Pay rates and salaries

Minimum pay rates

Each industry has a minimum pay rate. You can find the right pay for your job by looking at the industry award (agreed pay and conditions) for your workplace.

Salary and wages

For graduates

  • The average full-time salary for bachelor degree graduates in 2018 was $65,691 (2019 AAGE Employer Survey).
  • Search Grad Jobs and Dollars for graduate salaries from your area of study.

For private household jobs

There are no regulations for private household job pay rates. Representatives from tertiary education institutions in Victoria have agreed to recommend minimum hourly rates of pay to help you decide if a private householder is paying you fairly.

Use the following steps to work out if the householder is paying you fairly:

  1. find the closest related modern award provided by Fair Work Online
  2. find the casual rate for adults (18+ years)
  3. consider how much experience you need to do the job.

Negotiating your salary

You may need to know how to negotiate a salary when:

  • the job has a salary range or no salary information at all
  • if you feel that your salary is below the industry standard
  • if you always perform beyond the requirements for the job
  • you have worked for a company for a number of years and feel you need a pay rise.

Research tips on where to start:

Superannuation

Superannuation (or 'Super') is money deducted from your salary and invested into a fund by your employer for when you retire or can no longer work.

From 1 July 2014, these super guarantee contributions must be at least 9.5% of your ordinary earnings, up to the ‘maximum contribution base’.

Generally, you are entitled to super guarantee contributions from an employer if you are:

  • 18 years old or over
  • paid $450 or more (before tax) per month.

Check your pay slips to make sure that your employer is paying the right amount of super.

In most cases, you can choose your super fund.

More information on superannuation is available below.