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VIC pay rise tracker · updated 16 October 2026

Victorian teacher pay rise 2026: VGSA 2026 explained

VGSA 2026 was voted up 93.1% and awaits Fair Work approval. Every rise, the back pay to 10 August 2026, the $2,000 lump sum and when the money will land.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 7 min read

Last rise

1%

Graduate now

$79,589

Top step now

$118,063

Next column

October 2026

On this page (10 sections)
  1. Status right now
  2. Pay rise timeline
  3. Old vs new rates
  4. What VGSA 2026 gives teachers
  5. Beyond pay: workload and new allowances
  6. When will the new pay and back pay arrive?
  7. How much back pay will you get?
  8. How the deal was won: the 2026 timeline
  9. What to watch next
  10. FAQs

The short answer

Victorian teachers will get 3% to 6.33% back-dated to 10 August 2026 and 9.75% from 1 October 2026, plus a $2,000 lump sum, once the Fair Work Commission approves VGSA 2026. Staff approved it 93.1% on 17 September 2026. Graduates rise to $92,882 and top-step teachers to $133,456, then 4%, 4% and 4.9% to 2029.

Status at 16 October 2026: approved by staff, not yet in force. The Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2026 (VGSA 2026) is with the Fair Work Commission (FWC). It starts on the seventh day after the FWC approves it. Until then, VGSA 2022 rates are still paid: $79,589 for a graduate and $118,063 at the top of the classroom scale.

This is the biggest pay change for Victorian government school staff in years. Below: what each step gets, how back pay will be worked out with real numbers, what's still pending, and the details other sites get wrong. We update this page as soon as the FWC rules.

Where VIC teacher pay stands right now

VGSA 2026 approved by staff (93.1%), awaiting Fair Work approval; back pay to 10 Aug 2026

  1. 12 October 2026

    VGSA 2026 still awaiting Fair Work approval

    The principals' association VASSP reported in the week of 12 Oct that FWC approval was still pending. The government says the FWC process can take up to six weeks.

  2. 17 September 2026

    Staff ballot approves VGSA 2026 with 93.1%

    80,742 employees (77.1% of those eligible) voted and 93.1% approved. New pay starts 7 days after the FWC approves the agreement, with back pay to 10 Aug 2026.

  3. 17 August 2026

    AEU members accept the revised offer

    83% of members took part and 79% voted yes. The planned third 24-hour strike was called off.

  4. 10 August 2026

    Revised VGSA 2026 offer

    28.3% to 32.4% over four years, a $2,000 lump sum, halved meeting hours and four Professional Practice Days. The first pay step moved to 10 Aug 2026.

  5. 15 May 2026

    In-principle deal announced, later rejected

    The government and AEU announced an in-principle agreement in May. In June, 58% of voting AEU members rejected it, citing workload and funding.

VIC teacher pay rise timeline

DateRiseDetailStatus
1 November 20294.9%VGSA 2026: 4.9%, final riseproposed
1 November 20284%VGSA 2026: 4%proposed
1 November 20274%VGSA 2026: 4% for teachers (up to 7.12% for some other classes)proposed
1 October 20269.75%VGSA 2026 step 2: 9.75% (13.04% at the top step and 16.7% at the graduate step over VGSA 2022 rates). Pending FWC approval; back-paidproposed
10 August 20263%VGSA 2026 step 1: 3% for experienced steps, up to 6.33% at the graduate step. Pending FWC approval; back-paid. Plus a $2,000 lump sum (pro rata part-time) once the agreement startsproposed
1 July 20251%VGSA 2022: 1%, the last rise under VGSA 2022 (rates still paid today)paid
1 January 20251%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 July 20241%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 January 20241%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 July 20231%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 January 20231%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 July 20221%VGSA 2022: 1%paid
1 January 20221%VGSA 2022: 1% (first pay period on or after)paid

Old, current and upcoming rates

Step1 January 20251 July 202510 August 2026 (proposed)1 October 2026 (proposed)1 November 2027 (proposed)1 November 2028 (proposed)1 November 2029 (proposed)
1-1$78,801$79,589$84,631$92,882$96,598$100,462$105,384
1-2$80,868$81,676$86,848$95,316$99,128$103,094$108,145
1-3$83,852$84,690$89,454$98,175$102,102$106,186$111,390
1-4$86,945$87,814$92,137$101,121$105,165$109,372$114,731
1-5$90,154$91,056$94,901$104,154$108,320$112,653$118,173
2-1$93,480$94,415$97,274$106,758$111,028$115,469$121,127
2-2$96,929$97,899$100,863$110,697$115,125$119,730$125,597
2-3$100,506$101,512$104,585$114,782$119,373$124,148$130,232
2-4$104,216$105,258$108,444$119,018$123,778$128,729$135,037
2-5$108,061$109,142$112,446$123,409$128,346$133,480$140,020
2-6$116,894$118,063$121,600$133,456$138,794$144,346$151,419
3-1—$123,966$127,690$140,140——$159,002
3-2—$129,544$133,430$146,439$152,297$158,389$166,150

Proposed columns apply only once the agreement is approved; calculated columns are our arithmetic from the published percentage.

