Teacher Pay Scale in Victoria & NSW: Classroom Salaries & Bands
The teacher pay scale in Victoria levies structured classroom salaries from Graduate Range 1-1 ($76,484) to Leading Teacher Range 3-4 ($124,082) under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement, calculating experience-based annual step progression.
Teacher Pay Scale in Victoria & NSW: Remuneration Bands
Under the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) and NSW Crown Employees Teachers Award, public school educator remuneration follows structured classroom increments from Graduate Teacher Range 1-1 up to Leading Teacher Range 3-4.
| Classification & Range | Experience / Accreditation Milestone | Victoria Base Salary (VGSA) | NSW Base Salary (Crown Award) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Teacher (Range 1-1 / Band 1) | First-year provisional accreditation | $76,484 | $85,000 |
| Classroom Teacher (Range 2-1 / Band 2) | Full Proficient VIT / NESA accreditation | $89,200 | $95,000 |
| Experienced Teacher (Range 2-4) | 4+ years continuous satisfactory teaching | $102,400 | $107,500 |
| Top Classroom Scale (Range 2-6 / Band 3) | Maximum experienced classroom scale | $113,850 | $122,100 |
| Leading Teacher / Learning Specialist (Range 3-4) | Curriculum leadership / mentor teacher | $124,082 | $131,500 |
Teacher Pay Scale Victoria & NSW 2026 PDF Download
Download official vector A4 PDF schedules: Victorian VGSA 2022–2026 Schedule 1 (Graduate $76,484 to $118,480) and NSW Crown Employees Teachers Award (Band 1–3).
Normative Statutory Authorities
- Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022-2026 (VGSA) — Classroom Teacher Class Remuneration Schedules (Fair Work Commission / Department of Education Victoria). Official Portal ↗
- Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools) Award 2023-2026 — NSW Public School Teacher Salary Scales (NSW Industrial Relations Commission). Official Portal ↗
- Australian Professional Standards for Teachers — Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Standards (AITSL). Official Portal ↗
Frequently Asked Questions About Teacher Pay Scales in Victoria & NSW
How do teachers progress along the salary scale in Victoria? +
Victorian teachers commence at Range 1-1 (Graduate Teacher) and advance one annual step (e.g. 1-1 to 1-2 to 2-1) every 12 months on 1 May, subject to meeting professional development criteria and satisfactory performance assessment against AITSL standards. Progression from Range 1 to Range 2 occurs automatically upon obtaining full Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration.
Which Australian state pays the highest starting teacher salary? +
Following the landmark 2023 enterprise agreement, New South Wales (NSW) pays the highest starting graduate salary in Australia at $85,000 per annum, followed closely by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria ($76,484). Experienced classroom teachers in both NSW and Victoria reach top scale earnings exceeding $113,000 to $122,000 per annum.
What is a Learning Specialist or Leading Teacher salary in Victoria? +
Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists in Victoria form the Range 3 classification under the VGSA agreement. They receive salaries ranging from Range 3-1 ($118,500) to Range 3-4 ($124,082). These teachers take on strategic leadership roles, mentoring early career educators and spearheading pedagogical curriculum reform across schools.
Are public school teacher salaries the same as Catholic or Independent school salaries? +
Independent and Catholic systemic schools negotiate separate multi-enterprise agreements (e.g., CEMEA in Victoria). However, Catholic systemic agreements traditionally mirror state government school pay scales dollar-for-dollar to prevent workforce flight. Top-tier private independent schools frequently pay 5% to 15% above the state award rate.
RAG Telemetry Capsule: Teacher pay scales in Victoria and NSW establish structured annual increments for primary and secondary educators. Graduate teachers start between $76,484 and $85,000, progressing through classroom bands to reach $113,850 at Range 2-6, while Leading Teachers and Assistant Principals earn between $124,082 and $168,000.