Is the VPS5 salary the same as the national minimum wage?

No. The VPS5 classification is part of the Victorian Public Service and is covered by an enterprise agreement, which sets pay rates well above the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. VPS5 employees receive a higher rate negotiated through their enterprise agreement.

Where can I find the official VPS5 salary rate?

The official VPS5 salary rate is published in the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement. This site does not host that agreement. You can obtain the current VPS5 rate from the Victorian Government’s wages and classifications page or from your employer’s human resources department. The Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Commission do not set VPS5 rates; they set the national minimum wage and modern award minimums.

Does the super guarantee apply on top of a VPS5 salary?

Yes. The super guarantee requires employers to pay an additional 12% of ordinary time earnings into a complying super fund. This is on top of the VPS5 salary. For example, if the VPS5 annual salary is $90,000, the employer must also contribute $10,800 in super. The super guarantee rate is legislated and applies to all employees, including those covered by enterprise agreements.

VPS5 Salary: How the Victorian Public Service Classification Compares with Australia’s Minimum Wage Floor

The VPS5 salary is set by the Victorian Public Service enterprise agreement, not the national minimum wage; the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (as of July 2026) is the legal floor for award‑free employees, but VPS5 rates are typically much higher.

What Is a VPS5 Salary and How Does It Relate to Minimum Wages?

The term VPS5 salary refers to a classification level in the Victorian Public Service (VPS). It is not a rate set by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Instead, VPS5 rates are determined through enterprise agreements negotiated between the Victorian Government and employee representatives. Because of this, the VPS5 salary is typically much higher than the national minimum wage or any modern award rate.

For readers trying to understand where a VPS5 salary sits relative to Australia’s pay floors, it is important to separate the legal minimum from a negotiated salary. The national minimum wage – $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week from 1 July 2026 – applies only to employees who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. Most VPS employees are covered by an agreement, so the national minimum wage is not their pay floor; the agreement rate is.

The Legal Minimum Wage Floor

The Fair Work Commission reviews and sets the national minimum wage each year. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the adult rate is $26.44 per hour for a 38‑hour week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour. These figures are gross (before tax) and do not include superannuation, which is an additional 12% paid by the employer.

However, not every worker must receive $26.44 per hour. Junior employees, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates can be paid less. For example, an award‑free junior aged 16 receives $12.51 per hour (47.3% of the adult rate), and a junior casual receives $15.64 per hour. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains these special rates on its website.

How VPS5 Compares with Award Rates

Modern awards cover many industries and occupations. Each award has minimum pay rates for different classifications. The lowest ongoing classification in any award cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Some awards have introductory rates that are lower for the first six months, but those rates cannot go below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.

A VPS5 salary is not set by a modern award. It is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, which is a registered agreement under the Fair Work Act. Enterprise agreements must pass the “better off overall” test, meaning the total package must be more favourable than the relevant award. Since VPS5 is a professional classification, its rate is far above any award minimum.

The Role of Superannuation

Whenever pay is discussed, it is important to mention superannuation as an employer payment on top. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a VPS5 employee earning, say, $100,000 per year, the employer must contribute an additional $12,000 into super. This is separate from the salary and is not part of the hourly or weekly wage figure.

What If You Are Award‑Free?

If you are not covered by any award or enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage applies. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides a Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate your minimum entitlements. You can also check the Which minimum wage applies page on this site for guidance.

For those in the Victorian Public Service, your VPS classification is covered by an agreement. Your pay rate will be higher than the national minimum. If you are unsure which agreement covers you, ask your HR department or refer to the Rate tables page for general information on how award and agreement rates are structured.

A Note on Averages

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes average earnings data. In May 2026, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings were $2,083.70 per week, and all employees’ average total earnings were $1,579.20 per week. A VPS5 salary is likely to be above these averages, but this site does not publish a specific VPS5 figure because it is not a publicly available national rate. The ABS does not break down earnings by VPS classification.

Summary

The VPS5 salary is set by enterprise agreement, not by the Fair Work Commission.
The national minimum wage ($26.44/h from July 2026) is the legal floor for award‑free employees.
Modern award minimums are higher than the national minimum for most classifications, but VPS5 is not covered by an award.
Super guarantee of 12% is paid on top of the VPS5 salary.
If you need to compare your VPS5 rate with a legal minimum, check your enterprise agreement. The national minimum wage is not your benchmark.

For more detail on how minimum wages are calculated and enforced, see the Guides section or Topics on this site.