VPS 4 Salary 2026: What a Victorian Public Service Grade 4 Earns

What is the VPS 4 salary for 2026?

If you're looking at the vps 4 salary 2026, the figure depends on your progression step within the grade. Under the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement 2024, a VPS 4 earns from $100,894 (step 4.1.1) to $114,476 (step 4.1.7) per year, effective from 1 May 2026. These rates apply to most Victorian public service departments and agencies covered by the agreement.

For context, the Victorian Public Service Award 2016 (MA000135) lists a Grade 4 range of $93,865 to $105,671. But the enterprise agreement overrides the award for employees it covers, so the higher rates are the ones you'll typically see in VPS roles.

How the VPS 4 salary compares to the national line

The Salary Index uses a benchmark of 100 for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which from the May 2026 ABS Average Weekly Earnings data is $108,352 a year. To see where a VPS 4 sits, divide the annual salary by $108,352 and multiply by 100.

• VPS 4 minimum ($100,894): index 93.1
• VPS 4 maximum ($114,476): index 105.7

So a VPS 4 at the lower steps earns a bit below the national average, while those at the top steps earn above it. The midpoint of the grade (around step 4.1.4 at $107,681) is very close to the national line. For more on how the index works, see how the index works.

State differences: Victoria vs the rest

Victoria's state index is 98, which annualises to about $106,137. That means the typical Victorian full-time worker earns slightly less than the national average. A VPS 4 at the minimum ($100,894) is below the Victorian average, but at the maximum ($114,476) it's well above. This reflects that public sector pay in Victoria can be competitive, especially at higher grades.

Compare that to other states: New South Wales has an index of 101.2 ($109,658), while the Australian Capital Territory leads at 109.9 ($119,090). A VPS 4 at the top step would be close to the ACT average, but in Victoria it's above the state norm. For state-by-state comparisons, see our states page.

Industry context: public administration

The VPS 4 sits within the public administration and safety industry. While we don't have a specific index for that industry, related sectors like education and training (index 105.5) and health care (index 97.8) give a sense of where government work lands. Professional, scientific and technical services (index 114.7) are higher, while retail trade (index 75.9) is much lower. A VPS 4 at the top steps is comparable to professional services, but at the bottom steps it's closer to the all-industries average. For more industry data, visit industries.

Progression and future increases

A VPS 4 has seven steps within value range 4.1. Progression depends on meeting performance criteria, not just time served. At the top step, you receive a 1.5% lump sum instead of a step increase. The next across-the-board rise is 3% from 1 May 2027, the last of four annual increases in the current enterprise agreement.

Take-home pay estimate

Using the 2026–27 resident tax rates (tax-free threshold, 2% Medicare levy, no HELP or other adjustments), a VPS 4 on $107,681 (step 4.1.4) would have a take-home pay of roughly $82,000–$83,000 a year after tax and Medicare. At the maximum $114,476, take-home would be around $86,000–$87,000. These are estimates; your actual pay depends on your individual circumstances.

Award vs enterprise agreement

It's important to know that the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 sets higher minimum rates than the underlying Victorian Public Service Award. If you're employed under the agreement, you get the rates shown above. If you're in a VPS-aligned role but not covered by the agreement (rare), the award rates apply. Always check your payslip for your classification and pay point.

For more on how pay compares across different roles and sectors, see our pay guides and topics pages.