Bendigo residents living in the 3550 postcode earned an average salary or wage of $35,736 in the 2012-2013 financial year.

Those living in the 3551 postcode fared better, pocketing average wages of $39,604.

Gisborne is central Victoria's highest earning locality. Gisborne residents earned an average salary or wage of $45,680 while their New Gisborne neighbours banked average wages of $45,185.

The lowest earning areas were far flung rural seats.

The 105 Tittybong residents who filed tax returns earned an average salary or wage of just $12,008.

Of the larger towns, Castlemaine and Maryborough residents were worst off, earning an average salary or wage of $29,921 and $29,151 respectively.

Bendigo Foodshare chair Cathie Steele said the not-for-profit distributed food to about 14,000 people in central Victoria each month.

She said a significant amount of this aid was delivered to the "working poor".

"These are people who are working but don't have a lot left after rent and the bills and are just making ends meet," she said.

"When there are expensive like fixing the car or paying for a school trip, things get very difficult for them."

She said residents in the Central Goldfields, Loddon, Gannawarra and Buloke shires were particularly vulnerable.

Ms Steele said while many central Victorians were struggling to balance the household budget, those with spare cash were willing to help out.

"We have a caring, supportive community. It's only through the generosity of the community that we're able to do what we do," she said.

"The food donors in our area are brilliant."

Victoria's highest average wage - $69,725 - was in the University of Melbourne postcode of 3010.