Teacher Salary Vic: Award Rates and Minimum Pay for Teachers in Victoria

Teacher salary in Victoria: award coverage and minimum rates

When researching teacher salary vic, the first thing to understand is which pay floor applies. Most teachers in Victoria are covered by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, a modern award made by the Fair Work Commission. This award sets minimum wages for teachers in the school education industry, children’s services and early childhood education industry across Australia, including Victoria. The award applies to employers and employees in the national system, which covers most private schools, early learning centres, and some public sector roles.

Award rates from 1 July 2026

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the official pay guide for this award. The following are the minimum annual salaries for full-time teachers in preschools and schools (the rates for long day care centres are about 4% higher):

• Level 1 – Graduate teacher or provisional registration: $75,941 per year ($1,455.40 per week)
• Level 2 – Proficient accreditation: $83,004 per year
• Level 3 – Proficient after 3 years at Level 2: $90,362 per year
• Level 4 – Proficient after 3 years at Level 3: $97,720 per year
• Level 5 – Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher accreditation: $105,076 per year

These rates are the legal minimum. Part-time teachers are paid pro-rata. Casual teachers engaged for less than five consecutive days cannot be paid above Level 3 rates, but if engaged for five or more days they receive the classification rate plus a casual loading.

How the award relates to the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week). Every award rate must be at least this amount. The lowest teacher award rate (Level 1) is $32.20 per hour, well above the national minimum. This means the award, not the national minimum, is the relevant pay floor for teachers in Victoria.

Superannuation is paid on top

All award rates are base wages. Employers must also pay the superannuation guarantee, which is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026. For a Level 1 teacher earning $75,941, the employer contributes an additional $9,113 per year to a super fund. This is not deducted from the salary; it is an extra payment.

Enterprise agreements and above-award pay

Many Victorian schools and early childhood centres have enterprise agreements that set higher salaries than the award. If you work under such an agreement, the agreement rate applies as long as it is not less than the award. Individual contracts can also offer more. The award is the safety net, not the ceiling.

What if you are award-free?

A small number of teachers may not be covered by the Educational Services Award – for example, those in state public sector roles covered by a state reference public sector award, or those in very specific settings. In that case, the national minimum wage applies, but only if no other award or agreement covers the role. Most teachers in Victoria will fall under the Teachers Award.

For more detail on how award rates are calculated, see our Rate tables and Guides.

Key points to remember

• The teacher salary vic minimum is set by the Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, not the national minimum wage.
• Rates increase each year following the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. The figures above are from the 2026 review, effective 1 July 2026.
• Always check your classification level. Progression from Level 1 to Level 2 requires proficient accreditation, and further levels require additional years of service and higher accreditation.
• If you believe you are being underpaid, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice.