What your VPS 5 salary looks like after tax and Medicare
A VPS 5 salary ranges from $116,413 to $140,849 a year depending on value range and step.
Introduction
If you're looking at a vps 5 salary in the Victorian Public Service, you probably want to know what actually lands in your bank account after tax and the Medicare levy. This guide walks through the current pay ranges, how tax rates apply, and what you can expect as take-home pay.
What is a VPS 5 salary?
FairWork Mate publishes the official Victorian Public Service pay scales. From 1 May 2026, a VPS 5 salary ranges from $116,413 to $140,849 a year, split across two value ranges:
- Value range 5.1: $116,413 to $128,631
- Value range 5.2: $128,635 to $140,849
Your exact pay point depends on your role and experience. The next increase is 3% from 1 May 2027.
How tax and Medicare affect your take-home
For the 2026–27 tax year, Australian residents pay income tax on a sliding scale. The Australian Taxation Office publishes the rates. For a VPS 5 salary, you're in the 30% or 37% marginal bracket, but the effective rate is lower because of the tax-free threshold and the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO).
LITO phases out above $45,000, so most VPS 5 salaries receive little or no offset. The Medicare levy is a flat 2% on taxable income above $35,013 for singles.
Example take-home pay for a VPS 5
Let's take a typical VPS 5 salary of $128,635 (value range 5.2, step 1). Using the 2026–27 tax rates:
- Income tax: about $29,080
- Medicare levy: $2,573
- Total deductions: $31,653
- Annual take-home: approximately $96,982
- Fortnightly take-home: about $3,730
This is an estimate only. Your actual take-home may differ if you have HELP/HECS debt, salary sacrifice arrangements, or the Medicare levy surcharge. Use the Take-home pay calculator for a personalised figure.
Superannuation and salary packaging
Your VPS 5 salary is quoted plus super. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%, paid by your employer on top of your base salary. That means your total remuneration package is higher than the salary figure.
You may also be able to salary package items like a car or laptop, which can reduce your taxable income and increase take-home pay. See Salary packaging for more.
Questions
How much take-home pay can I expect from a VPS 5 salary?
Take-home pay depends on your exact pay point and whether you have HELP/HECS or salary packaging. For a mid-range VPS 5 salary of $128,635 a year, your estimated take-home is roughly $97,000 per year (about $3,730 per fortnight) after income tax and the Medicare levy, using 2026–27 rates. This excludes super, which is paid on top if your salary is quoted as plus super.
Is super included in the VPS 5 salary figures?
No. Victorian Public Service salaries are quoted as base salary excluding super. The employer pays an additional 12% superannuation from 1 July 2026 on top of your base salary. So if your VPS 5 salary is $128,635, your employer also contributes $15,436 to your super fund.
Do I pay the Medicare levy on a VPS 5 salary?
Yes. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. The latest single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013 – full-time VPS 5 salaries are well above these, so you pay the full 2%. For a $128,635 salary that's $2,573 a year.