APS Pay Scales 2026: APS 1–6, EL1 and EL2 Salary and Take-Home
APS pay scales are set by the APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions (pay fragmentation mechanism) and agency enterprise agreements 2024–2027, e.g. Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027. From 12 March 2026 APS 6 pays $99,734 to $111,701 – about $2,963.54 to $3,275.53 a fortnight after tax. Next pay rise: 1 March 2027 (not yet agreed).
Updated 2026-10-03 · rates from 12 March 2026 · ATO 2026–27 tax
| Instrument | APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions (pay fragmentation mechanism) and agency enterprise agreements 2024–2027, e.g. Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 |
| Rates shown apply from | 12 March 2026 |
| Full-time hours | 37.5 a week |
| Employer super | 15.40% – 15.4% employer contribution for PSSap and other accumulation-fund members, a common condition in APS agreements. Some agreements apply it to ordinary time earnings (Services Australia), others to fortnightly contribution salary for PSSap members (Treasury). It is not reduced by salary sacrifice. CSS/PSS defined-benefit members are covered by their scheme rules. |
| Next pay rise | 1 March 2027 – not yet agreed |
| Agreement nominal expiry | 28 February 2027 |
APS pay scales pay calculator
| Base salary | $99,734 |
| Hourly rate (ordinary) | $50.98 |
| Gross per fortnight | $3,823.67 |
| Income tax | $20,440 |
| Medicare levy | $1,995 |
| Take-home a year | $77,299 |
| Employer super (15.40%) | $15,359 |
- Take-home $77,299 77.5%
- Income tax $20,440 20.5%
- Medicare $1,995 2.0%
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APS pay scales salary by level
| Level | Lowest | Highest | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 1 | $57,497 | $60,946 | $29.39–$31.15 | $1,868–$1,956 |
| APS 2 | $62,775 | $68,425 | $32.09–$34.98 | $2,002–$2,147 |
| APS 3 | $70,477 | $76,820 | $36.03–$39.27 | $2,201–$2,366 |
| APS 4 | $79,125 | $86,246 | $40.45–$44.09 | $2,426–$2,612 |
| APS 5 | $88,834 | $96,829 | $45.41–$49.50 | $2,679–$2,888 |
| APS 6 | $99,734 | $111,701 | $50.98–$57.10 | $2,964–$3,276 |
| Executive Level 1 | $121,755 | $132,713 | $62.24–$67.84 | $3,538–$3,823 |
| Executive Level 2 | $140,675 | $153,336 | $71.91–$78.38 | $4,016–$4,312 |
Every pay point from 12 March 2026
| Classification | Step | Annual | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 1 | APS 1 min APS-wide minimum | $57,497 | $29.39 | $1,867.69 |
| APS 1 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $60,946 | $31.15 | $1,955.62 | |
| APS 2 | APS 2 min APS-wide minimum | $62,775 | $32.09 | $2,002.25 |
| APS 2 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $68,425 | $34.98 | $2,147.31 | |
| APS 3 | APS 3 min APS-wide minimum | $70,477 | $36.03 | $2,200.80 |
| APS 3 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $76,820 | $39.27 | $2,366.17 | |
| APS 4 | APS 4 min APS-wide minimum | $79,125 | $40.45 | $2,426.26 |
| APS 4 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $86,246 | $44.09 | $2,611.91 | |
| APS 5 | APS 5 min APS-wide minimum | $88,834 | $45.41 | $2,679.38 |
| APS 5 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $96,829 | $49.50 | $2,887.81 | |
| APS 6 | APS 6 min APS-wide minimum | $99,734 | $50.98 | $2,963.54 |
| APS 6 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $111,701 | $57.10 | $3,275.53 | |
| Executive Level 1 | EL 1 min APS-wide minimum | $121,755 | $62.24 | $3,537.64 |
| EL 1 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $132,713 | $67.84 | $3,823.31 | |
| Executive Level 2 | EL 2 min APS-wide minimum | $140,675 | $71.91 | $4,015.66 |
| EL 2 max APS-wide threshold maximum | $153,336 | $78.38 | $4,311.75 |
Rates: APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions (pay fragmentation mechanism) and agency enterprise agreements 2024–2027, e.g. Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027, in force from 12 March 2026. Hourly = annual ÷ 52.1667 weeks ÷ 37.5 hours. Take-home is for an Australian resident in 2026–27 with the tax-free threshold, Medicare levy, no HELP debt and private hospital cover (no Medicare levy surcharge). Employer super is paid on top and not included.
Pay rises – next on 1 March 2027
| From | Increase | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 March 2024 | 4.0% | Paid | APS-wide increase from the first full pay period on or after 1 March 2024 (14 March 2024 at Services Australia). |
| 13 March 2025 | 3.80% | Paid | 3.8% from the first full pay period on or after 1 March 2025. Fragmentation thresholds also rose by a 1.0% fragmentation variable. |
| 12 March 2026 | 3.40% | Paid | 3.4% from the first full pay period on or after 1 March 2026. Thresholds also rose by a 2.0% fragmentation variable, so agencies below the thresholds lifted their minimums by more. |
| 1 March 2027 | – | Not yet agreed | Next APS-wide round is under negotiation. Bargaining began in July 2026 under the Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026. The Commonwealth pay offer is on the agenda for the 13 October 2026 meeting. The CPSU claims 5% a year or CPI, whichever is higher (15% over 3 years). Agency agreements nominally expire 28 February 2027. |
How progression works
- Each agency sets its own pay points or min–max range for each classification. The range must meet or exceed the APS-wide thresholds.
