SES Band 1 Salary
The complete guide to the Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 1 pay scale, base salary ranges, take-home calculations, leadership duties, and career pathways.
SES Band 1 Base (Min)
$200,000
SES Band 1 Base (Max)
$280,000
Est. Fortnightly Net
$6,164
On Midpoint
Employer Super
15.4%
Paid on top
Total Package (Mid)
$276,960
Introduction
The Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 1 classification represents the entry point to the formal executive ranks of the Australian Public Service (APS). Positioned immediately above the standard administrative and professional tiers (including Executive Level 2) and below the SES Band 2 (First Assistant Secretary) classification, SES Band 1 officers operate as the primary strategic leaders of federal agencies. They are typically appointed as Assistant Secretaries, Branch Managers, or Regional Commissioners.
Transitioning to this executive tier involves moving beyond operational management to strategic governance and ministerial representation. SES Band 1 officers hold ultimate responsibility for division delivery, policy advice, and financial management under statutory frameworks. Because of their significant influence on federal policy execution and national program delivery, the “SES Band 1 salary” is a key reference for experienced leaders seeking to benchmark their compensation against private sector executive equivalents.
SES Band 1 Salary Range
Under current federal determinations, the base salary range for an SES Band 1 executive spans from a minimum of $200,000 to a maximum of $280,000.
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 $240,000)
- Annual Base Salary: $240,000
- Employer Superannuation (15.4%): $36,960 per year (paid directly to your fund, not deducted from base)
- Total Remuneration Package: $276,960
- Estimated Net Take-Home (Annual): $160,268 (assuming resident tax rates, standard Medicare levy, and no HECS debt)
- Fortnightly Take-Home: $6,164
* 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 and individual determinations. While administrative staff are covered by standard Enterprise Agreements, SES remuneration is typically set through individual determinations made by the Secretary under section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999. Some specialized or technical agencies offer higher pay points to attract and retain specialized executives, but the federal averages outlined here represent the typical compensation benchmark.
What Does a SES Band 1 Officer Do?
An SES Band 1 executive operates with a high degree of autonomy, leading divisions, advising senior leaders, and directing strategic policy. Key leadership responsibilities include:
- Leading Divisions: Directing multidisciplinary divisions or branches. This involves overseeing team managers (EL2) and administrative staff, guiding workforce capabilities, and fostering professional performance culture.
- Developing Strategic Policy: Formulating long-term operational plans, developing strategic program goals, and overseeing major policy initiatives.
- Advising Secretaries and Ministers: Serving as a trusted adviser to the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and Ministers on operational and policy matters.
- Managing Organisational Performance: Participating in senior leadership committees, contributing to strategic planning, and enforcing compliance frameworks.
- Leading Large Teams: Inspiring, mentoring, and guiding diverse team sections through complex organizational change.
- Delivering Government Priorities: Leading high-risk, high-profile public service programs and national infrastructure initiatives.
SES Band 1 Responsibilities
Beyond operational and team leadership, SES Band 1 executives hold high-level accountability for managing risk and resources:
- Executive Leadership: Directing division delivery across multiple sections, ensuring project alignment with overall agency business plans.
- Budget Accountability: Allocating, tracking, and reporting on substantial operational and capital budgets, ensuring efficiency and transparency.
- Workforce Management: Conducting capability gap analyses, managing recruitment pipelines, and structuring team resources to meet strategic priorities.
- Governance and Compliance: Wielding financial and administrative delegations, approving contracts, and committing agency resources.
- Risk Management: Implementing risk mitigation strategies, ensuring compliance with administrative law, and managing security.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Building and maintaining relationships with ministerial staff, private sector leaders, and community groups.
- Strategic Planning: Contributing to overall agency strategic direction, aligning branch operations with ministerial priorities.
Skills Required
To succeed as an SES Band 1 executive, candidates must possess a blend of executive capabilities:
- Executive Leadership: Ability to inspire, mentor, and guide diverse team sections through complex organizational change.
- Public Sector Governance: Deep understanding of public sector accountability frameworks, administrative law, and code of conduct standards.
- 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.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to influence policy discussions and resolve complex conflicts.
- Negotiation: Ability to build and maintain relationships with ministerial staff, private sector leaders, and community groups.
- Change Management: Skill in guiding staff through technological transitions, structural realignments, and policy shifts.
SES Band 1 Salary Progression
Salary progression at the SES Band 1 level is structured around structured advancement:
- Salary Determination: SES remuneration is typically set through individual determinations made by the Secretary under section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999.
- Individual Remuneration Arrangements: Base salaries are reviewed annually based on performance and market comparisons, with salary increases negotiated individually.
- Annual Reviews:Advancing within the SES band requires achieving a rating of “fully effective” or higher in annual performance reviews.
- Performance Expectations: Progression is not automatic. It requires demonstrating capability matching the APSC guidelines for leadership, financial management, and delivery.
- Progression to SES Band 2: Reaching the ceiling of the SES Band 1 level is often followed by preparing for entry into the SES Band 2 (First Assistant Secretary) rank, which requires applying for open vacancies.
SES Band 1 vs EL2
The table below highlights the key differences between the Executive Level 2 and SES Band 1 classifications:
| Feature | EL2 (Director) | SES Band 1 (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 Responsibility | Executes policy decisions and program delivery | Influences national policy, shaping agency structures |
| Budget Accountability | Oversees local section budgets | Accountable for substantial branch or program budgets |
| Decision-Making | Holds key operational and local delegations | Holds substantial financial and policy delegations |
SES Band 1 vs SES Band 2
The table below compares the SES Band 1 and SES Band 2 classifications:
| Feature | SES Band 1 (Assistant Secretary) | SES Band 2 (First Assistant Secretary) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Salary Range | $200,000 – $280,000 | $280,000 – $370,000 |
| Organisation Size | Manages a single division or branch | Manages multiple divisions or entire regional groups |
| Strategic Influence | Influences national policy, shaping agency structures | Directs national policy, advising Secretaries directly |
| Executive Responsibility | Accountable to Deputy Secretary or Secretary | Accountable to Secretary, directly advising Ministers |
How to Become a SES Band 1 Officer
Securing a promotion to SES Band 1 requires demonstrating senior executive capabilities:
- Executive Leadership Experience: Proving your ability to lead, mentor, and inspire managers, steering team outputs through operational challenges.
- 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.
- SES Capability Framework: Aligning your application with the APSC SES capability framework, showing strategic thinking, financial governance, and delivery focus.
- Selection Process: Recruitment processes are competitive, involving written applications, executive interviews, and reference checks.
- Typical Career Pathway: Progression typically follows the path from APS 6 to EL1, then EL2, and finally to SES Band 1.
Benefits
In addition to competitive base salaries, SES Band 1 executives enjoy excellent public sector benefits:
- Superannuation: A generous 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid in addition to your base salary.
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Access to flexible working arrangements, including hybrid office-home models, subject to operational requirements.
- Executive Leave: Access to generous annual leave, personal leave, and executive development opportunities.
- Leadership Development: Opportunity to participate in APSC leadership development programs, coaching, and strategic governance courses.
- Professional Development: Reimbursed professional membership fees if directly relevant to your specialist role.
- Mobility Across APS Agencies: Ability to transfer between agencies to expand career opportunities and leadership experience.
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Page Last Updated: 1 July 2026