Queensland Government Pay Scales 2026: AO1–AO8 Salary Rates
Queensland Government AO pay scales are set by the Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015 (rates from 1 September 2026), underpinning the State Government Entities Certified Agreement 2023 (Core Agreement). From 1 September 2026 AO3 pays $81,032 to $89,903 – about $2,475.45 to $2,706.65 a fortnight after tax. Rates are the latest we could confirm; see the increases section.
Updated 2026-10-03 · rates from 1 September 2026 · ATO 2026–27 tax
| Instrument | Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015 (rates from 1 September 2026), underpinning the State Government Entities Certified Agreement 2023 (Core Agreement) |
| Rates shown apply from | 1 September 2026 (latest confirmed rates – a newer increase may be due) |
| Full-time hours | 36.25 a week |
| Employer super | 12.75% – Queensland Government pays 12.75% employer super for employees under 75 (18% police officers under 60, 14.25% fire service officers). Since 1 July 2023 accumulation members do not have to contribute 5% themselves to get the full 12.75%. The default employee contribution of 5% stays in place unless changed. Default fund: QSuper (part of Australian Retirement Trust). |
| Next pay rise | None scheduled under the current agreement |
| Agreement nominal expiry | 30 June 2026 |
QLD AO pay scales pay calculator
| Base salary | $81,032 |
| Hourly rate (ordinary) | $42.84 |
| Gross per fortnight | $3,106.00 |
| Income tax | $14,830 |
| Medicare levy | $1,621 |
| Take-home a year | $64,582 |
| Employer super (12.75%) | $10,332 |
- Take-home $64,582 79.7%
- Income tax $14,830 18.3%
- Medicare $1,621 2.0%
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QLD AO pay scales salary by level
| Level | Lowest | Highest | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 | $49,126 | $55,491 | $25.97–$29.34 | $1,654–$1,816 |
| AO2 | $63,814 | $75,997 | $33.74–$40.18 | $2,028–$2,344 |
| AO3 | $81,032 | $89,903 | $42.84–$47.53 | $2,475–$2,707 |
| AO4 | $95,173 | $104,304 | $50.32–$55.14 | $2,844–$3,082 |
| AO5 | $109,704 | $119,018 | $58.00–$62.92 | $3,223–$3,466 |
| AO6 | $125,488 | $134,019 | $66.34–$70.86 | $3,634–$3,857 |
| AO7 | $139,941 | $149,933 | $73.99–$79.27 | $3,998–$4,231 |
| AO8 | $154,786 | $163,552 | $81.83–$86.47 | $4,345–$4,550 |
| Professional Officer (PO1–PO6) | $50,508 | $163,552 | $26.70–$86.47 | $1,689–$4,550 |
| Technical Officer (TO1–TO6) | $50,508 | $139,941 | $26.70–$73.99 | $1,689–$3,998 |
Every pay point from 1 September 2026
| Classification | Step | Annual | Per fortnight | Hourly | Take-home / fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO1 | AO1.1 | $49,126 | $1,883.00 | $25.97 | $1,653.90 |
| AO1.2 | $52,335 | $2,006.00 | $27.67 | $1,735.69 | |
| AO1.3 | $55,491 | $2,127.00 | $29.34 | $1,816.16 | |
| AO2 | AO2.1 | $63,814 | $2,446.00 | $33.74 | $2,028.29 |
| AO2.2 | $65,431 | $2,508.00 | $34.59 | $2,069.52 | |
| AO2.3 | $67,075 | $2,571.00 | $35.46 | $2,111.65 | |
| AO2.4 | $68,771 | $2,636.00 | $36.36 | $2,155.85 | |
| AO2.5 | $70,388 | $2,698.00 | $37.21 | $2,198.01 | |
| AO2.6 | $72,084 | $2,763.00 | $38.11 | $2,242.21 | |
| AO2.7 | $73,988 | $2,836.00 | $39.12 | $2,291.85 | |
| AO2.8 | $75,997 | $2,913.00 | $40.18 | $2,344.21 | |
| AO3 | AO3.1 | $81,032 | $3,106.00 | $42.84 | $2,475.45 |
| AO3.2 | $83,954 | $3,218.00 | $44.39 | $2,551.61 | |
| AO3.3 | $86,955 | $3,333.00 | $45.97 | $2,629.81 | |
| AO3.4 | $89,903 | $3,446.00 | $47.53 | $2,706.65 | |
| AO4 | AO4.1 | $95,173 | $3,648.00 | $50.32 | $2,844.01 |
| AO4.2 | $98,173 | $3,763.00 | $51.90 | $2,922.21 | |
| AO4.3 | $101,277 | $3,882.00 | $53.54 | $3,003.13 | |
| AO4.4 | $104,304 | $3,998.00 | $55.14 | $3,082.01 | |
| AO5 | AO5.1 | $109,704 | $4,205.00 | $58.00 | $3,222.77 |
| AO5.2 | $112,835 | $4,325.00 | $59.66 | $3,304.37 | |
| AO5.3 | $115,913 | $4,443.00 | $61.28 | $3,384.61 | |
