What is the EL2 salary?

For the current financial year, the base salary range for an EL2 (Executive Level 2) is between $150,800 and $182,500 per year, depending on the agency enterprise agreement. This is exclusive of the 15.4% employer superannuation contribution.

Is EL2 higher than EL1?

Yes. Executive Level 2 (EL2) is the classification directly above Executive Level 1 (EL1). It represents the senior-most tier within the standard administrative and management stream before entering the Senior Executive Service (SES) bands.

How do you become an EL2?

Becoming an EL2 requires applying for an ongoing or non-ongoing vacancy through a competitive merit-based recruitment process. Candidates must demonstrate senior management experience, strategic leadership capability, and policy or program governance skills matching the APSC Integrated Leadership System (ILS) framework.

Can EL2 become SES Band 1?

Yes, progressing from EL2 to SES Band 1 is a common pathway for senior leaders in the public service. This transition represents entering the executive officer ranks, which requires high-level strategic alignment, ministerial representation, and accountability for entire branches.

Is EL2 considered senior executive?

While EL2 officers carry out senior management functions (such as Director or Section Head) and wield significant authority, they are not formal members of the Senior Executive Service (SES). They operate as the interface between the operational workforce and the executive leadership.

Which APS agencies employ EL2 officers?

Almost all federal departments and agencies employ EL2 officers. Major employers include the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Services Australia, Department of Defence, Department of Home Affairs, NDIA, and policy departments like the Treasury and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).

APS EL2 Salary

The complete guide to the Executive Level 2 (EL2) pay scale, base salary ranges, take-home calculations, leadership duties, and career pathways.

EL2 Base (Min)

$150,800

EL2 Base (Max)

$182,500

Est. Fortnightly Net

$4,597

On Midpoint

Employer Super

15.4%

Paid on top

Total Package (Mid)

$192,314

Introduction

The Executive Level 2 (EL2) classification is the pinnacle of the standard public service stream in the Australian Public Service (APS). Positioned immediately above Executive Level 1 (EL1) and serving as the primary pipeline to the Senior Executive Service (SES Band 1), EL2 officers represent the senior operational leadership of federal agencies. They are typically appointed as Directors, Section Heads, Branch Managers, or Senior Specialist Advisers.

Operating at this tier requires a shift from operational management to high-level strategic alignment and governance. EL2 officers carry legislative delegations, control substantial section budgets, and bear ultimate accountability for delivery. Because of their significant influence on policy execution and program delivery, the “APS EL2 salary” is a key reference for experienced leaders seeking to benchmark their compensation against private sector management equivalents.

EL2 Salary Range

Under current federal determinations, the base salary range for an EL2 officer spans from a minimum of $150,800 to a maximum of $182,500.

This base salary represents remuneration before statutory deductions (income tax and Medicare levy). It does not include the employer superannuation contribution, which is paid on top.

Remuneration Breakdown (Based on Midpoint of $166,650)

Annual Base Salary: $166,650
Employer Superannuation (15.4%): $25,664 per year (paid directly to your fund, not deducted from base)
Total Remuneration Package: $192,314
Estimated Net Take-Home (Annual): $119,514 (assuming resident tax rates, standard Medicare levy, and no HECS debt)
Fortnightly Take-Home: $4,597

* To estimate your personalized net salary including HECS debt or salary packaging, try the APS Salary Calculator.

Actual salary rates vary depending on the specific agency Enterprise Agreement (EA). Highly technical or commercial regulatory bodies (such as the ATO or the Department of Defence) negotiate independent structures, which leads to slight variations. Some specialized agencies offer higher pay points to attract and retain specialized executives, but the federal averages outlined here represent the typical compensation benchmark.

What Does an EL2 Do?

An EL2 officer operates with a high degree of autonomy, managing complex operations, advising senior leaders, and leading policy execution. Key leadership responsibilities include:

Leading Large Teams: Directing multidirectional sections or branches. This involves overseeing team managers (EL1) and administrative staff (APS 1 to APS 6), guiding workforce capabilities, and fostering professional performance culture.
Branch Management: Managing operational delivery across multiple subsections, ensuring project alignment with overall agency business plans.
Strategic Planning: Formulating long-term operational plans, developing strategic program goals, and overseeing major policy initiatives.
Policy Leadership: Steering complex policy research, synthesizing departmental data, and drafting ministerial briefings, Cabinet submissions, and parliamentary reports.
Organisational Governance: Participating in senior leadership committees, contributing to strategic planning, and enforcing compliance frameworks.
Executive Decision-Making: Wielding financial and administrative delegations, approving contracts, and committing agency resources.