What VGSA 2026 gives teachers

Graduate (1-1) by 1 Oct 2026

+$13,293

+16.7%, to $92,882

Top step (2-6) by 1 Oct 2026

+$15,393

+13.04%, to $133,456

Graduate by Nov 2029

+32.4%

to $105,384

Top step by Nov 2029

+28.3%

to $151,419

Every VGSA 2026 pay step (all pending FWC approval)
From the first pay period on or afterRiseWhat it means
10 Aug 20263% to 6.33%Weighted to early-career steps: 6.33% at 1-1, about 4% to 5.6% at 1-3 to 1-5, 3% from 2-1 up. Back-paid
1 Oct 20269.75%Across the board. Back-paid. Graduates reach $92,882 and 2-6 reaches $133,456
On commencement$2,000One-off lump sum for full-time staff; pro rata for part-time
1 Nov 20274%Teacher class (up to 7.12% for some other classes)
1 Nov 20284%All classes
1 Nov 20294.9%Final rise; the agreement nominally expires 10 Aug 2030

Seen $12,343 quoted as the early-career gain? That is the rise at subdivision 2-1. The rise at the graduate step, 1-1, is $13,293, which matches the agreement tables and the Premier's August announcement.

Beyond pay: workload and new allowances

  • Meetings halved: from 2027, directed meetings are capped at 40 hours a year (no more than 2 hours a week), down from up to 80. Another 40 hours becomes teacher-set planning and PD time.
  • Professional Practice Days: 1 in 2026, then 4 a year from 2027, taken on extra student-free days.
  • Camp allowance: 0.555% of salary per night on overnight camps from 2027, about $741 a night at the proposed top-step rate, replacing time in lieu.
  • Top-of-range allowance: 1% of salary each May from May 2027 for teachers who have held 2-6 or 3-2 for 12 months.
  • Leave loading cap rises from $1,488 to $1,790 for 2026, reaching $2,031 by 2029.
  • Leave: qualifying periods for parental leave removed, 6 weeks' surrogacy leave, and a discretionary personal leave day each year.
  • Principal Level 2 (Range 7), a new classification for very large schools, from 1 April 2027.

When will the new pay and back pay arrive?

From ballot to payslip

  1. 1

    Staff ballot: done

    Workplace ballots ran 3 to 14 September 2026. On 17 September the result was announced: 80,742 employees voted (77.1% of those eligible) and 93.1% said yes.

  2. 2

    Lodged with the FWC

    The Department had 14 days from the ballot close to lodge the agreement. Some sites report it was lodged on 23 September; we haven't confirmed that from an official source.

  3. 3

    FWC approval: pending

    The government says the FWC process can take up to six weeks. In the week of 12 October, principals were still being told approval was pending. The FWC checks the vote was genuine and that staff are better off overall, and can ask for undertakings, which adds time.

  4. 4

    Agreement starts

    VGSA 2026 commences on the seventh day after the FWC approves it.

  5. 5

    New rates, back pay and lump sum

    Payroll moves you to the 1 October 2026 rate, pays the difference back to the first pay period on or after 10 August 2026, and pays the $2,000 lump sum. Processing may take a few pay cycles after the start date.

How much back pay will you get?

Estimated back pay plus lump sum, full-time, if the new rates reach your pay on 1 Dec 2026
StepExtra a fortnight from 1 Oct (gross)Back pay 10 Aug to 30 NovWith $2,000 lump sumAfter tax
1-1 (graduate)$511about $2,940about $4,940about $3,359
1-5$504about $2,737about $4,737about $3,221
2-6 (top of scale)$592about $3,076about $5,076about $3,452
3-2 (LS / LT top)$650about $3,377about $5,377about $3,280

Illustrative. Back pay is the gap between your old and new rate for every pay period from 10 Aug 2026 until the new rate is paid; we pro-rate by day, while payroll works by pay period. It grows by the 'extra a fortnight' figure for every fortnight approval takes. After-tax figures from our 2026-27 tax engine, no HECS. Part-timers: multiply by your FTE. Super is generally payable on back-paid salary too.

