Vic teacher salary and the national full‑time average
If you are looking at a Victorian teacher’s salary and wondering how it compares with the Australian full‑time average, the answer depends on whether you look at award minimums, typical industry earnings, or state‑wide figures. The national benchmark is the full‑time adult ordinary‑time average of $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. This is the line that this site uses to show where any salary sits.
Award minimums for teachers
The Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, set by Fair Work, covers teachers in preschools and schools across Australia, including Victoria. For a full‑time teacher working 38 ordinary hours per week, the minimum weekly rates from 1 July 2026 are:
- Level 1 (graduate): $1,455.40 per week, about $75,941 per year
- Level 2 (proficient): $1,590.70 per week, about $83,004 per year
- Level 3 (proficient after 3 years): $1,731.70 per week, about $90,362 per year
- Level 4 (proficient after 6 years): $1,872.70 per week, about $97,720 per year
- Level 5 (highly accomplished/lead): $2,013.70 per week, about $105,076 per year
These are minimums. Many Victorian teachers are covered by enterprise agreements that pay more, especially in government schools. The award rates are below the national full‑time average of $108,352, except for Level 5 which is close but still slightly below. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, about $52,255 per year, so all teacher award rates are well above that.
Industry average for education and training
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 shows that for the education and training industry nationally, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,197.90 per week for persons, about $114,290 per year. This is above the all‑industry average of $108,352. This industry includes teachers, lecturers, and trainers. It suggests that the typical teacher earns more than the award minimum, but the ABS does not break this down by state or by teaching level.
Victoria’s state average
Victoria’s full‑time adult ordinary‑time average across all industries is about $106,137 per year, based on the ABS state figures. This is slightly below the national average of $108,352. For a Victorian teacher, the award minimums range from about $75,941 to $105,076, so the top award level is close to the state average. However, many teachers in Victoria earn above the award, especially those with experience or in leadership roles.
How to compare your salary
To see where a specific Victorian teacher salary sits against the national line, you can place a salary on the line using this site. The tool uses a 38‑hour week and shows the weekly and hourly equivalents, plus the distance from the full‑time average. Remember that the average is a mean, not a median. The full‑time median is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), which is lower than the average because high earners pull the mean up. The all‑employees median is about $74,100.
For more detail on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. And for Victoria‑specific data, visit Victoria.
Key points
- The national full‑time average is $108,352 per year.
- Award minimums for Victorian teachers range from $75,941 to $105,076.
- The education and training industry average nationally is about $114,290.
- Victoria’s all‑industry average is about $106,137.
- Most teachers earn above the award but below the industry average, depending on experience and sector.
If you are a Victorian teacher, your salary is likely between the award minimum and the industry average. The national line of $108,352 is a useful reference point: graduate teachers are below it, while experienced teachers may be close to or above it.