Victoria Police salary: take-home pay after tax and Medicare
Victoria Police salaries range from $61,187 for recruits to $84,060 for probationary constables and $90,399 for first constables, plus allowances and super.
Victoria Police salary: what lands in your bank account
If you are considering a career with Victoria Police, the advertised Victoria Police salary figures are only part of the story. What matters is the amount that reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. This guide breaks down the published pay rates and shows you what you can expect as take-home pay.
The three key Victoria Police salary stages
Victoria Police publishes clear salary steps on its official site :
- Recruit – $61,187 per year from week one at the Academy.
- Probationary Constable – $84,060 per year after you are sworn in at week 12.
- First Constable – $90,399 per year once you complete the Diploma of Policing.
All these figures are base salary before allowances, shift penalties, overtime and superannuation. The Australian Taxation Office provides guidance on what income and allowances you must include in your tax return .
How tax and the Medicare levy affect your take-home pay
For the 2026–27 tax year, the resident tax rates are:
- Up to $18,200 – nil
- $18,201 to $45,000 – 15 cents per dollar over $18,200
- $45,001 to $135,000 – $4,020 plus 30 cents per dollar over $45,000
- $135,001 to $190,000 – $31,020 plus 37 cents per dollar over $135,000
- Over $190,000 – $51,370 plus 45 cents per dollar over $190,000
The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013; full-time salaries pay the full 2%.
Using these rates, here is the estimated take-home for each Victoria Police salary stage:
| Stage | Annual salary | Income tax | Medicare levy | Total deductions | Estimated take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruit | $61,187 | $6,448 | $1,224 | $7,672 | $53,515 |
| Probationary Constable | $84,060 | $15,738 | $1,681 | $17,419 | $66,641 |
| First Constable | $90,399 | $17,640 | $1,808 | $19,448 | $70,951 |
These are estimates only. They do not include the Low Income Tax Offset (which may reduce tax for the recruit), HELP/HECS repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice or payroll tax-table rounding. Your actual take-home will vary.
How Victoria Police salary compares to benchmarks
To give you context, here is how the Victoria Police salary stacks up against national benchmarks from the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Bureau of Statistics:
- National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, $52,255 per year. Every Victoria Police salary stage is above this.
- All employees average weekly total earnings: $1,579.20 per week, $82,118 per year. The Probationary Constable salary of $84,060 is slightly above this average.
- Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, $108,352 per year. The First Constable salary of $90,399 is below this average, but remember that Victoria Police officers also receive shift penalties, allowances and 12% super.
What about super and allowances?
Your Victoria Police salary is advertised as base pay. On top of that, you receive:
- Superannuation: 12% from 1 July 2026, paid into the Emergency Services Super Fund. This is not deducted from your take-home pay; it is an additional benefit.
- Shift penalties and overtime: You work a variety of shifts including weekends, nights and public holidays. These attract allowances that increase your gross income.
- Leave: Nine weeks recreation leave per year (five weeks annual leave, two weeks in lieu of public holidays, and 10 days accrued time off). Plus 15 days personal/carer leave.
- Salary packaging: You can salary sacrifice items such as rent in remote areas, utilities and relocation costs, reducing your taxable income.
The bottom line
A Victoria Police salary offers a solid foundation. Even at the recruit stage you earn well above the national minimum wage. As a Probationary Constable you are above the all-employees average, and as a First Constable you are close to the full-time ordinary time benchmark. After tax and Medicare, your take-home pay is competitive, and the additional benefits – super, allowances, leave and salary packaging – make it an attractive package.
For more detailed calculators and guides, see Take-home pay and Tax and Medicare.
Questions
What is the starting Victoria Police salary for a recruit?
Recruits are paid $61,187 from week one at the Victoria Police Academy. After 12 weeks you are sworn in as a Probationary Constable and earn $84,060 per year. Once you complete the Diploma of Policing you progress to First Constable on $90,399. All figures are before tax and the Medicare levy.
How much take-home pay can I expect from a Victoria Police salary?
Take-home depends on your stage. For a Probationary Constable on $84,060, using 2026–27 tax rates, you would pay about $15,738 in income tax and $1,681 in Medicare levy, leaving roughly $66,641. A First Constable on $90,399 would take home about $70,951 after tax and Medicare. Recruits on $61,187 take home about $53,515. These are estimates and exclude HELP/HECS, salary sacrifice and other deductions.
How does a Victoria Police salary compare to the national minimum wage and average earnings?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 a year. Even the recruit salary of $61,187 is well above that. The average full-time adult ordinary time earnings are $108,352 a year. A First Constable on $90,399 is below that average but still above the all-employees average of $82,118. Victoria Police salaries also include shift penalties, allowances and 12% super.