Personal Assistant Salary Guide (2026)

In the APS, the base salary for a Personal Assistant (PA) ranges from $71,800 at the entry APS 3 level up to $123,500+ at the senior APS 6 level, depending on agency enterprise agreements and the seniority of the executive supported. On top of base pay, all ongoing APS employees receive a mandatory 15.4% employer superannuation contribution.

No. Personal Assistant (PA) is a functional job title rather than a fixed public service classification. Depending on the complexity and scope of the executive supported, PAs are recruited under standard public service classifications, typically between APS 3 and APS 6.

PAs supporting Section Managers or EL 1 officers are generally classified as APS 3 or APS 4. Personal Assistants supporting Branch Directors (EL 2) are typically APS 4 or APS 5. Senior PAs and Executive Assistants supporting SES Band 1 or Band 2 executives are classified at the APS 5 or APS 6 levels.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, a Personal Assistant (PA) typically handles day-to-day administrative tasks, diary scheduling, and travel logistics for section or branch managers. An Executive Assistant (EA) provides higher-level strategic, confidential, and operational support to Senior Executive Service (SES) officers and Secretaries, managing complex divisional workflows.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Department of the Treasury, and Department of Defence consistently rank among the highest-paying agencies. For example, an APS 6 PA at Treasury can earn up to $122,500, while at PM&C base pay reaches $123,500 plus 15.4% super.

Yes. All ongoing and non-ongoing public servants in Commonwealth government agencies receive a 15.4% employer superannuation contribution as standard under federal enterprise agreements.

Yes. Under the 2024–2027 APSC bargaining outcomes, APS employees have a general right to request flexible and hybrid working arrangements, including working 2 to 3 days per week from home, subject to operational requirements.

Standard full-time working hours in the APS are 37.5 hours per week (or 7 hours 30 minutes per day, Monday to Friday). Flexible working hours and flex-time provisions allow staff to accumulate time off for hours worked beyond standard daily bandwidths.

For employees classified at APS 3 to APS 5, overtime is payable for authorized hours worked outside standard bandwidths, or hours worked on weekends and public holidays. Alternatively, employees can elect to accrue flex-time credits under agency Enterprise Agreements.

There are no mandatory formal university degree requirements to become an APS Personal Assistant. High-level organizational skills, proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams), strong written communication, and previous administrative or secretarial experience are highly valued.

Most APS PA roles require at least a Baseline security clearance, while PAs supporting senior executives in Defence, Home Affairs, Treasury, or PM&C may require NV1 (Negative Vetting Level 1) or NV2 security clearances due to handling classified documents.

A typical APS 4 PA earning a base salary of $83,680 (e.g. at the ATO) receives an estimated fortnightly take-home pay of approximately $2,420 (assuming no HELP debt and standard Medicare levy), plus $495 per fortnight in 15.4% employer super.

Progression within an APS level occurs through annual performance reviews. Provided performance meets requirements, PAs advance one pay step each year until reaching the top increment of their band.

Yes. Experienced PAs and EAs develop extensive operational knowledge of departmental governance, stakeholder networks, and parliamentary processes. Many progress into EL 1 Executive Officer, Business Manager, or Secretariat Manager roles.

Starting base salaries for entry-level APS 3 Personal Assistants range between $71,800 and $77,500 across major departments, representing a total remuneration package of $82,850 to $89,400 including super.

Yes. If an APS PA acts in a higher classification (e.g. an APS 4 PA stepping up into an APS 5 Executive Assistant role for more than 5 consecutive days), Higher Duties Allowance (HDA) is paid to match the minimum salary of the higher level.

Government PA roles typically offer higher starting base salaries ($71k–$85k), superior job security, flex-time, and 15.4% super. In the private sector, executive assistants in top-tier corporate finance or law firms may reach higher salary caps ($110k–$130k), but often work longer uncompensated hours with 11.5% super.

APS employees can salary package certain expenses pre-tax, such as novated car leases, additional superannuation contributions, and portable electronic devices, reducing taxable income and boosting net take-home pay.

Standard annual entitlements include 20 days paid annual leave, 18 days paid personal/carer’s leave, paid public holidays, shutdown leave between Christmas and New Year (in most agencies), and long service leave after 10 years of service.

Pay scales are updated annually on 1 July in accordance with approved wage increases negotiated in agency 2024–2027 Enterprise Agreements under the APSC Bargaining Framework.

An APS 5 Executive PA earns an average base salary between $88,085 and $102,500 per year, yielding an annual total package of $101,650 to $118,280 with 15.4% super.

APS 6 PAs support First Assistant Secretaries (SES Band 2) and Department Secretaries. Responsibilities include managing executive offices, handling sensitive Cabinet papers, overseeing administrative staff, and liaising directly with Minister’s offices.

Generally, applicants must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service. Under exceptional circumstances, agency heads may grant citizenship waivers.

Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook (advanced calendar and inbox management), MS Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, TRIM/Content Manager (record keeping), and parliamentary workflow systems (PDMS) is essential.

Yes. Under agency Enterprise Agreements, staff at APS 1 to APS 6 levels accrue flex-time for hours worked beyond 37.5 hours per week, which can be taken as approved flex leave.

The selection process involves submitting a resume, a one-page pitch or response addressing selection criteria, followed by a structured interview and referee checks.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide concrete examples of how you managed complex diaries, resolved executive emergencies, or maintained strict confidentiality.

New ongoing employees typically serve a 6-month probation period during which performance and suitability for public service employment are formally evaluated.

Yes. Part-time positions and job-share arrangements are supported under public service employment frameworks, subject to agreement with the supporting executive.

APS pay scales are standardized nationwide across all states and territories under Commonwealth Enterprise Agreements. An APS 4 PA earns the exact same base salary in Sydney, Melbourne, or Canberra.

The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) sets workplace bargaining parameters and common core conditions across all non-corporate Commonwealth entities.

HELP repayments are calculated by the ATO based on taxable income. At an APS 4 salary of $82,000, HELP repayments are approximately 4.5% of taxable income, reducing fortnightly net pay by around $140.

Most Commonwealth agencies close between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Employees receive paid leave for working days during the shutdown without deducting from annual leave balances.

Yes. Under Section 26 of the Public Service Act 1999, ongoing APS employees can transfer at level between Commonwealth departments without losing service length or leave balances.

Purchased leave schemes allow staff to purchase 1 to 4 additional weeks of leave per year through small fortnightly deductions from gross pre-tax salary.

Ongoing employees have permanent public service tenure. Non-ongoing employees are engaged on specified-term contracts (e.g. 6 to 12 months) to cover parental leave or project peaks.

Many large agencies run internal Executive Assistant networks providing peer mentoring, professional development workshops, and shared best practices across executive offices.

Official federal vacancies are advertised on the government portal APSJobs (apsjobs.gov.au) as well as individual departmental career websites.

At $93,740 gross base salary, income tax is approx. $19,300, Medicare levy is $1,875, leaving net take-home pay of ~$72,565 ($2,790/fortnight). ATO pays an additional $14,436 in super, making total compensation $108,176.

Yes. Most agency Enterprise Agreements provide financial assistance and paid study leave for approved tertiary courses relevant to public sector administration, business, or management.