Is the APS 5 salary a minimum wage set by the Fair Work Ombudsman?

No. The APS 5 classification is part of the Australian Public Service's classification system, not a minimum wage under the Fair Work Act. Pay rates are set by each agency's enterprise agreement, which must meet minimum thresholds from the APS Bargaining Statement. The national minimum wage ($26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026) applies to award-free and agreement-free employees, but APS employees are covered by enterprise agreements that pay significantly more.

What is the median APS 5 salary and how does it compare to the national minimum?

According to the Australian Public Service Commission's remuneration data at 31 December 2025, the median APS 5 base salary was $92,324 per year. This is about $44.94 per hour for a 38-hour week, compared to the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. The median is a survey average, not a legal minimum; actual pay varies by agency.

Does the APS 5 salary include superannuation?

No, the salary figures are base pay before super. The median employer superannuation contribution for APS employees is 15.4% of base salary, well above the 12% Superannuation Guarantee. For example, on the threshold minimum of $88,834, the employer super contribution is about $13,680 per year on top of salary.

APS 5 Salary 2026: How the Public Service Classification Compares to the National Minimum Wage

The APS 5 classification has a minimum salary threshold of $88,834 from March 2026, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.

What is the APS 5 salary and how does it relate to minimum wage laws?

The term "aps5 salary" refers to the pay rate for the APS Level 5 classification in the Australian Public Service. It is not a minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission or the Fair Work Ombudsman. Instead, it is a negotiated salary under enterprise agreements between APS agencies and their employees. However, because many workers and job seekers compare public service salaries to the national minimum wage, this guide explains how the APS 5 pay floor stacks up.

Legal minimum vs. enterprise agreement rates

Australia has a national minimum wage, which from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for adult employees not covered by an award or agreement. This is the absolute legal floor. Most employees, including those in the APS, are covered by either a modern award or an enterprise agreement, which can set higher rates.

For APS 5, the legal minimum is not the national minimum wage but the thresholds set by the APS Bargaining Statement of Common Conditions. From 12 March 2026, every APS agency must pay APS 5 employees at least $88,834 per year at the bottom of the salary range, and the range must reach at least $96,829 at the top. These are minimums under the enterprise agreement framework, not the Fair Work Act.

How the APS 5 salary compares to the national minimum wage

Converting the APS 5 threshold minimum of $88,834 to an hourly rate (based on a 38-hour ordinary week) gives about $44.94 per hour. That is well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Even the lowest actual APS 5 salaries (5th percentile at $86,034) are far above the national minimum.

The median APS 5 base salary, reported by the Australian Public Service Commission at 31 December 2025, was $92,324 per year. This is a survey average, not a legal requirement. Actual pay depends on the agency's enterprise agreement: for example, the Australian Taxation Office pays APS 5 from $93,676 to $99,307, while Services Australia pays from $88,834 to $96,829.

Superannuation is on top

When discussing the APS 5 salary, remember that employer superannuation contributions are paid on top of the base salary. The median APS employer contribution is 15.4% of base salary, compared to the 12% Superannuation Guarantee that applies to most private-sector employees. On the threshold minimum of $88,834, that adds about $13,680 per year in super.

What this means for you

If you are an APS employee or considering an APS 5 role, your pay will be set by your agency's enterprise agreement, not the national minimum wage. The rates shown here are for full-time employees; part-time and casual employees receive pro-rata pay plus any applicable loadings.

For workers not covered by an award or agreement, the national minimum wage applies. But for APS 5, the enterprise agreement rates are the relevant minimum. Always check your specific enterprise agreement for exact figures.

For more information on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also browse Rate tables for other classifications.

Key takeaway

The APS 5 salary is a negotiated classification rate, not a statutory minimum wage. It is significantly higher than the national minimum wage, reflecting the skilled nature of the work and the enterprise bargaining framework. Superannuation of 15.4% is an additional employer cost.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.