Victorian Allied Health Pay Is in the Spotlight — How Does It Compare With Other States?

Pay, workload and career progression are firmly in the spotlight for Victoria’s allied health workforce in 2026.

More than 3,000 allied health professionals across Victoria took part in 24-hour industrial action on 16 June, followed by further action in July. On 24 July, more than 1,000 public-hospital allied health professionals were reported to have taken further stop-work action.

The developments have brought attention to professions including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography, sonography, speech pathology, podiatry and social work.

But rather than taking a position on the negotiations, there’s an important career question worth exploring:

Why is Victorian allied health pay being discussed?

Victoria’s current public-sector Allied Health Professionals Enterprise Agreement covers employees across Victorian public health services, with the existing agreement running through 2026.

Current negotiations have brought several workforce issues into public discussion, including remuneration, workloads, staffing, classification structures and career progression.

These are important considerations for both healthcare professionals and employers.

For clinicians, they can influence where they choose to build their careers.

For health services, competitive remuneration, career development and working conditions can influence their ability to attract and retain experienced professionals.

Are Victorian allied health professionals paid less than other states?

There have been claims during the current dispute that some Victorian allied health professionals could earn considerably more in comparable interstate positions.

At a July protest in Geelong, individual clinicians reportedly claimed that differences for some comparable roles could reach $20,000–$30,000 per year.

It's important to put those figures into context.

They represent individual experiences and claims made during the industrial dispute, rather than evidence that every Victorian allied health professional earns $20,000–$30,000 less than someone performing the same job interstate.

There isn't one simple number that represents the Victorian versus interstate pay difference.

That's because allied health remuneration varies considerably.

Why state-by-state comparisons can be complicated

Australia doesn't have one national allied health salary structure.

Different jurisdictions operate under different Enterprise Agreements, awards and classification systems.

Even within the same profession, earning potential can depend on:

That means comparing a Victorian Grade 2 Occupational Therapist with an advertised OT salary in another state doesn't necessarily provide an accurate like-for-like comparison.

The responsibilities, experience requirements and progression structure may be different.

Even within Victoria, progression between classifications can make a significant difference. The existing Victorian agreement includes defined progression arrangements from Grade 1 into Grade 2 as well as higher-level clinical and career structures.

So if you're considering an interstate opportunity, compare equivalent roles and classifications rather than simply the highest advertised salary.

Salary is only one part of the comparison

For an allied health professional considering a new role, the headline salary matters.

But it shouldn't necessarily be the only factor.

A useful career comparison should also consider:

Workload and career progression matter too



The current Victorian negotiations have also highlighted issues beyond remuneration.

Workload and career progression have featured prominently in allied health bargaining discussions. The existing agreement itself contains measures relating to clinical supervision, career progression and additional clinical educator positions, illustrating how workforce conditions extend beyond the base salary.

For clinicians comparing opportunities, these factors can be significant.

A higher salary doesn't automatically make a position the better career move if the workload, professional support or progression opportunities aren't right for you.

Similarly, employers competing for allied health professionals increasingly need to think about the overall employment proposition, not simply remuneration.

Victoria's allied health landscape is already changing

There has also been an important development in August.

On 20 August 2026, the Victorian Government announced an agreement with Health Services Union Victoria No. 4 providing a 28% pay increase over three and a half years, a $1,500 one-off payment, $3,500 per worker each year for professional development, changes to classification structures and career progression, and other improved conditions.

However, this agreement does not apply to every Victorian allied health profession.

It covers medical scientists, hospital pharmacists, psychologists, dietitians, medical physicists, genetic counsellors, perfusionists and audiologists.

Other allied health professions are covered by different bargaining arrangements.

This is an important reminder that “allied health” isn't one employment market.

The picture can differ considerably between professions, employers and agreements.

What should allied health professionals compare?



Whether you're actively considering a move or simply planning the next stage of your career, understanding how your current position compares with the wider market can be valuable.

Rather than assuming another state is better or worse, compare the complete opportunity.

Look at your equivalent classification and ask:

What would I earn? How would I progress? What professional development is available? What would my workload look like? What experience would I gain? And what does the overall opportunity mean for my career?

The answer will be different for every clinician.

For some, remaining with their current health service may provide the strongest career pathway.

For others, another employer, regional location or interstate opportunity could offer something their current position can't.

The bigger career lesson

The current Victorian negotiations have brought allied health remuneration and working conditions into the headlines.

But they also highlight something broader about building an allied health career in Australia.

Opportunities can vary significantly between states, health services, classifications and specialties.

And those differences can change as new Enterprise Agreements are negotiated.

That's why staying informed about workforce developments can be valuable — whether you're a clinician considering your next move or a health service trying to attract and retain talented people.

Instead of asking:

“Which state pays allied health professionals the most?”

A more useful question might be:

“Where could my qualifications, experience and career goals create the best overall opportunity?”

Because salary matters.

But the strongest career decision usually comes from understanding the whole opportunity.