Commonwealth
APS pay scales 2026: APS 1–6 and EL 1–2 salaries
There is no single APS-wide pay scale: each agency's 2024 enterprise agreement sets its own pay points, and all of them applied the same service-wide rises of 4.0% (March 2024), 3.8% (March 2025) and 3.4% (from 12 March 2026). Under the Australian Public Service Commission's own agreement, an APS 6 now earns $101,855 to $111,701 a year, an EL 1 $123,996 to $142,116 and an EL 2 $155,479 to $174,790. The tables below set those pay points beside the ATO and Services Australia ranges so you can see how far agencies differ at the same level.
Last verified against the source documents listed below. By the FairWork Mate Editorial Team. General information, not advice about your individual pay.
Which agreement sets these rates
Australian Public Service Commission Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (Fair Work Commission AE523664, [2024] FWCA 740).
APSC employees (non-SES). Other agencies' 2024 agreements use different pay points but the same percentage rises and the same 28 February 2027 nominal expiry for the agencies shown here.
Approved 27 February 2024. Operative from 5 March 2024. Nominal expiry 28 February 2027.
Current pay rates
APSC agreement base salaries (Attachment A)
| Classification | Pay point | 31 Aug 2023per year | From 14 Mar 2024per year | From 13 Mar 2025per year | From 12 Mar 2026 (current)per year | Fortnightly (current) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 1 | APS1.1 | $48,729 | $52,000 | — | — | — |
| APS1.2 | $50,409 | $52,425 | $54,516 | $57,497 | $2,204.36 | |
| APS1.3 | — | $55,120 | $57,215 | $59,160 | $2,268.12 | |
| APS1.4 | — | — | $57,787 | $60,946 | $2,336.59 | |
| APS 2 | APS2.1 | $55,673 | $57,900 | $60,100 | $62,775 | $2,406.71 |
| APS2.2 | $57,968 | $60,287 | $62,578 | $64,706 | $2,480.74 | |
| APS2.3 | $62,100 | $64,584 | $67,038 | $69,317 | $2,657.52 | |
| APS 3 | APS3.1 | $64,859 | $67,453 | $70,016 | $72,397 | $2,775.60 |
| APS3.2 | $66,878 | $69,553 | $72,196 | $74,651 | $2,862.02 | |
| APS3.3 | — | — | $72,837 | $76,820 | $2,945.18 | |
| APS 4 | APS4.1 | $71,429 | $74,286 | $77,109 | $79,731 | $3,056.78 |
| APS4.2 | $72,516 | $75,417 | $78,283 | $80,945 | $3,103.32 | |
| APS4.3 | $76,885 | $79,960 | $82,998 | $85,820 | $3,290.22 | |
| APS4.4 | — | — | — | $86,246 | $3,306.56 | |
| APS 5 | APS5.1 | $80,148 | $83,354 | $86,521 | $89,463 | $3,429.89 |
| APS5.2 | $83,900 | $87,256 | $90,572 | $93,651 | $3,590.45 | |
| APS5.3 | $87,650 | $91,156 | $94,620 | $97,837 | $3,750.94 | |
| APS 6 | APS6.1 | $91,250 | $94,900 | $98,506 | $101,855 | $3,904.98 |
| APS6.2 | $95,009 | $98,809 | $102,564 | $106,051 | $4,065.85 | |
| APS6.3 | $99,064 | $103,027 | $106,942 | $110,578 | $4,239.41 | |
| APS6.4 | — | — | — | $111,701 | $4,282.47 | |
| EL 1 | EL1.1 | $111,086 | $115,529 | $119,919 | $123,996 | $4,753.84 |
| EL1.2 | $113,791 | $118,343 | $122,840 | $127,017 | $4,869.66 | |
| EL1.3 | $117,103 | $121,787 | $126,415 | $130,713 | $5,011.36 | |
| EL1.4 | $121,242 | $126,092 | $130,883 | $135,333 | $5,188.49 | |
| EL1.5 | $123,017 | $127,938 | $132,800 | $137,315 | $5,264.47 | |
| EL1.6 | $126,093 | $131,137 | $136,120 | $140,748 | $5,396.09 | |
| EL1.7 | $127,318 | $132,411 | $137,443 | $142,116 | $5,448.54 | |
| EL 2 | EL2.1 | $139,290 | $144,862 | $150,367 | $155,479 | $5,960.86 |
| EL2.2 | $142,303 | $147,995 | $153,619 | $158,842 | $6,089.79 | |
| EL2.3 | $147,222 | $153,111 | $158,929 | $164,333 | $6,300.31 | |
| EL2.4 | $150,013 | $156,014 | $161,943 | $167,449 | $6,419.77 | |
| EL2.5 | $152,961 | $159,079 | $165,124 | $170,738 | $6,545.87 | |
| EL2.6 | $155,099 | $161,303 | $167,433 | $173,126 | $6,637.42 | |
| EL2.7 | $156,591 | $162,855 | $169,043 | $174,790 | $6,701.21 |
- A dash means the pay point did not exist on that date: APS1.1 was removed after 2024, APS1.3, APS1.4 and APS3.3 were added in 2024–25, and APS4.4 and APS6.4 were added from 12 March 2026.
- Fortnightly pay = annual salary × 12 ÷ 313 (APSC agreement cl 22).
