SES Band 2 Salary Guide: First Assistant Secretary & Division Head Pay
An in-depth analysis of Senior Executive Service Band 2 remuneration across Australian Government portfolios. Covers indicative base salary bands ($280,000 – $370,000), 15.4% superannuation, Total Remuneration Packages (TRP), Section 24(1) Determinations, executive leadership scope, and promotion criteria.
1. Role Scope and Leadership Responsibilities of an SES Band 2
The Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 2 classification represents the senior operational leadership core of the Australian Commonwealth government. Operating directly beneath Departmental Secretaries (and Associate/Deputy Secretaries), an SES Band 2 executive is standardly titled First Assistant Secretary (FAS) or Division Head. In smaller portfolio agencies, commissions, or statutory authorities, a Band 2 officer frequently fulfills the role of Deputy Chief Executive or Chief Operating Officer (COO).
An SES Band 2 officer bears direct responsibility for an entire operational division comprising multiple branches. Each subsidiary branch is headed by an SES Band 1 Assistant Secretary, who in turn oversees dozens of Executive Level directors (EL 2 and EL 1) and operational APS personnel. Across major federal departments like Defence, Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and Home Affairs, a single Division Head may lead between 200 and 2,000 full-time public servants and administer departmental capital and administered program budgets exceeding several hundred million dollars.
Key Strategic Dimensions of the Division Head Role
- Direct Policy and Program Accountability: Formulating high-stakes national public policy, overseeing multi-year program implementation, and leading regulatory enforcement regimes that impact entire economic sectors.
- Ministerial and Parliamentary Representation: Preparing Cabinet submissions, advising portfolio Ministers directly in bilateral briefings, and serving as the primary departmental witness during intense Senate Estimates committee hearings.
- Resource and Solvency Stewardship: Exercising high-tier financial delegations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), authorising major procurement contracts, and ensuring compliance with whole-of-government budget caps.
- Cross-Agency and Inter-Governmental Collaboration: Negotiating National Partnership Agreements with Australian state and territory governments, liaising with international diplomatic and security partners, and directing whole-of-government taskforces.
Workforce Composition in the Commonwealth
According to statistical data published by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), the SES Band 2 cadre is highly exclusive. Out of approximately 175,000 public servants in the APS, there are typically only 550 to 650 substantive SES Band 2 officers serving nationwide, reflecting a rigorous pyramid of executive leadership.
2. How SES Band 2 Remuneration Is Established
Unlike non-SES public servants (APS 1 through to EL 2), whose pay scales, annual increments, and overtime conditions are governed by union-negotiated, collective agency Enterprise Agreements, Senior Executive Service remuneration is established through individual executive determinations.
Under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999, the Departmental Secretary or Agency Head possesses the statutory power to determine the terms and conditions of employment, including remuneration, for SES officers within their portfolio. While this allows agency heads to offer competitive packages to attract senior talent from state jurisdictions and the private corporate sector, decisions are strictly guided by the APSC SES Remuneration Framework.
The APSC Remuneration Policy Framework
The Australian Public Service Commission publishes overarching guidance outlining executive pay governance. Key elements include:
- Annual APSC Remuneration Survey: Every agency reports the exact compensation of all executive officers. The APSC aggregates and publishes this data annually, documenting the 5th, 25th, median (50th), 75th, and 95th percentiles of base salary and Total Remuneration Packages across every level.
- Absence of Automatic Increments: SES officers do not receive automatic annual salary step movements. Instead, annual pay adjustments reflect rigorous executive performance evaluations against individual performance agreements, as well as service-wide wage policy determinations issued by the APS Commissioner.
- Phasing Out of Performance Bonuses: Under current Commonwealth executive remuneration guidelines, at-risk cash performance bonuses have been almost entirely eliminated across standard APS agencies, shifting total compensation into fixed, predictable base salary and guaranteed superannuation.
Official Data Transparency
The definitive source of truth for federal executive pay is the annual APSC Remuneration Report, published annually under the authority of the Public Service Commissioner. All figures cited on AussieSalary are verified directly against this official dataset.
3. Total Remuneration Package (TRP) Components
When evaluating SES compensation, the Commonwealth measures compensation using Base Salary and Total Remuneration Package (TRP). For an SES Band 2 First Assistant Secretary, TRP regularly exceeds nominal base pay by $60,000 to $90,000+ per year.
| Remuneration Element | Standard Commonwealth Provision | Approximate Annual Value |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary (P50–P75) | Taxable salary paid fortnightly via PAYG payroll. Standard range set by individual Section 24(1) Determination. | $280,000 – $370,000 |
| 15.4% Employer Superannuation | Guaranteed Commonwealth employer super contribution (PSSap, CSS legacy, or compliant choice fund), calculated on the ordinary times earnings base. | $43,120 – $56,980 |
| Executive Motor Vehicle Allowance | Provision of an executive Private Plated Vehicle (PPV) including fuel and servicing, or cash-in-lieu executive vehicle allowance. | $22,000 – $28,500 |
| Parking & Facility Access | Guaranteed dedicated executive parking space at departmental national headquarters (Canberra or capital city CBD). | $4,000 – $7,500 |
| Executive Health & Well-being | Annual comprehensive executive medical assessment, ergonomic health checks, and professional wellness allowances. | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Travel & Representation Facilities | Airline club memberships (Qantas Club / Virgin The Club), comprehensive domestic business-class entitlements, and official representation reimbursement. | Included in duty package |
On a typical median base salary of $325,000, an SES Band 2 executive generates an estimated fortnightly gross payment of approximately $12,500. After deducting PAYG personal income tax, the Medicare levy (and division 293 tax on high-income super contributions), net take-home pay is approximately $7,897 per fortnight, accompanied by an employer super deposit of over $1,920 every fortnight.