EL2 Responsibilities

Beyond operational and team leadership, EL2 officers hold high-level accountability for managing risk and resources:

Managing Multiple Teams: Integrating output from distinct units, resolving operational bottlenecks, and steering project deliverables.
Budget Oversight: Allocating, tracking, and reporting on substantial operational and capital budgets, ensuring efficiency and transparency.
Workforce Planning: Conducting capability gap analyses, managing recruitment pipelines, and structuring team resources to meet strategic priorities.
Advising Deputy Secretaries and SES: Serving as a trusted adviser to SES Band 1, Band 2, and Deputy Secretaries on operational matters.
Delivering Major Programs: Leading high-risk, high-profile public service programs and national infrastructure initiatives.
Managing Organisational Risk: Implementing risk mitigation strategies, ensuring compliance with administrative law, and managing security.

Skills Required

To succeed as an EL2 Director, candidates must possess a blend of executive capabilities:

Executive Leadership: Ability to inspire, mentor, and guide diverse team sections through complex organizational change.
Strategic Thinking: Capability to align operational outputs with ministerial priorities and long-term public service goals.
Financial Management: Practical experience overseeing budgets, managing public funds, and conducting procurement processes.
Change Management: Skill in guiding staff through technological transitions, structural realignments, and policy shifts.
Governance: Deep understanding of public sector accountability frameworks, administrative law, and code of conduct standards.
Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build and maintain relationships with ministerial staff, private sector leaders, and community groups.
Negotiation: Strong verbal and written communication skills to influence policy discussions and resolve complex conflicts.

EL2 Salary Progression

Salary progression at the EL2 level is structured around structured advancement:

Advancement Within the Band:The EL2 salary band is divided into multiple pay points. Employees advance to the next step annually, subject to achieving a rating of “fully effective” or higher in performance reviews.
Enterprise Agreement Increases: Standard salary schedules are adjusted upward annually based on percentages negotiated in the agency Enterprise Agreement, helping base pay keep pace with inflation.
Performance Expectations: Progression is not automatic. It requires demonstrating capability matching the APSC guidelines for leadership, financial management, and delivery.
Pathway to SES Band 1: Reaching the ceiling of the EL2 band is often followed by preparing for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES), which requires applying for open SES Band 1 vacancies.

EL2 vs EL1

The table below highlights the key differences between the Executive Level 1 and Executive Level 2 classifications:

Feature	EL1 (Assistant Director)	EL2 (Director / Section Head)
Typical Salary Range	$120,750 – $143,200	$150,800 – $182,500
Team Size	Typically 3–8 staff members	Directs multiple teams (often 10–25+ total staff)
Strategic Responsibility	Manages section outputs under general direction	Sets strategic goals and operational priorities for the branch
Budget Responsibility	Monitors local travel and operational expenses	Oversees large program budgets, signing off on major expenses
Decision-Making	Independent work with escalation options	Holds key legislative and financial delegations

EL2 vs SES Band 1

While EL2 is a senior tier, transitioning into the SES represents a shift into the formal executive ranks:

Feature	EL2 (Director)	SES Band 1 (Branch Manager / Assistant Secretary)
Typical Salary Range	$150,800 – $182,500	$200,000 – $280,000
Leadership Scope	Manages a single section or specialist branch	Directs multiple sections, managing entire divisions
Strategic Influence	Executes policy decisions and program delivery	Influences national policy, shaping agency structures
Accountability	Accountable to Branch Manager (SES 1)	Accountable to Deputy Secretary or Secretary
Typical Role	Director of Policy, Senior Project Manager	Assistant Secretary, Regional Commissioner

Promotion to EL2

Securing a promotion to EL2 requires demonstrating senior executive capabilities:

Leadership Capability: Proving your ability to lead, mentor, and inspire managers, steering team outputs through operational challenges.
Executive Experience: Demonstrating experience managing budgets, navigating administrative law, and advising senior executives.
Merit-Based Recruitment: APS promotions are governed by strict merit selection principles. Candidates must complete a written application addressing selection criteria and perform strongly in panel interviews.
Capability Framework: Aligning your application with the APSC Integrated Leadership System (ILS) descriptors for Executive Level 2, showing strategic thinking, financial governance, and delivery focus.

Benefits

In addition to competitive base salaries, EL2 officers enjoy excellent public sector benefits:

Superannuation: A generous 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid in addition to your base salary.
Flexible Work: Access to flexible working arrangements, including hybrid office-home models, subject to operational requirements.
Executive Development: Opportunity to participate in APSC leadership development programs, coaching, and strategic governance courses.
Leave Entitlements: 20 days of annual leave, generous personal leave, and long service leave after 10 years of service.
Professional Memberships: Reimbursed professional membership fees if directly relevant to your specialist role.

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Page Last Updated: 1 July 2026