Victoria sets new benchmark with major pay rise for teachers and early childhood educators

Victoria is set to become one of the highest-paying jurisdictions in Australia for teachers, principals and education support staff, following a significant pay offer from the Allan Government.

A separate offer also includes significant wage and condition improvements for kindergarten teachers and educators, with early childhood teachers set to reach wage parity with Victorian Government school teachers for the first time.

Under the in-principle agreement, teacher and principal salaries will rise by 28.3 per cent over four years, beginning with a 12 per cent increase by October 2026.

The Victorian Government said more than 90,000 full-time teachers will receive more than $1,000 extra per month by October this year, increasing to almost $3,000 more per month by 2030.

The Government said the changes will soon place Victorian graduate and experienced teachers ahead of their New South Wales counterparts, making them the best paid in the country.

Education Support Staff will also receive similar pay rises to teachers over the next four years, including access to allowances. The agreement recognises the role of Education Support Staff and introduces qualification requirements for higher salary classifications.

The package also includes changes to time-off-in-lieu arrangements for school camps, including a new overnight payment and increased allowances for specialist school staff.

Premier Jacinta Allan said the package recognised the contribution of educators across the state.

“We’ve always said our public school educators deserve a pay rise, that is what we’re delivering,” she said.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said the agreement reflected the importance of attracting and retaining quality educators.

“Our children deserve the best teachers. Our society demands it,” he said.

Early childhood workforce included in major uplift

For the early childhood education and care sector, the announcement marks a significant workforce development.

The Victorian Government has confirmed it will fund new kindergarten enterprise agreements, with early childhood teachers to receive a 28.3 per cent increase over four years, bringing them into wage parity with Victorian Government school teachers for the first time.

Kindergarten educators will receive an average pay increase of 39 per cent over four years, incorporating the Fair Work Commission’s recent Gender Undervaluation decision.

Other improvements include the removal of existing barriers to teacher wage progression, new educational leader and service leader allowances, and new leave provisions aligned with government schools.

Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said early childhood teachers and educators were critical to children’s learning and development.

“The Victorian Government has funded a settlement outcome that will deliver significant improvements to pay and conditions, for the first time our early childhood workforce will have equal pay to school teachers and staff,” she said.

Workforce implications for the sector

The announcement is likely to be closely watched across the early childhood sector, particularly as providers continue to navigate workforce shortages, educator retention pressures and competition for qualified teachers.

For kindergarten teachers, the move toward parity with school teachers represents a significant recognition of professional value and may strengthen attraction and retention across funded kindergarten settings.

For educators, the average 39 per cent increase over four years is also a major development, particularly in light of long-running sector concerns about undervaluation in female-dominated care and education work.

The package may also sharpen national conversations about pay parity, workforce planning and how governments support the early years workforce as demand for early learning continues to grow.

While the announcement represents a substantial shift for Victoria, the next phase will depend on implementation, final agreement processes and how the changes are communicated across services, providers and the workforce.

For now, the Allan Government’s announcement signals a clear policy direction: positioning educator pay, including early childhood pay, as central to workforce stability and quality education outcomes for children and families.

Access the full Victorian Government announcement here: Labor Will Pay Our Teachers The Best In The Country