APS Salary Scales
Base salaries from APS1 to EL2 in the Australian Public Service, with take-home pay at the bottom and top of each level, the pay rise dates, and how pay differs between agencies.
APS1–EL2 table with take-home pay
| Classification | Base salary | Take-home pay a year |
|---|---|---|
| APS1 | $57,497 – $60,946 | $49,051 – $51,344 |
| APS2 | $62,775 – $69,317 | $52,560 – $56,936 |
| APS3 | $72,397 – $76,820 | $59,030 – $62,038 |
| APS4 | $79,731 – $86,246 | $64,017 – $68,447 |
| APS5 | $89,463 – $97,837 | $70,635 – $76,329 |
| APS6 | $101,855 – $111,701 | $79,061 – $85,757 |
| EL1 | $123,996 – $142,116 | $94,117 – $106,011 |
| EL2 | $155,479 – $174,790 | $114,162 – $125,942 |
Source: APSC Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 (Attachment A – Base salaries), Australian Public Service Commission, published 5 March 2024. Take-home pay is after income tax and the Medicare levy for an Australian resident in 2026–27, before super, which is paid on top. Ranges run from the first to the last pay point at each level.
For example, an APS6 at the top pay point earns $111,701, which leaves about $85,757 after tax. See the full breakdown for any salary with the pay calculator.
Pay rise dates
The Australian Public Service Commission’s agreement raised base salaries on these dates:
- 14 March 2024 (or the start of the agreement, if later)
- 13 March 2025
- 12 March 2026
The agreement’s nominal expiry date is 28 February 2027. Rates after that depend on the next round of bargaining.
Other agencies, DSTG and ASD
Every APS agency, including the Department of Defence and its Defence Science and Technology Group, publishes the pay rates in its own enterprise agreement, usually on its careers or enterprise agreement page. The Australian Signals Directorate sets pay for its staff separately. Look for the base salary schedule in the agency’s agreement, usually in an attachment near the end.
If you’re weighing up roles in different agencies, enter both salaries in compare job offers, and see what salary sacrificing into super would do with the salary sacrifice calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one APS pay scale for every agency?
No. Each APS agency has its own enterprise agreement with its own pay points for each classification, so an APS6 in one agency can be paid differently from an APS6 in another. The table on this page is the Australian Public Service Commission’s own scale, as an example. Check the agreement for the agency you work in or are applying to.
What does EL1 mean?
EL stands for Executive Level. EL1 and EL2 sit above APS6 and below the Senior Executive Service. In the Australian Public Service Commission’s agreement an EL1 is paid $123,996 – $142,116 from 12 March 2026.
How do APS pay points work?
Each classification has several pay points. You usually move up one pay point after a year of effective performance, until you reach the top of the level. Some levels are broadbanded, such as APS1–2 and APS3–4 in the Australian Public Service Commission, which lets you advance between classifications without a new job if the work and your performance support it.