Free calculator

Teacher back pay calculator

Pick Victoria, your step and FTE, and the date the new rate reaches your pay to estimate your own VGSA 2026 back pay.

Open the calculator

How the deal was won: the 2026 timeline

DateWhat happened
31 Dec 2025VGSA 2022 reaches its nominal expiry. Its rates keep applying.
March 2026First statewide strike by Victorian public school staff.
15 May 2026Government and AEU announce an in-principle deal, with its first step dated 15 May 2026.
June 202658% of voting AEU members reject it against the union's recommendation, citing workload and funding.
July 2026Second statewide strike.
10 Aug 2026Revised offer: 28.3% to 32.4%, $2,000 lump sum, halved meetings, first step moved to 10 Aug 2026.
17 Aug 2026AEU members accept: 83% took part, 79% voted yes. The third 24-hour strike is called off.
25 Aug 2026Proposed VGSA 2026 issued to all staff.
17 Sep 2026Staff ballot result: 93.1% yes on a 77.1% turnout.
NowAwaiting FWC approval.

It is not backdated to 15 May. Several aggregator sites still use that date, which belonged to the deal members rejected. The approved agreement back-dates to 10 August 2026, and its nominal expiry is 10 August 2030, not 15 May 2030.

What to watch next

  • The FWC decision. The start date is 7 days later. We'll update this page and the Victorian pay scale the same day.
  • Your first new-rate payslip. Check the new fortnightly rate, a back-pay line and the $2,000 lump sum against the table above. If you changed step or acted in a higher role after 10 August, back pay should follow the step you were actually on.
  • CRT pay. Relief teachers employed by school councils are paid under a Ministerial Order, not the VGSA, so they couldn't vote and need an amended Order for a new rate. See CRT pay in Victoria.
  • The Catholic agreement. Catholic staff are still bargaining; employers have offered to match VGSA 2026's percentage rises. See Catholic teacher pay in Victoria.
  • Tax on the back pay. It's taxed at your marginal rate in 2026-27; read tax on teacher back pay. Other states are tracked on our teacher pay rise tracker.

Frequently asked questions

When will Victorian teachers get their pay rise?
Seven days after the Fair Work Commission approves VGSA 2026, which was still pending on 16 October 2026. The government says the FWC process can take up to six weeks. Payroll then pays the new rate, back pay to 10 August 2026 and the $2,000 lump sum.
Is the Victorian teacher pay rise backdated?
Yes, to the first pay period on or after 10 August 2026 for the first rise, and 1 October 2026 for the second. It is not backdated to 15 May 2026; that date was in the deal members rejected.
How much is the Victorian teacher pay rise?
28.3% to 32.4% over four years. By 1 October 2026 graduates rise 16.7% to $92,882 and top-step teachers 13.04% to $133,456. Further rises of 4% (Nov 2027), 4% (Nov 2028) and 4.9% (Nov 2029) follow.
How much back pay will I get?
Roughly $2,700 to $3,400 gross for a full-time classroom teacher if the new rates reach pay on 1 December 2026, plus the $2,000 lump sum. Every extra fortnight of delay adds about $500 to $650 gross, depending on your step.
Who gets the $2,000 lump sum?
Employees covered by VGSA 2026 when it starts: $2,000 for full-time staff and a pro-rata amount for part-time staff. It is taxable income, so a classroom teacher keeps about $1,360.
I left the Department after 10 August 2026. Do I get back pay?
Check with the Department or the AEU. Eligibility for staff who have left depends on the agreement's wording, so ask before assuming either way.
Do CRTs get the VGSA 2026 pay rise?
Not automatically. Government-school CRTs are paid under Ministerial Order 1389, not the VGSA, so their $425.80 daily rate changes only when that Order is amended. No new CRT rate had been published by 16 October 2026.
Will the November state election affect the pay rise?
Once the FWC approves VGSA 2026 it is a legally binding agreement, so its scheduled rises don't depend on who wins the election.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.Proposed Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2026 (PDF, Department of Education)
  2. 2.Proposed VGSA 2026: Agreement Explanation (PDF)
  3. 3.Proposed VGSA 2026: Approval Process and FAQs (PDF)
  4. 4.Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (PDF)
  5. 5.Enterprise Bargaining: Overview (Department PAL)
  6. 6.Casual Relief Teacher Employment Handbook
  7. 7.Relocation incentives: Targeted Financial Incentives and Regional Relocation Incentive
  8. 8.Workforce support and initiatives: Attraction (Department PAL)

About this page

Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.