What is the minimum salary for a Victorian teacher under the award?

Under the Educational Services (Teachers) Award, a full-time teacher in a preschool or school earns a minimum weekly rate from $1,455.40 (Level 1) to $2,013.70 (Level 5), equating to annual salaries from $75,941 to $105,076. These rates apply nationally, including Victoria, and are updated each July.

How does a Victorian teacher's salary compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult average ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 per year). A Victorian teacher at the Level 5 award minimum ($105,076) is slightly below that, while many teachers under enterprise agreements earn above the award, potentially matching or exceeding the national average. The Victorian full-time average across all occupations is about $106,137.

What is the take-home pay for a Victorian teacher earning the average?

For a teacher earning the Victorian full-time average of $106,137, after tax (2026–27 rates: nil to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000) and the 2% Medicare levy, the annual take-home is approximately $77,000. This is a rough estimate and does not account for deductions or the tax-free threshold.

Victoria Teacher Salary: How It Compares to the National Average

Victoria teacher salary in context

If you teach in Victoria, your salary sits within a national framework of award minimums, state averages, and the overall Australian full-time benchmark. This article uses the latest public data from the ABS and Fair Work to show where a Victorian teacher’s pay stands against the national line.

The national full-time average

The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026 reports that full-time adult ordinary time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. Multiplying by 52 gives an annual figure of about $108,352. This is the reference point used by Average line to compare any salary. For men the average is about $113,412, for women about $100,594. The full-time median (the middle point) is lower at about $90,532, while the all-employees median is about $74,100 (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025).

Award minimums for teachers

Teachers in Victoria are covered by the national Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, administered by Fair Work. The award sets minimum weekly rates for full-time teachers (38 ordinary hours per week) in preschools and schools. As of 1 July 2026, the rates are:

Level 1 (graduate): $1,455.40 per week, $75,941 per year
Level 2 (proficient): $1,590.70 per week, $83,004 per year
Level 3 (proficient after 3 years): $1,731.70 per week, $90,362 per year
Level 4 (proficient after 6 years): $1,872.70 per week, $97,720 per year
Level 5 (highly accomplished/lead): $2,013.70 per week, $105,076 per year

These are minimums. Many Victorian government school teachers are paid under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, which typically exceeds the award. Independent and Catholic school salaries also vary. The award rates give a floor, not a ceiling.

Victoria’s state average

The ABS also publishes state-level full-time averages. For Victoria, the May 2026 figure is about $106,137 per year. That is slightly below the national average of $108,352. A teacher at Level 5 of the award ($105,076) is very close to the Victorian average. A graduate at Level 1 ($75,941) is well below it, but still above the national minimum wage ($52,255 per year).

Take-home pay sketch

To understand what a Victorian teacher actually takes home, we apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. For a teacher earning the Victorian average of $106,137:

Tax-free threshold: $18,200
15% on the next $26,800 (up to $45,000): $4,020
30% on the next $90,000 (up to $135,000): $18,341 (on $61,137 of that bracket)
Total tax: $22,361
Medicare levy (2% of taxable income): $2,123
After-tax income: about $81,653

This is before any deductions, HELP repayments, or other adjustments. A teacher on the Level 5 award minimum ($105,076) would have a similar take-home, around $80,800. A graduate on $75,941 would pay about $10,000 in tax and $1,519 in Medicare, leaving about $64,422.

How the figures are set

The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, published twice a year (May and November). The award rates are set by the Fair Work Commission after annual wage reviews. The minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Award minimums rose by 4.75% in that review.

Comparing across states

Victoria’s full-time average of $106,137 is the fourth lowest among the states and territories, ahead of South Australia ($102,450), Tasmania ($96,008), and the Northern Territory ($103,173). The highest is the ACT ($119,090), followed by Western Australia ($115,825) and New South Wales ($109,658). A Victorian teacher’s salary, especially at higher award levels, is competitive within this range.

Using Average line

You can place a salary on the line to see how any Victorian teacher salary compares to the national average, the median, and the minimum wage. The tool shows weekly and hourly equivalents based on a 38-hour week, and calculates the distance from the $108,352 line. For more detail on Victoria specifically, visit the Victoria page. You can also explore job medians or industry medians to see how teaching stacks up against other professions.

Summary

A Victorian teacher’s salary depends on experience, sector, and enterprise agreements. The award minimums range from $75,941 to $105,076. The Victorian full-time average is $106,137, just below the national average of $108,352. After tax, a teacher on the state average takes home roughly $81,600. These figures are based on the most recent public data from the ABS and Fair Work, and provide a solid benchmark for anyone considering or reviewing a teaching career in Victoria.