VPS 3 salary and the national line
The VPS 3 classification is a common entry-to-mid level role in the Victorian Public Service. Unlike award-covered jobs or the national minimum wage, the VPS 3 salary is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by Fair Work or the ABS. Because the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey does not break down earnings by public service classification, there is no single official figure for VPS 3 from the sources we rely on. However, we can place it in context against the national full-time average, medians, and minimum wage.
Where the national line sits
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, reports that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings average $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as its benchmark. The full-time median, from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, August 2025, is about $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, which works out to $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week.
A VPS 3 salary typically falls between the all-employees median and the full-time median, but below the full-time average. That means it is above the minimum wage and above the typical pay of all workers (including part-time), but below the average for full-time adults. The average is pulled up by higher-paid roles in sectors like mining, finance, and senior public service.
State context: Victoria
The ABS also publishes state-level averages. For Victoria, the full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,041.10 per week, or about $106,137 per year. That is slightly below the national average. Victoria’s public sector average is higher than its private sector average, but the VPS 3 classification is at the lower end of the public service pay scale. The States and territories page shows how each state’s average compares to the national line.
How VPS 3 relates to award and minimum wages
If you are covered by an award or enterprise agreement, your minimum pay is set by that instrument. The VPS 3 salary is governed by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, which typically provides pay rates above the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Ombudsman notes that the national minimum wage applies only to employees not covered by an award or agreement. Since VPS 3 employees are covered by an enterprise agreement, their minimum is the agreement rate, not the national minimum wage. The agreement is updated through bargaining, not the annual wage review.
Why the figure can move off the line
Several factors can cause a VPS 3 salary to differ from the national average:
- Location: Victoria’s state average is about $106,137, but within Victoria, pay can vary by region. The ABS does not publish VPS-specific data, but public sector averages in Melbourne may differ from regional Victoria.
- Classification step: VPS 3 often has multiple pay points (e.g., VPS 3.1, 3.2, 3.3). A new starter may earn less than someone at the top of the range.
- Allowances and penalties: Some VPS roles attract shift allowances or other loadings, which are not captured in base salary comparisons.
- Compositional effects: The ABS notes that changes in the mix of full-time, part-time, casual, and junior employees can affect averages. VPS 3 is typically full-time, but if the public service hires more part-time or junior staff, the average for the sector may shift.
Using the line tool
To see where a specific VPS 3 salary sits, you can enter the yearly amount into the Place a salary on the line tool. The tool will show the weekly and hourly equivalent on a 38-hour week, and the distance from the national full-time average. For example, a VPS 3 salary of $75,000 per year is about $1,442 per week, which is $641 below the national average of $2,083.70 per week. That is a gap of about 31% below the line.
Medians and the gender pay gap
The ABS also provides gender breakdowns. For full-time adults, men’s average ordinary-time earnings are about $113,412 per year, and women’s about $100,594. The VPS 3 classification may have a different gender composition, but the ABS does not publish that detail. The gender pay gap in the public sector is generally narrower than in the private sector, but it still exists.
Summary
The VPS 3 salary is not directly reported in the ABS Average Weekly Earnings or by Fair Work. It is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement and typically falls below the national full-time average of $108,352. It is above the national minimum wage of $52,255 and above the all-employees median of $74,100. For the most accurate comparison, use the line tool with your actual salary figure.