VPS 5 Pay Points and Take-Home Pay
Every progression step in VPS 5, from 1 May 2026. Fortnightly figures divide the year by 26. Take-home pay uses 2026–27 resident tax rates, the Medicare levy and no HECS.
| Value range | Step | Salary | Gross per fortnight | Take-home a year | Take-home per fortnight | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPS 5.1 | 5.1.1 | $116,413 | $4,477 | $88,641 | $3,409 | $115,000 page |
| VPS 5.1 | 5.1.2 | $119,902 | $4,612 | $91,013 | $3,501 | $120,000 page |
| VPS 5.1 | 5.1.3 | $123,391 | $4,746 | $93,386 | $3,592 | $125,000 page |
| VPS 5.1 | 5.1.4 | $126,880 | $4,880 | $95,758 | $3,683 | $125,000 page |
| VPS 5.1 | 5.1.5 | $128,631 | $4,947 | $96,949 | $3,729 | $130,000 page |
| VPS 5.2 | 5.2.1 | $128,635 | $4,948 | $96,951 | $3,729 | $130,000 page |
| VPS 5.2 | 5.2.2 | $132,122 | $5,082 | $99,323 | $3,820 | $130,000 page |
| VPS 5.2 | 5.2.3 | $135,612 | $5,216 | $101,654 | $3,910 | $135,000 page |
| VPS 5.2 | 5.2.4 | $139,100 | $5,350 | $103,781 | $3,992 | $140,000 page |
| VPS 5.2 | 5.2.5 | $140,849 | $5,417 | $104,848 | $4,033 | $140,000 page |
Every progression step in VPS 5. Full-time annual salary; super is paid on top. Read from the VPS salaries from 1 May 2026, Enterprise Agreement 2024, Schedule C; verified 28 August 2026.
From the first progression step to the top of VPS 5 is 9 moves, worth $24,436 a year in total (21.0% on the starting salary). That is about $2,715 a move on average. The biggest single move is 5.2.2 to 5.2.3, at $3,490. After tax, the bottom of VPS 5 is $3,409 a fortnight and the top is $4,033.
VPS 5.1: Entry value range of grade 5. Five progression steps.
VPS 5.2: Upper value range of grade 5. Five progression steps.
VPS 5 Hourly Rate
VPS 5 works out at $58.75 to $71.08 an hour before tax. Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ (38 × 52.1429). Clause 42 of the VPS agreement sets ordinary hours of 76 a fortnight, which is 38 a week. A year has 52.1429 weeks (365 ÷ 7).
| Step | Salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1.1 | $116,413 | $58.75 |
| 5.1.2 | $119,902 | $60.51 |
| 5.1.3 | $123,391 | $62.27 |
| 5.1.4 | $126,880 | $64.03 |
| 5.1.5 | $128,631 | $64.92 |
| 5.2.1 | $128,635 | $64.92 |
| 5.2.2 | $132,122 | $66.68 |
| 5.2.3 | $135,612 | $68.44 |
| 5.2.4 | $139,100 | $70.20 |
| 5.2.5 | $140,849 | $71.08 |
VPS 5 base hourly rate on 38 ordinary hours a week, before tax. No casual loading, overtime or penalties. A payslip can differ by a few cents.
What VPS 5 Staff Do
VPS 5 staff make decisions that often affect people outside their own work area, where there is some but not full precedent. They are accountable for how the work area is organised, its resources and its outputs, and they write policy options and lead projects. At value range 5.2 decisions may set precedents for peers.
Table 4 of the agreement lines up some named jobs with this grade's value ranges, for example Senior Solicitor, Supervising Fisheries Officer and Regional Manager (Sheriff's Operations).
At June 2025, 12,768 people worked at VPS 5. That is 30.3% of the 42,181 staff on the VPS grade structure, which makes it the largest grade.
Our summary of the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024 (Schedule C, Tables 31.1 to 31.3 and Table 4; clause 42), read 23 October 2026.
VPS 5 Superannuation
The VPS agreement sets no employer super rate above the legal minimum. Clause 41.2 only requires enough to avoid the superannuation guarantee charge, so the Superannuation Guarantee rate applies. APS agencies pay a median of 15.4%, so compare total pay, not just salary, if you are weighing a federal job.
At 12%, employer super on VPS 5 is $13,970 a year at the bottom and $16,902 at the top. Super is paid on top of salary and is not part of take-home pay.
Moving Up Within and Beyond VPS 5
Moving up a progression step is not automatic. Under clause 31 you are considered once a year, at the end of the performance cycle, if you have 12 months at your current step and a current performance and development plan. On the top step, a successful cycle pays a lump sum of 1.5% of salary instead. Moving from one value range to the next (3.1 to 3.2, say) needs a job resizing review, not time served.
The level below is VPS 4 ($100,894 to $114,476). The next level up is VPS 6 ($142,790 to $191,084).
Every level, the full schedule and the other streams are on the Victoria (VPS) pay scales page. Other services are on the public service pay scales hub, including APS levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
VPS 5 salary questions and answers
How much does a VPS 5 earn?
From 1 May 2026, VPS 5 pays $116,413 at the first progression step (5.1.1) and $140,849 at the top (5.2.5), across 10 progression steps. That is a full-time annual salary before tax, with superannuation paid on top.
What is the difference between VPS 5.1 and 5.2?
They are the 2 value ranges of VPS 5. From 1 May 2026, 5.1 pays $116,413 to $128,631 and 5.2 pays $128,635 to $140,849. At 5.1, decisions often affect people outside the immediate work area, and staff lead projects and draft policy options. At 5.2, decisions may set precedents for peers, projects are more complex, and staff argue for policy options and write business plans for changing priorities.
What is VPS 5 pay per fortnight?
Before tax, VPS 5 is about $4,477 a fortnight at the bottom and $5,417 at the top, dividing the annual salary by 26. Your payslip can differ slightly because VPS payroll uses its own fortnightly rate. The table on this page shows take-home pay for every progression step.
What is the difference between VPS 5 and VPS 6?
The top of VPS 5 is $140,849 and the bottom of VPS 6 is $142,790, so a promotion from the top of VPS 5 is a rise of $1,941 a year. VPS 6 runs to $191,084.
When does VPS 5 pay go up next?
The Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024 sets a further 3% increase from 1 May 2027, the last of its four 3% rises. Until then the 1 May 2026 rates on this page apply.
How we worked this out▼
Every salary on this page is copied from the VPS salaries from 1 May 2026, Enterprise Agreement 2024, Schedule C, the same figures as the Victoria (VPS) page. Nothing is averaged or estimated. Fortnightly figures divide the annual salary by 26, so they can differ by a few dollars from a payslip.
Take-home pay uses the same engine as our take-home pay pages: 2026–27 resident tax rates, the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy, with no HECS, salary sacrifice or Medicare levy surcharge. General information, not advice.
Sources & References
- 1Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, Schedule C, VPS salaries, Victorian Government
- 2Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024 (Schedule C, Tables 31.1 to 31.3 and Table 4; clause 42), Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria
- 3Employee occupations and pay grades 2025 (VPS grades by headcount), Victorian Public Sector Commission
Last verified: 28 August 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.