Federal Executive Salary Guide

For the 2025–26 financial year, the average base salary range for an EL1 officer is $120,750 to $143,200. This is exclusive of the 15.4% employer super contribution.

An EL2 section head earns a base salary between $150,800 and $182,500, depending on the agency, role complexity, and length of service.

The base salary range for an SES Band 1 officer typically starts at $200,000 and extends to $280,000. Total packages can exceed $320,000 when superannuation and motor vehicle allowances are included.

Generally no. EL 1, EL 2, and SES employees are considered salaried professionals. They are expected to work reasonable additional hours to fulfill their leadership mandates. Instead of overtime pay, EL staff receive TOIL, while SES officers receive negotiated executive package benefits.

TOIL allows EL managers to take paid time off to offset significant additional hours worked (such as during federal budget cycles or policy releases), subject to prior approval from their branch head.

An IFA is a written agreement between an employee and their agency manager that modifies standard Enterprise Agreement clauses. In the executive ranks, IFAs are commonly used to pay salary loadings to attract specialized technical or legal experts.

All APS executive employees receive a 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid into their fund, paid on top of their base salary.

Division 293 tax applies to individuals whose combined taxable income and concessional super contributions exceed $250,000. SES officers earning in these brackets face an additional 15% tax on their super contributions, bringing the total contributions tax rate to 30%.

In line with public sector reform and the APSC executive remuneration policy, performance-based cash bonuses have been phased out across almost all federal departments in favor of structured base salary reviews.

Unlike EL staff who are covered by agency-wide Enterprise Agreements, SES remuneration is set through individual determinations made by the agency Secretary under Section 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999.

Typical titles for EL1 officers include Assistant Director, Section Manager, Principal Policy Adviser, and Senior Specialist Lead.

EL2 positions typically represent Directors, Section Heads, Regional Managers, and Senior Corporate Specialists.

SES Band 1 officers typically serve as Assistant Secretaries or Branch Managers, leading an entire branch consisting of multiple sections managed by EL2 Directors.

An SES Band 2 officer serves as a Division Head or First Assistant Secretary, overseeing several branches and reporting directly to a Deputy Secretary.

SES Band 3 officers serve as Deputy Secretaries, directing whole groups of divisions, advising Cabinet ministers, and coordinating massive national strategies.

SES recruitment panels are monitored and validated by the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC). Every panel must include an independent APSC commissioner representative.

Yes, lateral hiring from the private sector is common for SES roles requiring specialized technical, financial, or project management capabilities.

No. While they fall within similar bands, each agency negotiates its own Enterprise Agreement. High-complexity departments like PM&C or Treasury typically have slightly higher pay points than smaller agencies.

EL salary bands contain 3 to 5 increment steps. Advancing to the next step occurs annually after a satisfactory performance evaluation.

Yes, executives can choose to salary sacrifice. However, with the 15.4% employer super contribution, they must monitor their annual concessional contributions cap ($30,000) to avoid excess taxes.

MVA cash-out allows SES officers to receive a cash equivalent (typically $15,000 to $25,000 annually) in lieu of a fully maintained government vehicle, added directly to their gross salary.

While standard annual leave is 20 days, many agencies grant EL and SES officers additional Executive Release leave (often 3–5 days) in recognition of reasonable additional hours worked.

Yes, most agency EAs allow executives to purchase up to 4 additional weeks of leave per year through fortnightly salary deductions.

Yes, executives traveling for official duties receive standard travel and accommodation allowances set by the ATO and relevant agency policy.

SES officers are generally entitled to business class travel for official domestic flights exceeding a specified duration (typically 2 to 3 hours) and for all international travel.

Many agencies provide financial support or study leave for approved university courses that align with the executive’s capabilities and the agency’s objectives.

An annual publication by the APSC that provides a comprehensive breakdown of salaries, allowances, and benefits paid to all APS employees.

Enterprise Agreements typically cover a 3-year term, after which a new bargaining process is initiated between the agency management, staff, and representatives.

Yes, EL managers hold delegated financial authority under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (PGPA) Act, enabling them to approve contracts and procurements up to specified thresholds.

Yes, the Public Service Act outlines structured performance management frameworks. If an executive consistently fails to meet performance expectations, the Secretary can demote or terminate their ongoing employment.