4. Executive Hierarchy: Comparing SES Band 1, Band 2, and Band 3
Understanding the progression across executive tiers requires examining scope, decision-making autonomy, and direct accountability to Parliament. The table below places SES Band 2 within the broader Senior Executive Service framework:
| SES Tier | Typical Role Titles | Base Salary Range | Typical Total Remuneration | Reporting Line & Leadership Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SES Band 1 | Assistant Secretary, Branch Manager, General Manager | $200,000 – $280,000 | $250,000 – $340,000 | Leads a branch (30–120 staff). Reports to an SES Band 2 First Assistant Secretary. |
| SES Band 2 (Current) | First Assistant Secretary (FAS), Division Head, Deputy Secretary (mid-agency) | $280,000 – $370,000 | $340,000 – $440,000+ | Leads an entire division (200–2,000 staff, multiple branches). Reports to Deputy Secretary or Secretary. |
| SES Band 3 | Deputy Secretary, Associate Secretary, Agency Head / CEO | $370,000 – $620,000 | $440,000 – $650,000+ | Direct executive oversight of multiple divisions. Reports directly to Departmental Secretary or Minister. |
5. Career Progression and Appointment to SES Band 2
Promotion to SES Band 2 is strictly competitive and merit-based, governed by the Public Service Act 1999 and the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions. Unlike lower APS grades where promotions may occur internally through departmental advertising, SES Band 2 vacancies are mandatory nationwide public advertisements on the APSjobs portal and national executive recruitment channels.
The Selection Panel and Capability Framework
Applicants must demonstrate advanced executive competence against the APSC Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework:
- Shapes Strategic Thinking: Inspiring a shared purpose, championing government policy priorities, and navigating complex political, technological, and economic ambiguity.
- Achieves Results: Marshaling large organizational resources, driving organizational reform, managing significant fiscal and legal risk, and sustaining program delivery under parliamentary scrutiny.
- Cultivates Productive Working Relationships: Forging coalitions across government departments, industry bodies, state agencies, and community stakeholders.
- Exemplifies Personal Drive and Integrity: Demonstrating total adherence to the APS Values and Code of Conduct, resilience under crisis conditions, and transparent governance.
- Communicates with Influence: Direct, persuasive communication with Ministers, parliamentary committees, media outlets, and public inquiries.
The selection advisory committee is typically chaired by the Departmental Secretary or an Associate Secretary and must include an independent APSC Commissioner Representative to certify that the process adheres strictly to merit and fairness.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the salary range for an SES Band 2 in the Australian Public Service?
Base salaries for Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 2 officers typically range between $280,000 and $370,000 per annum, with median Total Remuneration Packages (including 15.4% superannuation and executive motor vehicle allowances) reaching $340,000 to $440,000+. Remuneration is established via individual Section 24(1) Determinations rather than standard enterprise agreements.
2. What job titles correspond to the SES Band 2 classification?
The standard title across Australian Government departments is First Assistant Secretary (FAS) or Division Head. In smaller commissions and executive agencies, an SES Band 2 officer may hold the title of Deputy Secretary, Chief Operating Officer (COO), or Deputy Chief Executive.
3. How is SES Band 2 remuneration determined in the Commonwealth?
SES remuneration is set under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 by the Departmental Secretary or Agency Head. Decisions are guided by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) Performance, Remuneration and Non-SES Performance Framework and published statistical benchmarks in the annual APSC Remuneration Report.
4. How many SES Band 2 officers are employed across the APS?
There are approximately 550 to 650 substantive SES Band 2 executives across the entire Australian Public Service, representing roughly 20% of the total Senior Executive Service workforce.
5. What components make up the Total Remuneration Package (TRP) for SES Band 2?
Total Remuneration Package comprises base salary, the mandatory 15.4% Commonwealth employer superannuation contribution, a motor vehicle allowance or private plated vehicle benefit, official business travel allowances, airline lounge memberships, and executive health screening reimbursements. Discretionary performance bonuses have been largely phased out under the APSC executive remuneration guidance.
6. How does an officer move from SES Band 1 to SES Band 2?
Advancement to SES Band 2 requires winning a competitively advertised merit vacancy. Candidates are assessed against the APSC Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework by a selection committee that includes an independent APSC Commissioner representative.
7. Official References and Related Guides
Remuneration frameworks and executive reporting for Senior Executive Service roles in Australia are governed by statutory guidelines. Consult official Commonwealth resources below:
- APSC Remuneration Reports (Official Annual Statistical Releases) ↗
- Australian Public Service Commission: Senior Executive Service (SES) Overview ↗
- Remuneration Tribunal: Departmental Secretaries & Principal Executive Offices ↗
Last verified against official APSC data: 1 July 2026. All figures exclude private personal packaging deductions.