VPS3 salary: what it is and how it compares to the national line

What is a VPS3 salary?

A VPS3 salary is the pay rate for Grade 3 employees in the Victorian Public Service (VPS) classification structure. This structure is defined in the Victorian Public Service Award 2016, a modern award under the Fair Work system. The award sets minimum salaries for each grade and value range. For VPS3, there are two sub-grades:

• VPS3.1: $76,998 to $84,589 per year
• VPS3.2: $86,106 to $92,178 per year

These are annual salaries for full-time employees working 76 hours per fortnight. The award also includes provisions for casual loading (25%), overtime, and allowances, but the base salary is the starting point.

Where does VPS3 sit on the Salary Index?

The Salary Index uses full-time adult ordinary-time earnings as the benchmark (index 100). According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026), that benchmark is $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352. A VPS3 salary falls below that line:

• At the top of VPS3.2 ($92,178), the index is 85 (92,178 ÷ 108,352 × 100).
• At the bottom of VPS3.1 ($76,998), the index is 71.

For context, the national minimum wage (from 1 July 2026) is $52,255 per year, index 48.2. So VPS3 sits well above the minimum but below the national average. It is comparable to other professional roles in the public sector, though actual pay can vary by experience and enterprise agreements.

Gross pay, super, and tax for VPS3

When thinking about a VPS3 salary, it helps to consider the full employment cost and what you take home. The award rates are gross pay before tax and before the superannuation guarantee.

Superannuation

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For a VPS3 salary of $85,000 (midpoint), the employer must contribute $10,200 per year to super. This is on top of the salary, so the total cost to the employer is about $95,200. The employee does not pay tax on super contributions until withdrawal, but the super is not part of take-home pay.

Income tax

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (excluding Medicare levy):

• Nil on first $18,200
• 15% on $18,201 to $45,000
• 30% on $45,001 to $135,000
• 37% on $135,001 to $190,000
• 45% above $190,000

Plus a 2% Medicare levy on taxable income. For a VPS3 salary of $85,000, the estimated tax and Medicare is about $19,400, leaving a take-home of roughly $65,600 per year (or $5,467 per month). This is a rough estimate; it ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.

Comparison with other roles

A VPS3 salary is similar to many professional roles in the public sector. For example, a health professional under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award might earn a comparable amount. The pay guides from the Fair Work Ombudsman list minimum rates for hundreds of awards. You can also compare across states – Victoria’s state index is 98 (annualised $106,137), meaning the average Victorian worker earns slightly below the national line. A VPS3 salary at the top end ($92,178) is about 87% of the Victorian average.

What affects a VPS3 salary?

The award sets minimums, but many VPS employees are covered by enterprise agreements that pay above award. The Victorian public service also has progression steps within grades. The award itself has value ranges, so an employee at VPS3.2 can earn up to $92,178 without changing grade. Beyond that, promotion to VPS4 (Grade 4: $93,865 to $105,671) or higher is needed.

Allowances and penalties

If you work overtime, weekends, or public holidays, the award provides penalty rates. For example, overtime is paid at time-and-a-half for the first two hours and double time after that, but capped at a salary of $79,012 (130.36% of the standard rate). Casual employees get a 25% loading instead of paid leave. These extras can push total earnings above the base salary.

How the Salary Index helps

The how the index works page explains that the index is a simple ratio: your yearly gross ordinary-time earnings divided by the national line ($108,352) times 100. It lets you see where any salary sits relative to the average worker. For a VPS3.2 employee earning $90,000, the index is 83. That means they earn 83% of the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. It is a benchmark, not a target – many people earn above or below 100.

Summary

A VPS3 salary under the Victorian Public Service Award ranges from about $77,000 to $92,000 per year. It is above the national minimum wage but below the national average. After 12% super and income tax, the take-home is roughly $65,000 to $70,000 for a mid-range salary. For the most current rates, check the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides or the Modern Awards Pay Database. If you are comparing roles across industries, the industries page shows how different sectors stack up.