What is a VPS salary?

VPS salary refers to the pay rates for employees of the Victorian Public Service. These rates are set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement (or a subsequent agreement) and vary by classification level (VPS1 to VPS6 and executive grades). They are generally well above the national minimum wage.

How does my VPS hourly rate compare to the national minimum?

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (or $1,004.90 per week). Most VPS salaries exceed this floor. To check your rate, refer to your enterprise agreement or pay slip. If you are award‑free and agreement‑free, the national minimum applies.

Is superannuation included in the VPS salary figure?

No. Superannuation is paid on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. Your VPS salary is the gross amount before tax and before super contributions.

VPS salary: How your Victorian public service pay compares with the minimum wage

Victorian Public Service salaries are set by enterprise agreements and are typically well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour, but the exact VPS classification rates are not published in the search results used for this guide.

VPS salary and the legal pay floor

If you are looking up a VPS salary – the pay for a Victorian Public Service role – you may wonder how it stacks up against Australia’s minimum wage. This guide helps you separate the legal minimum from the rates set by your enterprise agreement, and shows you how to check whether your hourly rate meets the law.

The national minimum wage: your safety net

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage each year. From 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week (based on 38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. These figures are gross – before tax and before super.

However, not every worker must be paid $26.44 an hour. Juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates or supported wages can be paid less. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that award‑free juniors under 21 have percentage‑based minimums (for example, a 16‑year‑old gets $12.51 per hour).

How VPS salaries fit in

Victorian Public Service employees are covered by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement (or a successor agreement), not by a modern award or the national minimum wage order. That agreement sets classification‑based pay rates that are almost always higher than the national minimum. For example, a VPS3 officer’s salary is typically above $70,000 a year, which works out to well over $35 per hour. The exact figures depend on your classification and the current agreement.

Because the search results for this guide did not include the current VPS enterprise agreement rates, we cannot give a precise median or average. What we can say is that the legal floor for any VPS employee is the national minimum wage – but your agreement almost certainly requires a higher rate.

Award and agreement rates can be higher

If you are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement, that document sets your minimum pay. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help you find the right award. For VPS employees, the enterprise agreement is the key document. It may include penalty rates, allowances, and higher‑duty provisions that push your pay above the minimum.

Remember: the national minimum wage is only a backstop. Your actual VPS salary should be checked against your agreement, not against the $26.44 figure.

Super is on top

When discussing any salary, including a VPS salary, superannuation is an employer payment on top of your gross pay. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. So if your VPS salary is $80,000, your employer must also contribute $9,600 to your super fund. This is not deducted from your salary; it is an additional cost to the employer.

Practical check: compare your hourly rate

To see if your VPS salary meets the legal minimum, divide your annual salary by 52 to get a weekly figure, then by 38 to get an hourly rate. Compare that hourly rate to $26.44. If it is lower, your employer may be underpaying you – but first check whether you are a junior, apprentice, or on an introductory rate. If you are a full‑time adult VPS employee, your rate should be well above the floor.

For more detail on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also browse Rate tables for the national minimum and award rates.

What about state system employees?

Most private‑sector employees are in the national system. Some state public sector and local government employees – including Victorian public servants – may be covered by state awards or agreements. The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that the national minimum wage applies to national‑system employees who are award‑free and agreement‑free. VPS employees are not award‑free; they have an enterprise agreement. Therefore, their pay is governed by that agreement, not by the national minimum wage order.

Summary

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week).
VPS salaries are set by enterprise agreement and are typically much higher.
Super (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your salary.
To check your rate, refer to your enterprise agreement or pay slip.
If you are award‑free and agreement‑free, the national minimum applies.

This guide is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. Always consult your enterprise agreement or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your exact entitlements.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.