Introduction
If you are looking at a VPS3 salary in Victoria, you are likely considering a role in the state public service. The VPS classification system covers a wide range of jobs, from administrative support to policy and project work. Understanding how a VPS3 salary sits against the national full-time average can help you gauge whether the pay is competitive. This article uses the latest ABS data and Fair Work information to provide context, but note that the exact VPS3 rate is set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, not by the national averages discussed here.
National full-time average
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. The most recent release, for May 2026, shows that full-time adult ordinary-time earnings averaged $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52 weeks, that is about $108,352 per year. This figure is the site’s line – the benchmark against which all salaries are measured. It includes both public and private sector employees across all states and territories.
For comparison, the full-time median weekly earnings (from the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, August 2025) are lower, at about $1,740 per week, or $90,532 per year. The all-employees median (including part-time) is about $1,436 per week, or $74,100 per year. These medians show that the average is pulled up by higher earners. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week, which is about $52,255 per year.
State averages
Salaries vary significantly by state. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings data for May 2026 gives full-time adult ordinary-time earnings for each state. In Victoria, the state average is $2,041.10 per week, or about $106,137 per year. That is slightly below the national average of $108,352. Other states range from Tasmania’s $96,008 per year to the ACT’s $119,090 per year. States and territories provides a full breakdown.
Because VPS3 is a Victorian public sector classification, the Victorian state average is a more relevant comparison than the national average. However, the state average includes all industries and sectors, so it is not a direct match for public service roles.
Public sector and enterprise agreements
The VPS3 salary is determined by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement, which is negotiated between the state government and unions. This agreement sets pay rates for each classification level, often with incremental steps. Public sector wages in Victoria may differ from the private sector and from other states’ public services. The ABS data shows that the public sector nationally has higher average earnings than the private sector: $2,263.10 per week (full-time ordinary-time) compared to $2,034.10 in the private sector. But that national public sector average includes federal, state, and local government employees across all classifications, so it is not specific to VPS3.
Enterprise agreements like the Victorian one are a form of collective agreement. According to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey, about 34.6% of all employees have their pay set by a collective agreement. The average weekly earnings for those on collective agreements is $1,746.10, lower than for individual arrangements ($1,876.50) but higher than award-only ($922.20). Public sector employees are more likely to be covered by collective agreements.
How VPS3 fits
Without the exact VPS3 salary from the current enterprise agreement, we cannot say precisely where it sits relative to the national line. However, we can make some observations. VPS3 is an entry-level to mid-level classification. Typical VPS3 roles might include administrative officers, project support, or junior analysts. The salary range for VPS3 in recent agreements has been roughly between $70,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on the step. That would place it below the national full-time average of $108,352 and below the Victorian state average of $106,137. It would be above the national minimum wage of $52,255 and likely above the all-employees median of $74,100.
If you are comparing a VPS3 offer to the national line, remember that the line is an average of all full-time adults, including senior managers and professionals. A VPS3 salary is not expected to match that average. Instead, it should be evaluated against the relevant market for similar roles in Victoria. How the figures are set explains the methodology behind the averages and medians used on this site.
Conclusion
The VPS3 salary is a specific classification rate set by the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement. It is not directly available from the ABS or Fair Work sources that provide the national full-time average. To see where a VPS3 salary stands, compare it to the Victorian state average ($106,137 per year) and the national full-time average ($108,352 per year). For a more precise benchmark, consult the current enterprise agreement or your employer. About this site has more information on how we use ABS and Fair Work data to create the salary line.