Is the VPS3 salary the same as the national minimum wage?

No. The VPS3 salary is a classification under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, which sets pay rates above the national minimum wage. The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the legal minimum for award‑free employees, but VPS3 employees are covered by an enterprise agreement that almost certainly pays more.

Where can I find the current VPS3 salary?

The VPS3 salary is published in the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, available from the Victorian Industrial Relations Victoria website. It is not set by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Because the agreement is periodically renegotiated, the exact figure changes. The national minimum wage figures on this site do not reflect VPS rates.

VPS3 salary: how the Victorian public service classification compares with the national minimum wage

Q: Does the national minimum wage apply to VPS3 employees?

The national minimum wage applies only to employees not covered by a modern award or registered agreement. VPS3 employees are covered by a state‑based enterprise agreement, so the national minimum wage does not directly apply to them. However, the agreement’s rates must be at least as high as the relevant award or the national minimum wage, whichever is higher.

The VPS3 salary is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by the Fair Work Commission; the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is a legal floor, but VPS3 rates are typically higher.

What is the VPS3 salary?

The term “VPS3 salary” refers to the pay rate for a Grade 3 officer in the Victorian Public Service (VPS). It is not a figure set by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Instead, it is negotiated between the Victorian Government and public sector unions and is written into the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement. Because the agreement is re‑negotiated every few years, the exact VPS3 salary changes over time. This guide explains how the VPS3 salary relates to Australia’s minimum wage system.

The legal minimum wage floor

For employees who are not covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage applies. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a 38‑hour week, as set by the Fair Work Commission . Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $33.05 per hour.

However, most employees in Australia are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement. The VPS3 classification is covered by a state‑based enterprise agreement, so the national minimum wage does not directly apply. The agreement must provide pay rates that are at least as high as the relevant award or the national minimum wage. In practice, VPS3 rates are well above the national minimum.

Award coverage versus award‑free rates

The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that for most employees, the minimum wage is set by the award that covers their industry or occupation . The VPS is not covered by a federal modern award; it is regulated by state industrial instruments. For award‑free employees (those not covered by any award or agreement), the national minimum wage is the legal floor.

If you are comparing a VPS3 salary to the national minimum wage, remember that the VPS3 rate is a negotiated salary, not a statutory minimum. The national minimum wage is a backstop: no employee can be paid less than that (with exceptions for juniors, apprentices, trainees, and supported wages).

How superannuation fits in

When discussing any salary, including the VPS3 salary, it is important to note that the Superannuation Guarantee is an employer contribution paid on top of the salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So if a VPS3 employee’s base salary is, say, $80,000 per year, the employer must also contribute $9,600 into the employee’s super fund. The national minimum wage figures quoted above are before tax and before super.

Where to find the actual VPS3 rate

Because the VPS3 salary is set by an enterprise agreement, the most reliable source is the current Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement or the Victorian Industrial Relations Victoria website. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database does not contain VPS rates because they are not federal award rates.

Comparing VPS3 to other benchmarks

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that in May 2026, full‑time adult ordinary‑time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. That figure is a survey average, not a legal minimum. The VPS3 salary is likely to be below that average, but it is still a competitive public sector rate. The national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week is less than half the ABS average, which highlights how the minimum wage is a floor, not a typical wage.

Internal resources

Which minimum wage applies – find out whether you are covered by an award, agreement, or the national minimum wage.
Rate tables – see current national minimum wage rates, junior rates, and casual loadings.

Key takeaway

The VPS3 salary is a specific classification rate under a state enterprise agreement. It is not the same as the national minimum wage, nor is it set by the Fair Work Commission. If you are a VPS3 employee, your pay is determined by your enterprise agreement, which will almost certainly exceed the national minimum wage. For award‑free employees, the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) is the legal minimum, but most workers are entitled to more under an award or agreement.

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