What is the VPS 5 salary?

The VPS 5 salary is the pay rate for a Victorian Public Service classification level 5. It is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by the national minimum wage or a modern award. The exact figure varies depending on the agreement and any annual increases. For the current rate, check the Victorian Government's industrial relations page or your enterprise agreement.

Does the national minimum wage apply to VPS 5 employees?

No. The national minimum wage applies to employees in the national workplace relations system who are not covered by an award or agreement. Victorian public sector employees, including VPS staff, are generally covered by state industrial relations and their own enterprise agreement, which sets a higher minimum than the national floor.

VPS 5 salary: How the Victorian public service pay rate compares with the national minimum wage

Q: Is superannuation included in the VPS 5 salary?

No. The VPS 5 salary is the gross pay before tax. Superannuation is an employer contribution paid on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%, and employers must pay it at the same time as wages (payday super).

The VPS 5 salary is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by the national minimum wage; the precise rate is not available from the Fair Work Ombudsman or Fair Work Commission search results.

What is a VPS 5 salary?

A VPS 5 salary refers to the pay rate for a Victorian Public Service employee at classification level 5. The Victorian Public Service uses a graded structure, and VPS 5 typically covers experienced professionals, team leaders, or specialist roles. The exact salary is determined by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement (or a subsequent agreement), not by the national minimum wage or a modern award under the Fair Work Act.

Because the Victorian public sector operates under its own state industrial relations system, the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission do not set or enforce VPS pay rates. Instead, the Victorian Industrial Relations Commission (or equivalent body) oversees the enterprise agreement that covers VPS employees. That agreement specifies minimum salaries, classification definitions, and conditions such as annual leave, overtime, and allowances.

How the VPS 5 salary compares with the national minimum wage

The national minimum wage, set by the Fair Work Commission and explained by the Fair Work Ombudsman, is the legal floor for award-free and agreement-free employees in the national system. From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making it $33.05 per hour.

A VPS 5 salary is far higher than the national minimum wage. For example, a VPS 5 role typically pays well above $80,000 per year, which equates to over $40 per hour. The national minimum wage is irrelevant for VPS 5 employees because their enterprise agreement guarantees a much higher rate. However, the national minimum wage still matters as a backstop: no employee in Australia can be paid less than the applicable minimum, whether that is the national minimum, a modern award rate, or an enterprise agreement rate.

Legal minimum vs award rate vs enterprise agreement vs negotiated salary

It is important to separate these concepts:

Legal minimum: The lowest amount an employee can be paid. For award-free employees, it is the national minimum wage. For award-covered employees, it is the award rate. For enterprise agreement employees, it is the agreement rate.
Award rate: A modern award sets minimum pay rates for a specific industry or occupation. Most private-sector employees are covered by an award. From 1 July 2026, award minimum wages increased by 4.75%, with a backstop that the lowest ongoing classification cannot be below $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week, and introductory rates (first 6 months) cannot be below $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week.
Enterprise agreement: A negotiated document between an employer and employees (or their union) that covers a specific workplace or business. It can set higher rates than the award or national minimum. VPS 5 salaries come from an enterprise agreement.
Negotiated salary: Some employees, particularly managers or executives, may have individual contracts that set a salary above the minimum. However, the contract cannot undercut the applicable award or agreement rate.

Superannuation is paid on top

When discussing any salary in Australia, remember that superannuation is an employer contribution paid on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12%, and employers must pay it at the same time as wages (payday super). For a VPS 5 salary, the employer adds 12% super to the gross pay. This is not deducted from the salary; it is an additional cost to the employer.

Where to find the current VPS 5 salary

Because the search results provided do not include the current VPS 5 salary, you should check the Victorian Government's industrial relations website or your enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool does not cover state public sector employees. For national-system employees, the Ombudsman's tool is the best way to check award rates and the national minimum wage.

Internal resources

Which minimum wage applies – Understand whether you are covered by the national minimum, a modern award, or an enterprise agreement.
Rate tables – See the current national minimum wage, junior rates, and award backstop rates.

Key takeaways

The VPS 5 salary is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by the Fair Work Commission or Fair Work Ombudsman.
The national minimum wage is a floor, but VPS 5 rates are much higher.
Superannuation is paid on top of the salary at 12% from 1 July 2026.
Always check the applicable enterprise agreement or award for the correct minimum rate.

FAQs

(Already provided in the faqs array above.)

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