VPS Legal Officer Salary Scales
Legal Officers
Legal Officers stream
10 bands · $67,145–$263,771
Notes
- ·Current rates effective 1 May 2026 under the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024
- ·Annual increases continue on 1 May 2027
- ·Agreement expires April 2028
- ·Grades 1–4 are VPS Officer classifications; Grades 5–6 are Senior Officer; Grade 7 is Senior Technical Specialist
- ·SES bands are Total Remuneration Package (TRP) values set by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal, effective 1 July 2025 (TRP adjusted rates may apply from 1 July 2026)
- ·TRP includes base salary, superannuation, and employment benefits
Salaries are indicative and based on publicly available data. Verify with your agency HR for accurate, role-specific information.
Salary Snapshot
VIC Legal Officers salary bands, shown per year.
Entry salary
$67,145
Articled Clerk
Top salary
$263,771
Senior Technical Specialist
Midpoint band
$122,522
Senior Solicitor VR1
Classifications
10
Legal Officers stream
Classification range chart
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About Victorian Legal Officers
The Legal Officer Adaptive Structure covers government lawyers across Victorian public service agencies. The classification progresses from Articled Clerk through Solicitor 1-3, Senior Solicitor, and Principal Solicitor, with salary points mapped to VPS Schedule C. Legal Officers focus on preparing, conducting, and advocating cases; briefing counsel; preparing legal documents; providing legal advice and opinions; and researching and interpreting case law, precedents, and legislation.
Typical roles: articled clerks, solicitors, senior solicitors, principal solicitors, legislative drafters. Salary ranges run from $67,145 (Articled Clerk) to $263,771 (Senior Technical Specialist). All rates are from the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024, effective 1 May 2026.
Superannuation: VPS employees receive 12% employer superannuation. Salary increases continue annually on 1 May under the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024, with the final increase on 1 May 2027. Agreement expires April 2028.
Key Information
VIC salary facts, agreement context and conditions to check before comparing pay.
Effective date
Current rates effective 1 May 2026 under the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024
Scheduled change
Annual increases continue on 1 May 2027
Scheduled change
Agreement expires April 2028
Classification note
Grades 1–4 are VPS Officer classifications; Grades 5–6 are Senior Officer; Grade 7 is Senior Technical Specialist
Allowance context
SES bands are Total Remuneration Package (TRP) values set by the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal, effective 1 July 2025 (TRP adjusted rates may apply from 1 July 2026)
Employer super
TRP includes base salary, superannuation, and employment benefits
Compare Pay Scales
Switch classification streams or compare public service salary scales across jurisdictions.
VIC Legal Officers Salary Guide by Classification
Quick reference for every Victorian Public Service Legal Officers classification and what it pays in 2026–2027— gross salary plus the estimated take-home pay, employer super, and total package the salary table doesn't show. Select any level to calculate your exact take-home pay after tax, Medicare, and super.
Articled Clerk Salary — VPS Legal Officer
An Articled Clerk (VPS articled clerk, entry-level legal officer) earns $67,145–$70,930 gross — roughly $55,000–$58,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$75,000–$79,000 total package). Entry level legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR1 (Schedule D).
Calculate Articled Clerk take-home pay →Solicitor 1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Solicitor 1 (VPS solicitor 1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $75,971–$79,753 gross — roughly $61,000–$64,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$85,000–$89,000 total package). Admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to VPS Grade 2 VR2 from step 2.2.4 (Schedule D).
Calculate Solicitor 1 take-home pay →Solicitor 2 VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Solicitor 2 VR1 (VPS solicitor 2 vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $81,496–$90,227 gross — roughly $65,000–$71,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$91,000–$101,000 total package). Developing professional independence — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR1 (Schedule D).
Calculate Solicitor 2 VR1 take-home pay →Solicitor 2 VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Solicitor 2 VR2 (VPS solicitor 2 vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $91,971–$98,955 gross — roughly $72,000–$77,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$103,000–$111,000 total package). Experienced solicitor — maps to VPS Grade 3 VR2 (Schedule D).
Calculate Solicitor 2 VR2 take-home pay →Solicitor 3 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Solicitor 3 (VPS solicitor 3, Victorian government legal officer) earns $100,894–$114,476 gross — roughly $78,000–$86,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$113,000–$128,000 total package). Independent legal professional — maps to VPS Grade 4 (Schedule D).
Calculate Solicitor 3 take-home pay →Senior Solicitor VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Senior Solicitor VR1 (VPS senior solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $116,413–$128,631 gross — roughly $87,000–$95,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$130,000–$144,000 total package). Senior legal advisory role — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR1 (Schedule D).
Calculate Senior Solicitor VR1 take-home pay →Senior Solicitor VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Senior Solicitor VR2 (VPS senior solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $128,635–$140,849 gross — roughly $95,000–$103,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$144,000–$158,000 total package). Senior legal specialist — maps to VPS Grade 5 VR2 (Schedule D).
