterprise agreements that may pay above these rates. The award also sets higher rates for long day care centres (e.g., Level 5: $2,094.30 per week, $109,279 per year).
How Victoria’s state average compares
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 slightly below the national average of $108,352. A teacher at the top award level (Level 5) earns $105,076 – just $1,061 less than the state average. At Level 4, the gap widens to about $8,417. At Level 1, a graduate teacher earns about $30,196 less than the typical full-time Victorian worker.
For context, the national full-time median is about $90,532 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). So a teacher at Level 3 ($90,362) sits almost exactly on the national median, while Level 2 ($83,004) falls below it.
Why the figure moves off the national line
Several factors push a teacher’s salary away from the national full-time average:
- Award classification: The teacher’s level of accreditation and experience directly determines their minimum pay. A graduate teacher starts well below the average; a lead teacher approaches it.
- State differences: Victoria’s average is lower than the national average. Teachers in the ACT, for example, earn a state average of $119,090, while those in Tasmania earn $96,008. See how other states compare.
- Sector: Public sector teachers in Victoria may have different pay scales than private or independent school teachers. The ABS reports public sector full-time ordinary time earnings at $2,263.10 nationally, higher than the private sector’s $2,034.10.
- Enterprise agreements: Many Victorian schools have agreements that lift pay above the award minimum, sometimes by several thousand dollars.
The role of the national minimum wage and tax
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or about $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Every teacher’s salary is well above this floor. For 2026–27, the tax-free threshold is $18,200, with marginal rates of 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that, plus a 2% Medicare levy. A teacher on $90,000 would pay about $19,867 in tax and Medicare, leaving a take-home of about $70,133.
Where to find more detail
If you’re comparing a specific teacher salary, you can place it on the line to see how it stacks up against the national average, state averages, and medians. For a breakdown of how the ABS calculates these figures, see how the figures are set. And for more on Victoria’s labour market, visit the Victoria page.
Summary
A teacher’s salary in Victoria under the award ranges from about $75,941 to $105,076 per year. The top of the award sits just below the state full-time average of $106,137, while lower levels fall further behind. The national full-time average of $108,352 is a useful benchmark, but the actual figure depends on classification, sector, and location.