What is the minimum wage for police officers?

Police officers are not covered by the national minimum wage or a modern award. Instead, their pay is set by enterprise agreements (e.g., the AFP Enterprise Agreement) or state police awards. These agreements typically set minimum rates well above the national minimum of $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. For example, the AFP pays new recruits a base salary of $69,698 per year (about $1,340 per week) plus 15.4% superannuation.

Do police officers get casual loading?

Police officers are almost always employed on a permanent full-time or part-time basis, not as casuals. Therefore, casual loading (typically 25% on top of the base rate) does not apply. However, police may receive penalty rates, shift allowances, and composite allowances for working weekends, nights, or public holidays. These are set out in the relevant enterprise agreement or award.

How does the police officer salary compare to the national minimum?

The median full-time weekly earnings for police officers are $2,560, according to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025). That is more than double the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week. Even the lowest AFP base salary for a protective service officer recruit ($64,754 per year, or about $1,245 per week) is well above the national minimum. Police salaries also include employer superannuation contributions of at least 12% (often 15.4% in federal agencies), which is paid on top of the base salary.

Police Officer Salary: How It Compares to the National Minimum Wage

Police officer salaries are set by enterprise agreements or state awards, not the national minimum wage; the median full-time weekly earnings for police are $2,560, well above the national minimum of $1,004.90.

Police Officer Salary: What You Need to Know

When searching for a "police officer salary" in Australia, it is important to understand that police pay is not set by the national minimum wage or a modern award. Instead, police officers are covered by enterprise agreements (for federal agencies like the Australian Federal Police) or state police awards (for state police forces). These instruments set minimum rates that are significantly higher than the national minimum, and they also include allowances, penalties, and superannuation contributions.

The Legal Minimum vs. Actual Pay

The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee. However, this is a backstop for award-free and agreement-free employees. Police officers are almost never in that category. Their pay is governed by enterprise agreements or state awards that require higher rates. For example, the AFP Enterprise Agreement provides a base salary range of $64,754 to $111,861 per year for police officers and protective service officers, depending on rank and experience. That equates to roughly $1,245 to $2,151 per week, before allowances and super.

Survey Averages: The ABS Median

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes median earnings data for occupations. For police officers (ANZSCO 4413), the median full-time weekly earnings before tax are $2,560, based on the May 2025 Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours. This figure includes base salary plus typical allowances (such as composite allowances and use-of-force allowances) but excludes overtime. It is a useful benchmark for understanding what most police officers earn, but it is not a legal minimum. Individual salaries can be higher or lower depending on location, years of service, and specific duties.

How Superannuation Fits In

Employer superannuation contributions are paid on top of the base salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. Many police employers, such as the AFP, contribute 15.4%. This means that a police officer earning a base salary of $80,000 per year would receive an additional $9,600 to $12,320 in super, making total remuneration significantly higher than the base figure.

Allowances and Penalties

Police officers often receive additional payments for shift work, weekend work, public holidays, and specialised duties (e.g., use-of-force allowance). These are set out in the relevant enterprise agreement or award. For example, the AFP pays a composite allowance of 22% of base salary for operational officers, plus a $3,500 per year use-of-force allowance. These extras can boost annual earnings by $20,000 or more, depending on the role and location.

Comparing to the National Minimum

Even the lowest police salary (e.g., a recruit at the AFP college earning $69,698 per year) is well above the national minimum wage of $1,004.90 per week. The median police salary of $2,560 per week is more than double the national minimum. This reflects the specialised nature of police work, the requirement for ongoing training, and the need to attract and retain skilled officers.

Which Pay Floor Applies?

If you are a police officer or considering a career in policing, the pay floor that applies to you is the minimum rate in your enterprise agreement or state award, not the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Ombudsman can provide general guidance on workplace rights, but for specific pay rates you should refer to your employer's enterprise agreement or contact your state police association. For more on how minimum wages work in different sectors, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also explore Rate tables for award and agreement rates in other industries.

Key Takeaways

Police officer salaries are set by enterprise agreements or state awards, not the national minimum.
The median full-time weekly earnings for police are $2,560 (ABS, May 2025).
Superannuation (12% to 15.4%) is paid on top of the base salary.
Allowances and penalties can significantly increase total earnings.
The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is a backstop that police salaries far exceed.

For a deeper look at how the figures are calculated, see our How the figures work page.