APS 5 Salary: How It Compares to the National Minimum Wage
The APS 5 salary is set by enterprise agreements, with a minimum range of $88,834 to $96,829 from March 2026, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.
Understanding the APS 5 Salary
The term "aps 5 salary" refers to the pay for an APS Level 5 employee in the Australian Public Service. Unlike a single award rate, the APS 5 salary is determined by each agency's enterprise agreement. From 12 March 2026, every APS agency must pay at least $88,834 at the bottom of its APS 5 range and the range must reach at least $96,829. The Australian Public Service Commission reported a median base salary of $92,324 at 31 December 2025, with 90% of APS 5 employees earning between $86,034 and $96,239.
How the Legal Minimum Applies
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. However, this is a backstop for employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. APS employees are covered by enterprise agreements, so their minimum pay is the rate in that agreement — not the national minimum. The APS 5 salary under any agreement is far above the national minimum, often double or more. For example, the median APS 5 hourly rate is about $46.72, compared to $26.44.
Separating the Pay Floor from Averages
It is important to distinguish the legal minimum from survey averages. The national minimum wage is a floor set by the Fair Work Commission. The APS 5 salary is a negotiated rate under an enterprise agreement, which can be higher. The median figure from the APSC is a statistical average, not a minimum. Your actual APS 5 salary depends on your agency's agreement and your pay point within that range. For instance, the Australian Taxation Office pays APS 5 from $93,676 to $99,307, while Services Australia pays from $88,834 to $96,829.
Superannuation on Top
When discussing the APS 5 salary, remember that employer superannuation is paid on top. The median APS employer contribution is 15.4% of base salary, well above the 12% Superannuation Guarantee. On the threshold minimum of $88,834, that adds $13,680 per year into your super account. Super is not part of take-home pay but is a significant extra benefit.
Practical Check: Your Hourly Rate
If you are an APS 5 employee or considering a role, you can compare your hourly rate to the national minimum. Divide your annual base salary by 52 weeks and then by 38 ordinary hours. For the median APS 5 salary of $92,324, that works out to $46.72 per hour. Even the lowest APS 5 rate of $88,834 gives $44.96 per hour. Both are well above the national minimum of $26.44. Use our Which minimum wage applies guide to see if a different floor might apply in your situation, or check Rate tables for award and agreement rates.
What If You Are Not Covered by an Agreement?
Most APS employees are covered by an enterprise agreement. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage applies, but junior, apprentice, and supported wage rates may be lower. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides tools to check your correct minimum. For APS 5, the enterprise agreement is your binding document.
Summary
The APS 5 salary is a well-paid classification that far exceeds the national minimum wage. Your exact rate depends on your agency and pay point. Always refer to your enterprise agreement for the precise minimum. Superannuation of 15.4% is an additional employer contribution. For more detail on how pay floors work, see our Guides and How the figures work pages.
Questions people ask next
What is the minimum APS 5 salary?
From 12 March 2026, every APS agency must pay at least $88,834 at the bottom of its range and the range must reach at least $96,829. The median APS 5 base salary at 31 December 2025 was $92,324, according to the Australian Public Service Commission.
How does APS 5 pay compare to the national minimum wage?
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week. An APS 5 at the median annual salary of $92,324 earns about $46.72 per hour, nearly double the national minimum. APS 5 employees are covered by enterprise agreements that set higher minimums.
Do APS 5 employees get superannuation on top?
Yes. The median employer super contribution for APS classifications is 15.4% of base salary, well above the 12% Superannuation Guarantee. For an APS 5 on $88,834, that's an extra $13,680 per year paid into super.
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