- Agencies with ranges below the thresholds could not keep them. Any salary below a new minimum was increased to it, and salaries move to the new maximum over time through salary progression.
- Salary advancement within a range is usually annual and depends on a satisfactory performance rating under the agency’s performance framework.
- Starting salary is normally the bottom of the range. Agencies can start someone higher to recognise experience or skills.
- SES Band 1–3 pay is not in enterprise agreements. It is set individually by section 24(1) determinations under the Public Service Act 1999, so there is no APS-wide SES range.
Good to know
- APS-wide thresholds are a floor for agency ranges. Many agencies pay more: Treasury APS 6 runs to $127,521, and some EL 1 ranges reach about $157,000.
- SES: APSC remuneration survey 2024 medians were $244,086 base salary for SES Band 1 and $307,112 for SES Band 2 (as quoted in a DAFF document). The APSC 31 December 2025 data showed SES median base salary growth of 4.1% in 2025.
- APSC data at 31 December 2025: 187,279 employees, including 3,460 SES. Weighted median base salary rose 4.2% in 2025.
- Award floor: the APS Enterprise Award 2015 minimums rose 4.75% on 1 July 2026 (APS 1 minimum hourly rate $27.53 to $28.84, APSC Circular 2026/02). The fragmentation thresholds remain above award rates.
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How the APS-wide salary thresholds are set
The APS pay scales on this page come from the pay fragmentation mechanism in the APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions. The thresholds rise with each APS-wide pay increase, and in 2025 and 2026 also by a "fragmentation variable" (2.0% in March 2026) so that floors rise faster than pay at agencies sitting on them. From 12 March 2026 the EL 1 minimum is $121,755. Agencies kept their own ranges, but none may sit below the thresholds. Services Australia, the biggest employer, compared with the thresholds:
| Level | APS-wide threshold | Services Australia range |
|---|---|---|
| APS 4 | $79,125–$86,246 | $79,322–$87,886 |
| APS 5 | $88,834–$96,829 | $88,834–$96,829 |
| APS 6 | $99,734–$111,701 | $99,734–$113,242 |
| Executive Level 1 | $121,755–$132,713 | $122,493–$135,731 |
Total package and take-home at APS 5, APS 6 and EL 1
APS jobs are often advertised as salary plus 15.40% super. At the APS-wide minimums:
| Level (minimum) | Salary | Employer super | Total package | Take-home a fortnight | With HECS-HELP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 5 | $88,834 | $13,680 | $102,514 | $2,679.38 | $2,568.35 |
| APS 6 | $99,734 | $15,359 | $115,093 | $2,963.54 | $2,789.83 |
| Executive Level 1 | $121,755 | $18,750 | $140,505 | $3,537.64 | $3,237.29 |
The March 2027 increase, the award floor and SES pay
The next APS-wide rise is due from early March 2027, but its size depends on the 2026 bargaining round: the Commonwealth's pay offer is on the agenda for 13 October 2026, against a CPSU claim of 5% a year or CPI. At 5%, the APS 5 minimum would rise from $88,834 to about $93,276.
Underneath the agreements, the APS Enterprise Award 2015 sets legal minimums. Its APS 1 hourly rate rose to $28.84 on 1 July 2026, below the $29.39 an hour the APS 1 threshold minimum works out at on a 37.5-hour week, so the award does not affect APS pay in practice.
SES Band 1 to 3 pay is set individually by section 24(1) determinations, so there is no APS-wide SES range. The APSC data at 31 December 2025 showed SES median base salary growth of 4.1% in 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What is the APS 5 salary in 2026?
$88,834 to $96,829 a year (APS-wide minimum and maximum) from 12 March 2026 – about $2,679 to $2,888 a fortnight after tax, plus 15.40% employer super.
What is the APS 6 salary in 2026?
$99,734 to $111,701 a year (APS-wide minimum and maximum) from 12 March 2026 – about $2,964 to $3,276 a fortnight after tax, plus 15.40% employer super.
What is the Executive Level 1 salary in 2026?
$121,755 to $132,713 a year (APS-wide minimum and maximum) from 12 March 2026 – about $3,538 to $3,823 a fortnight after tax, plus 15.40% employer super.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- APSC: APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions (pay fragmentation salary thresholds by classification, Years 1–3; agencies must meet or exceed them), read 8 Oct 2026
- APSC: Commonwealth’s approach to reduce pay fragmentation (base salary range for APS 1–EL 2; salaries below the minimum are increased), read 8 Oct 2026
- APSC: APS bargaining factsheet (11.2% over 3 years: 4% in 2024, 3.8% in 2025, 3.4% in 2026)
- Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 (Table C1 min/max salaries for APS 1–EL 2; 4% 14 Mar 2024, 3.8% 13 Mar 2025, 3.4% 12 Mar 2026; nominal expiry 28 Feb 2027; 15.4% employer super), read 8 Oct 2026
- Treasury Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027, Appendix A (APS 1.1 $57,497 from 12 Mar 2026; 15.4% of fortnightly contribution salary for PSSap)
- APSC: APS bargaining (2026 APS-wide bargaining meeting schedule; pay fragmentation and pay offer on 13 Oct 2026), read 8 Oct 2026
- APSC: Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026 (pay rises must not exceed the Commonwealth pay offer; reduce pay fragmentation over time)
- APSC: APS Remuneration Data 31 December 2025 (median base salary growth 4.2% non-SES, 4.1% SES)
- APSC: Circular 2026/02, Annual Wage Review updating Australian Government awards (APS Level 1 award minimum hourly rate $27.53 → $28.84 from 1 July 2026)