How APS pay compares across agencies (from 12 March 2026)
Lowest and highest salary for each classification in three agency agreements. The same classification can pay several thousand dollars more or less depending on the agency.
| Classification | Australian Public Service Commission | Australian Taxation Office | Services Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| APS 1 | $57,497 – $60,946 | $58,608 – $64,728 | $57,497 – $61,603 |
| APS 2 | $62,775 – $69,317 | $66,274 – $73,452 | $64,202 – $69,288 |
| APS 3 | $72,397 – $76,820 | $75,431 – $81,381 | $71,170 – $79,320 |
| APS 4 | $79,731 – $86,246 | $84,028 – $91,199 | $79,322 – $87,886 |
| APS 5 | $89,463 – $97,837 | $93,676 – $99,307 | $88,834 – $96,829 |
| APS 6 | $101,855 – $111,701 | $101,142 – $116,131 | $99,734 – $113,242 |
| EL 1 | $123,996 – $142,116 | $129,551 – $141,239 | $122,493 – $135,731 |
| EL 2 | $155,479 – $174,790 | $155,911 – $185,713 | $141,751 – $168,571 |
Sources: APSC Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 Attachment A; ATO Enterprise Agreement 2024 Attachment A Schedule 1; Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 Table C1.
Pay rises and the next increase
| From | Rise | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First full pay period on or after 1 March 2024 | 4.0% | Paid |
| First full pay period on or after 1 March 2025 | 3.8% | Paid |
| First full pay period on or after 1 March 2026 | 3.4% | In force now |
Next increase: None is scheduled in the 2024 agreements after the 3.4% rise from 12 March 2026. Any further rise depends on the replacement agreement now being bargained.
The 2024 APS agency agreements nominally expire on 28 February 2027 and schedule no rise after 12 March 2026. Service-wide bargaining for the next round is under way: the Australian Public Service Commission's published schedule starts with meeting 1 on 21 July 2026 and lists agenda items including working hours (including a 4-day week), flex time, leave, pay fragmentation and, for meeting 18 on 13 October 2026, the pay offer (schedule last updated 18 September 2026). As at 8 October 2026 the APSC had not published an APS-wide pay offer. Use the APS pay offer calculator to test any offer against inflation once it is announced.
How to find your pay point
- Your classification (APS 1–6, EL 1 or EL 2) is in your letter of offer and on your payslip; the pay point is the step within it.
- Find your agency's own agreement: APS agencies each have one (APSC, ATO, Services Australia, Home Affairs and so on). The APSC table here is a reference, not your rate if you work elsewhere.
- Pay point advancement is usually yearly, subject to performance (APSC agreement cl 30–36: eligible employees can progress on 1 July).
- To turn your annual salary into fortnightly pay, multiply by 12 and divide by 313 — the formula every 2024 APS agreement uses.
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Common questions
How much does an APS 6 earn in 2026?
Under the APSC agreement, $101,855 to $111,701 a year from 12 March 2026. At the ATO the APS 6 range is $101,142 to $116,131; at Services Australia it is $99,734 to $113,242. Source: each agency's 2024 enterprise agreement.
How much does an APS 4 earn?
Under the APSC agreement, $79,731 to $86,246 a year from 12 March 2026 (APS4.4 is a new top pay point from that date). The ATO range is $84,028 to $91,199.
When is the next APS pay rise?
The 2024 agreements schedule nothing after the 3.4% rise from 12 March 2026 and nominally expire on 28 February 2027. A further rise depends on the replacement agreement; as at 8 October 2026 the APSC had not published an APS-wide pay offer, with the pay offer listed for the 13 October 2026 bargaining meeting.
How is APS fortnightly pay calculated?
Fortnightly salary = annual salary × 12 ÷ 313 (APSC agreement cl 22; ATO cl 17). For example, APS6.1 at $101,855 is $3,904.98 a fortnight before tax.
Sources
- Australian Public Service Commission Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (FWC AE523664), Attachment A ↗
- Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Enterprise Agreement 2024 (FWC AE523904), Attachment A Schedule 1 ↗
- Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (Services Australia), Table C1 ↗
- APSC — APS bargaining (meeting schedule, last updated 18 September 2026) ↗
Figures transcribed from these documents and checked 8 October 2026. If your payslip differs, check your classification and pay point with your employer's payroll or HR team first.
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Other public sector pay scales
Australian Taxation Office salaries from 12 March 2026 for every APS and EL pay point, from the ATO Enterprise Agreement 2024, with fortnightly pay and the next rise.
Services Australia pay scalesServices Australia salary bands from 12 March 2026 for APS 1–6 and EL 1–2, from the Services Australia Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027, with fortnightly pay.
VPS pay scales (Victoria)Victorian Public Service salaries from 1 May 2026 for VPS Grades 1–7 and every progression step, from the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024, plus the 1 May 2027 rates.
NSW public service clerk salariesNSW public service Clerks Grade 1–12 salaries from 1 July 2026 under the Crown Employees (Public Sector – Salaries 2024) Award, as published by NSW Health.
NT public sector pay scalesNorthern Territory Public Sector salaries from 13 August 2026 for AO2–AO7, SAO, EO and P1–SP2, from the NTPS 2025–2029 Enterprise Agreement, with the 2027 and 2028 rates.
Victorian public sector nurse pay ratesVictorian public sector nurse and midwife pay from 11 May 2026 — RN Grade 2 years 1–8, EN, CNS, ANUM and NUM weekly and hourly rates — and the 30 November 2026 rates.