| AO5.4 | $119,018 | $4,562.00 | $62.92 | $3,465.53 | |
| AO6 | AO6.1 | $125,488 | $4,810.00 | $66.34 | $3,634.17 |
| AO6.2 | $128,332 | $4,919.00 | $67.85 | $3,708.29 | |
| AO6.3 | $131,202 | $5,029.00 | $69.37 | $3,783.09 | |
| AO6.4 | $134,019 | $5,137.00 | $70.86 | $3,856.53 | |
| AO7 | AO7.1 | $139,941 | $5,364.00 | $73.99 | $3,997.63 |
| AO7.2 | $143,333 | $5,494.00 | $75.78 | $4,076.93 | |
| AO7.3 | $146,620 | $5,620.00 | $77.52 | $4,153.79 | |
| AO7.4 | $149,933 | $5,747.00 | $79.27 | $4,231.26 | |
| AO8 | AO8.1 | $154,786 | $5,933.00 | $81.83 | $4,344.72 |
| AO8.2 | $157,786 | $6,048.00 | $83.42 | $4,414.87 | |
| AO8.3 | $160,656 | $6,158.00 | $84.94 | $4,481.97 | |
| AO8.4 | $163,552 | $6,269.00 | $86.47 | $4,549.68 |
Professional Officer (PO1–PO6): $50,508–$163,552; Technical Officer (TO1–TO6): $50,508–$139,941 (pick any step in the calculator).
Rates: Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015 (rates from 1 September 2026), underpinning the State Government Entities Certified Agreement 2023 (Core Agreement), in force from 1 September 2026. Hourly = annual ÷ 52.178 weeks ÷ 36.25 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
| From | Increase | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2023 | 4.0% | Paid | Core Agreement 2023: 4% on the 2019 agreement rates (back paid from certification). |
| 1 July 2024 | 4.0% | Paid | Core Agreement 2023: 4%. |
| 1 July 2025 | 3.0% | Paid | Core Agreement 2023: 3%, the last agreement increase. Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) lump sums were possible for 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25 only, if Brisbane CPI exceeded the wage increase (capped at 3%). |
| 1 September 2025 | 3.50% | Paid | State Wage Case 2025: award rates +3.5%. Award rates now exceed Core Agreement rates, and employees are paid the higher rate. |
| 1 July 2026 | – | Pending – not yet paid | Replacement Core Agreement 2026 not yet agreed. Government offer of 30 June 2026 (at least 8.5% over the agreement, up to 10.5% with a CPI Uplift Adjustment, first rise 3.5%) lapsed after Together Queensland rejected it on 31 July 2026. Under wages policy the first rise now applies from the first day of the month in which all unions agree in principle. There is no backpay to 1 July 2026. The date shown is when the lapsed offer’s first rise would have applied. |
| 1 September 2026 | 4.75% | Paid | State Wage Case 2026 ([2026] QIRC 280): award rates +4.75% from 1 September 2026. This is the rate Core Agreement employees now receive. |
How progression works
- Each AO, PO and TO level has numbered pay points (e.g. AO3.1–AO3.4). Employees move up one pay point a year (annual increment) after 12 months’ service at the pay point and satisfactory performance, until the top of the level.
- Moving to a higher level (e.g. AO4 to AO5) needs promotion, reclassification or a higher-duties placement. It is not automatic.
- Graduates with a relevant degree usually start on PO2 (professional stream) or AO3. PO1 and TO1 cover trainees and cadets.
- Core Agreement clause 2.11(6): no employee gets less than the parent award rate. Since State Wage Case increases have outpaced the agreement, the award rate is what is paid at every pay point.
- Agency-specific agreements can pay more. The CDSB agreement pays $1,886.50 a fortnight at AO1.1 (incl. 0.5% CUA) against the award’s $1,798 (1 Sep 2025).
Good to know
- Core Agreement Appendix 3 rates from 1 July 2025, which the award now exceeds: AO2.1 $2,301.10, AO3.1 $2,921.40, AO4.1 $3,431.10, AO5.1 $3,956.60, AO6.1 $4,525.40, AO7.1 $5,047.20, AO8.1 $5,581.10, AO8.4 $5,897.80 a fortnight.
- Queensland Government salary packaging is through RemServ or Smartsalary. Departments are not FBT-exempt, so there is no FBT cap concession like hospitals’. Hospital and Health Service staff are covered by separate Health agreements.
