The hefty salaries of Victorian council workers revealed - 9News

It pays to work for local government, with Victorian council staffers pocketing $110,000 a year on average.

It's a sweeter deal for metropolitan employees, who pocket an average pay packet of more than $116,000.

The analysis from Council Watch was based on the 2023/34 budget papers of each LGA and reveals the City of Melbourne pays staff the most, with the standard salary sitting around $136,000.

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That's close to double the average full-time salary of an Australian worker.

Port Phillip and Boroondara also offer high wages, with averages of $129,000 and $125,000 respectively.

The high remuneration is mostly driven by executives and other office staff, according to Council Watch President Dean Hurlston.

"Councils are bloated," Mr Hurston told 9News.

"People want their communities fixed and run properly. They're sick and tired of more fatcats behind desks."

It's money Hurston says should go towards improving grassroots organisations like the Werribee Junior Cricket Club.

Despite being one of the biggest in the state, the boys and girls are without a home ground and have been forced to deal with lackluster facilities or share with the seniors.

"We've been serving the community for such a long time and it's not having a go at anyone, we appreciate what we've got but we've got to plan a bit better for the future as well," the club's president Kartik Patel told 9News.

Despite earning a hefty surplus last financial year, Wyndham council has delayed plans for a new sporting hub for the club due to cost pressures and problems with flooding at the proposed site on Alfred Road.

"Council is actively considering the future of this project in light of escalating costs, however, the project remains a key priority," a Wyndham spokesperson said.

The Municipal Association of Victoria has defended the high salaries across local government.

"It reflects that councils deliver over 100 services and we have a really big range of people to do that and quite often executive people in that context," MAV President Cr David Clark said, adding more traditionally low-paid jobs are becoming obsolete.

"Technology has allowed us to really replace a lot of the worker at the lower end with technology. We've moved probably to more people that are in office doing supportive work."

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The hefty salaries of Victorian council workers revealed - 9News
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