Victorian teacher salary 2026: Where does it sit?
If you're looking at a teaching career in Victoria, the salary you can expect depends on your classification under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020. This award, updated from 1 July 2026, sets minimum pay rates for teachers in preschools and schools. But how do those rates compare to the national full-time average? And what would move a teacher's pay above or below that line?
This article uses the latest figures from the ABS and Fair Work to place Victorian teacher salaries in context.
The award rates for 2026
The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020 which includes five classification levels for full-time teachers. The minimum weekly and annual salaries (based on a 38-hour week) from 1 July 2026 are:
- Level 1 – Graduate teacher or provisional registration: $1,455.40 per week ($75,941 per year)
- Level 2 – Proficient accreditation/registration: $1,590.70 per week ($83,004 per year)
- Level 3 – Proficient after 3 years at Level 2: $1,731.70 per week ($90,362 per year)
- Level 4 – Proficient after 3 years at Level 3: $1,872.70 per week ($97,720 per year)
- Level 5 – Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher accreditation: $2,013.70 per week ($105,076 per year)
These rates apply to teachers in preschools and schools. A separate schedule covers long day care centres, with slightly higher minimums. The award also includes casual and part-time rates.
How teacher pay compares to the national average
The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, was $2,083.70 per week. That works out to about $108,352 per year (multiplying by 52 weeks, the convention used on this site).
Only a teacher at Level 5 comes close to that figure, earning $105,076 – about $3,276 less. All other levels fall further below:
- Level 4: $97,720 – about $10,632 below the national average
- Level 3: $90,362 – about $17,990 below
- Level 2: $83,004 – about $25,348 below
- Level 1: $75,941 – about $32,411 below
It's important to remember these are minimums. Many teachers, especially those in independent schools or with additional responsibilities, earn above the award. Enterprise agreements can push pay higher, particularly in the public system.
What moves teacher pay above or below the line?
Several factors can shift a Victorian teacher's salary relative to the national average:
Experience and classification – Moving from Level 1 to Level 5 adds nearly $30,000 to the annual minimum. A teacher who reaches Level 5 is still below the national average, but not by much. Those with Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher status are closest to the line.
Sector – Teachers in the public sector (government schools) often have enterprise agreements that provide pay above the award minimum. The ABS reports that the public sector full-time average weekly ordinary time earnings for all industries was $2,263.10 in May 2026, higher than the private sector average of $2,034.10. Victoria's public school teachers may therefore earn more than the award rates suggest.
Location – Victoria's state full-time average is $106,137, slightly below the national average of $108,352. Teachers in metropolitan Melbourne might earn differently from those in regional areas, though the award applies statewide. The Victoria page on this site shows how the state average compares.
Qualifications and roles – Teachers with additional qualifications, leadership roles, or specialist subjects (e.g., STEM, languages) may command higher pay. The award only sets a floor.
The national minimum wage – For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or about $52,255 per year for a 38-hour week. Even a Level 1 teacher earns well above that. The full-time median salary across all employees is about $90,532 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), which sits between Level 3 and Level 4.
Victoria's state average
Victoria's full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,041.10 per week, or about $106,137 per year. That's below the national average of $108,352. A teacher at Level 5 ($105,076) is just under the state average, while lower levels are further below. This suggests that the typical full-time worker in Victoria earns more than the top award teacher, but not by a huge margin.
Conclusion
Victorian teacher salaries under the 2026 award are generally below the national full-time average, with only the most experienced and highly accredited teachers approaching the line. However, the award is a minimum, and many teachers earn more through enterprise agreements or individual contracts. If you're considering teaching in Victoria, place a salary on the line to see how it compares to the national average and other benchmarks.
For more detail on how salaries vary by state and territory, visit the States and territories page. You can also explore job medians and industry medians to see how teaching stacks up against other professions.
Sources: ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026; Fair Work Ombudsman Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, effective 1 July 2026; ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025.