- Together Queensland (union) confirmed the 4.75% State Wage Case increase, backdated to 1 September 2026. Members already on award rates see the full 4.75%.
- Queensland Government pay dates for 2026 were not available from forgov.qld.gov.au (pay is fortnightly), so no payDates are listed.
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AO, PO and TO streams explained
Queensland Government jobs are classified in streams. The Administrative Officer stream (AO1 to AO8) covers most office, policy, finance and customer roles; AO2 is the main adult entry level and AO8 the top non-executive level, with Senior Officer and SES roles above it. The Professional Officer stream (PO1 to PO6) covers roles that need a degree, such as engineers and scientists, and graduates usually start at PO2 or AO3. The Technical Officer stream (TO1 to TO6) covers technicians; TO1 shares the PO1 rates.
Each level has numbered pay points, and you move up one a year after 12 months' service with satisfactory performance. Full-time hours in these streams are generally 36.25 a week (check your contract), so the hourly rate is the fortnightly rate ÷ 72.5: $42.84 at AO3.1. Annual salaries are the fortnightly rate × 26.089, the conversion the Core Agreement itself uses.
Award rate vs agreement rate
The Core Agreement's Appendix 3 rates have been overtaken by the Queensland Public Service Officers and Other Employees Award – State 2015, and clause 2.11(6) of the agreement says no one is paid less than the award. The rates on this page are the award rates after the 2026 State Wage Case (+4.75% from 1 September 2026). We calculated them from the 1 September 2025 award rates and checked them against published annual figures; confirm them against the QIRC award reprint when it is available.
| Pay point | Core Agreement (fortnight) | Award from 1 Sep 2026 | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| AO2.1 | $2,301.10 | $2,446.00 | $3,780 |
| AO3.1 | $2,921.40 | $3,106.00 | $4,816 |
| AO5.1 | $3,956.60 | $4,205.00 | $6,481 |
| AO8.1 | $5,581.10 | $5,933.00 | $9,181 |
Take-home, super and the stalled 2026 agreement
The Queensland Government pays 12.75% employer super, more than the 12% guarantee:
- AO3.1: $81,032 a year, $2,475.45 a fortnight after tax ($2,409.31 with HECS-HELP), plus $10,332 super.
- AO5.1: $109,704 a year, $3,222.77 a fortnight after tax ($2,991.78 with HECS-HELP), plus $13,987 super.
- AO6.4: $134,019 a year, $3,856.53 a fortnight after tax ($3,482.45 with HECS-HELP), plus $17,087 super.
- The government's 2026 offer (at least 8.5%, first rise 3.5%) lapsed after Together Queensland rejected it on 31 July 2026. Any new rise will apply from the month all unions agree in principle, with no back pay to 1 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the AO3 salary in 2026?
$81,032 to $89,903 a year (first and top pay point) from 1 September 2026 – about $2,475 to $2,707 a fortnight after tax, plus 12.75% employer super.
What is the AO5 salary in 2026?
$109,704 to $119,018 a year (first and top pay point) from 1 September 2026 – about $3,223 to $3,466 a fortnight after tax, plus 12.75% employer super.
What is the AO6 salary in 2026?
$125,488 to $134,019 a year (first and top pay point) from 1 September 2026 – about $3,634 to $3,857 a fortnight after tax, plus 12.75% employer super.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- forgov.qld.gov.au: State Government Entities Certified Agreement (Core Agreement 2023 nominally expired 30 June 2026; 30 June 2026 offer of ≥8.5% up to 10.5% with CUA lapsed 31 July 2026; last updated 5 Aug 2026), read 8 Oct 2026
- State Government Entities Certified Agreement 2023, final version (clause 2.1 increases 4%/4%/3%; clause 2.2 COLA; clause 2.11(6) not less than award; Appendix 3 QPSOOE Award salary schedules, annualised = fortnightly × 26.089; nominal expiry 30 June 2026)
- Queensland Government CDSB: Administrative stream salary schedule (QPSOOE Award rates from 1 September 2025, AO1.1–AO8.4, per fortnight and annualised; "paid the higher of agreement or award"; last updated 25 Aug 2026)
- Queensland Government CDSB: Professional stream salary schedule (QPSOOE Award PO1.1–PO6.4 from 1 September 2025)
- Queensland Government CDSB: Technical stream salary schedule (QPSOOE Award TO1.1–TO6.3 from 1 September 2025)
- QIRC: State wage cases (2026 General Ruling operative from 1 September 2026; 2025 General Ruling +3.5%)
- Together Queensland: State Wage Case – 4.75% increase to award rates backdated to 1 September 2026; employees paid the higher of award or agreement
- forgov.qld.gov.au: Superannuation (12.75% employer contribution for employees under 75; accumulation members need not contribute from 1 July 2023; QSuper default fund), read 8 Oct 2026