VIC vs ACT teacher pay: which state pays more in 2026?

VIC vs ACT at a glance

Pay and take-home at every career stage

Steps don't line up exactly between states, so we compare like-for-like career stages: the usual graduate entry step, about five years in, the top of the incremental classroom scale, and the highest classroom step (reached through HALT, Senior Teacher or a similar classification).

What's different about teaching in Victoria

Victoria is mid-reset: VGSA 2026 was approved by 93.1% of staff in September 2026 and, once the Fair Work Commission signs off, lifts graduate pay from $79,589 to $92,882 and the top classroom step from $118,063 to $133,456 from 1 October 2026, with back pay and a $2,000 lump sum. It gives more long service leave than NSW (3 months after 10 years), caps face-to-face teaching at 21 hours in primary and 18.5 in secondary, and pays up to $50,000 upfront to fill hard-to-staff rural schools.

Classroom teachers have 11 subdivisions: Range 1 (1-1 to 1-5) and Range 2 (2-1 to 2-6). You move up one subdivision per annual cycle (1 May to 30 April) after a successful performance and development assessment. It is not automatic, but there is no quota, and you need at least 6 months' eligible service at a subdivision in the cycle. Moving from Range 1 to Range 2 requires meeting the Range 2 standards. Starting salary is 1-1 plus one subdivision for each year of approved experience (including CRT work in Victorian schools since 2005) up to 2-6. Learning Specialist and Leading Teacher (Range 3) are promotion positions, usually fixed-term. From May 2027 VGSA 2026 adds a 1% top-of-range allowance for teachers at 2-6 or 3-2 for 12 months.

Full details: VIC pay scale, VIC salary after tax and VIC pay rise tracker.

What's different about teaching in Australian Capital Territory

The ACT pays well at the start ($91,396 at TL1) and has some of the best super of any public system: 12.5%, or 13.5% if you contribute 3% (only Queensland's 12.75% beats the base rate). It also gives new teachers a lighter load for three years and 24 weeks of paid birth leave. The catch in 2026 is that pay has been frozen since 4 December 2025 while teachers and the government fight over a new deal, and there is almost no rural incentive system because there is barely any rural ACT.

All classroom teachers share one increment date, 27 January, and move up one Teacher Level a year from TL1 to TL8, subject to the Teacher Performance and Development Guidelines. Your starting level recognises qualifications and prior teaching and other work experience in full years. Leave without pay can push your increment date back. TL1-TL3 are New Educator levels with a reduced face-to-face load; TL4-TL8 are Experienced Teacher levels. HALT certification earns an extra increment, or a $7,495 a year HALT payment if you are already at TL8 or SLC2.

Full details: ACT pay scale, ACT salary after tax and ACT pay rise tracker.

Country incentives, leave and the things salary tables miss

Headline salary is only part of the deal. Country and remote postings can add thousands a year, and leave rules change what a career is worth.