What is the Australian Border Force salary for recruits?

According to the Australian Border Force website, the Border Force Officer Recruit Training Program pays recruits $66,839.00 per year plus 15.4% superannuation during the initial 12-month training course. This is an APS3 Border Force Officer recruit salary, accurate as at 5 May 2025. Shift penalties apply if shift work is performed.

How does the Border Force salary 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 for a full-time adult employee not covered by an award or agreement. The Border Force recruit salary equates to roughly $33.83 per hour (based on a 38-hour week) or $1,285 per week, which is significantly above the national minimum. However, Border Force officers are covered by an enterprise agreement, so their legal minimum is the agreement rate, not the national minimum.

Are Border Force officers covered by an award or enterprise agreement?

Yes. Australian Border Force officers are employed under the Australian Public Service enterprise agreement, not a modern award. The APS3 recruit salary is set by that agreement. Enterprise agreements can set higher pay and conditions than the national minimum wage. If you are covered by an agreement, you must check that document for your minimum pay rates.

Australian Border Force Salary: Which Pay Floor Applies?

The Australian Border Force recruit salary is $66,839 per year plus 15.4% super, well above the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.

Australian Border Force salary and the national minimum wage

When searching for an australian border force salary, you will likely find the recruit training salary published by the Australian Border Force itself. That figure is $66,839 per year plus 15.4% superannuation for a Border Force Officer recruit during the 12-month training program . This is a specific negotiated salary under the Australian Public Service enterprise agreement, not the legal minimum wage.

The recruit salary from the ABF

The Australian Border Force website states that during the initial training course, recruits are paid $66,839.00 (plus 15.4% super). This is an APS3 classification rate. If shift work is performed, additional penalty rates apply: 15% for hours between 18:00 and 06:30, 50% on Saturday, 100% on Sunday, and 150% on public holidays. This salary is well above the national minimum wage.

The national minimum wage floor

The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that the national minimum wage applies to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement . From 1 July 2026, the adult national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time employee working 38 ordinary hours. Casual employees receive a 25% loading, making the casual minimum $33.05 per hour. However, juniors, apprentices, trainees, and employees on introductory award rates may be paid less.

How they compare

The Border Force recruit salary of $66,839 per year equates to roughly $1,285 per week or $33.83 per hour (based on 38 hours per week, 52 weeks per year). This is about 28% above the national minimum weekly wage of $1,004.90. The recruit salary also exceeds the casual national minimum hourly rate of $33.05. Keep in mind that the national minimum is a floor; many awards and agreements require higher pay.

Which pay floor applies to Border Force officers

Border Force officers are not award-free. They are employed under the Australian Public Service enterprise agreement, which sets minimum pay rates for each classification level. The legal minimum for a Border Force officer is therefore the rate in that enterprise agreement, not the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, but the Fair Work Ombudsman enforces it. If an enterprise agreement covers you, you must be paid at least the agreement rate. The agreement may also include allowances, penalty rates, and superannuation above the statutory minimum.

Superannuation is additional

When discussing any Australian salary, remember that superannuation is paid on top of the base salary. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2026. The Border Force recruit salary includes 15.4% super, which is above the statutory minimum. The national minimum wage figures quoted do not include super; it is an employer contribution on top.

What about other Border Force roles?

The recruit salary is an entry-level APS3 rate. More senior or specialist Border Force roles will have higher salaries under the same enterprise agreement or a different classification. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database does not cover Australian Public Service employees because they are not under a modern award. For the most accurate information on any Australian Border Force salary, refer to the enterprise agreement or the ABF careers page.

For more on which minimum wage applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also explore Rate tables for award and national minimum rates. Remember, this site provides general information only and is not a pay determination or legal advice.

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