Calculate Senior Solicitor VR2 take-home pay →Principal Solicitor VR1 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Principal Solicitor VR1 (VPS principal solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $142,790–$166,938 gross — roughly $104,000–$118,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$160,000–$187,000 total package). Senior legal management — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR1 (Schedule D).
Calculate Principal Solicitor VR1 take-home pay →Principal Solicitor VR2 Salary — VPS Legal Officer
A Principal Solicitor VR2 (VPS principal solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $166,939–$191,084 gross — roughly $118,000–$133,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$187,000–$214,000 total package). Principal legal officer — maps to VPS Grade 6 VR2 (Schedule D).
Calculate Principal Solicitor VR2 take-home pay →Senior Technical Specialist Salary — VPS Grade 7
A STS (also written as VPS7 or VPS Grade 7) earns $193,946–$263,771 gross — roughly $134,000–$170,000 take-home after income tax and Medicare, plus 12% employer super (~$217,000–$295,000 total package). VPS Senior Technical Specialist applies (Schedule D).
Calculate STS take-home pay →Take-home and total package figures are estimates. Take-home excludes HECS/HELP, the Medicare Levy Surcharge, and salary sacrifice, and assumes a resident taxpayer claiming the tax-free threshold. Total package adds employer super to gross salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Articled Clerk salary?
An Legal Officers Articled Clerk (VPS articled clerk, entry-level legal officer) earns $67,145 to $70,930 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $55,000–$58,000 per year. This classification covers entry level legal officer — maps to vps grade 2 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 1 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 1 (VPS solicitor 1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $75,971 to $79,753 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $61,000–$64,000 per year. This classification covers admitted solicitor, limited experience — maps to vps grade 2 vr2 from step 2.2.4 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 2 VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 2 VR1 (VPS solicitor 2 vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $81,496 to $90,227 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $65,000–$71,000 per year. This classification covers developing professional independence — maps to vps grade 3 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 2 VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 2 VR2 (VPS solicitor 2 vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $91,971 to $98,955 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $72,000–$77,000 per year. This classification covers experienced solicitor — maps to vps grade 3 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Solicitor 3 salary?
A Legal Officers Solicitor 3 (VPS solicitor 3, Victorian government legal officer) earns $100,894 to $114,476 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $78,000–$86,000 per year. This classification covers independent legal professional — maps to vps grade 4 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Solicitor VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Senior Solicitor VR1 (VPS senior solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $116,413 to $128,631 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $87,000–$95,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal advisory role — maps to vps grade 5 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Solicitor VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Senior Solicitor VR2 (VPS senior solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $128,635 to $140,849 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $95,000–$103,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal specialist — maps to vps grade 5 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Principal Solicitor VR1 salary?
A Legal Officers Principal Solicitor VR1 (VPS principal solicitor vr1, Victorian government legal officer) earns $142,790 to $166,938 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $104,000–$118,000 per year. This classification covers senior legal management — maps to vps grade 6 vr1 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Principal Solicitor VR2 salary?
A Legal Officers Principal Solicitor VR2 (VPS principal solicitor vr2, Victorian government legal officer) earns $166,939 to $191,084 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $118,000–$133,000 per year. This classification covers principal legal officer — maps to vps grade 6 vr2 (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the STS salary?
A Legal Officers STS (also written as VPS7 or VPS Grade 7) earns $193,946 to $263,771 per year as set by the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024 — Schedule C. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $134,000–$170,000 per year. This classification covers vps senior technical specialist applies (schedule d). VIC employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What roles are in the VPS Legal Officer classification?
The Legal Officer Adaptive Structure (Schedule D) covers government lawyers from Articled Clerk through to Principal Solicitor. Classifications include Articled Clerk, Solicitor 1 (newly admitted), Solicitor 2 (VR1 and VR2), Solicitor 3 (independent practitioner), Senior Solicitor (VR1 and VR2), and Principal Solicitor (VR1 and VR2). At the top, the VPS Senior Technical Specialist grade applies.
How does VPS legal officer pay compare to private practice?
VPS legal officer salaries are structured and transparent, unlike private practice where pay varies widely. A VPS Solicitor 3 (equivalent to VPS Grade 4) typically earns more than a mid-level associate at a small firm but less than at a top-tier firm. However, VPS legal roles offer superior job security, leave entitlements, superannuation, and work-life balance.
What qualifications do VPS Legal Officers need?
Legal Officers require a mandatory legal qualification and admission to practice (or eligibility for admission). Articled Clerks are completing their practical legal training. Solicitor 1 is the minimum entry level for a qualified admitted solicitor, with progression to Solicitor 2 after 12 months subject to meeting performance standards.