Police salary: award coverage vs award-free rates in Australia

Police salary: award coverage vs award-free rates

When you search for "police salary" in Australia, the figures you find often come from surveys or advertised positions. But the legal pay floor for police officers is not the national minimum wage. Police are almost always covered by state or territory police awards or enterprise agreements, which set their own minimum rates. This guide explains the difference between the legal minimum, survey averages, and negotiated salaries for police.

The legal minimum for police

Police officers in Australia are employed under state industrial relations systems, not the federal Fair Work system. This means the Fair Work Commission's modern awards do not cover police. The Fair Work Ombudsman's minimum wages page explains that employees covered by an award or registered agreement are entitled to the pay rates in that document, which may be higher than the national minimum. For police, the relevant award or agreement is set by a state industrial tribunal (for example, the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales or the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission). The exact minimum rates vary by state, rank, and years of service. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database, which contains calculated minimum rates for federal awards, does not include police awards. Therefore, we cannot provide a single legal minimum police salary from the sources we searched.

Survey average: median police earnings

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), through the Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), reports that the median full-time weekly earnings for police (excluding managers and part-time workers) is $2,560. That equates to about $64 per hour based on average full-time hours of 43 per week. For comparison, the median for all occupations is $1,852 per week. This median is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It reflects the middle point of what police officers actually earn, including allowances and penalty rates where applicable. Remember that superannuation (the super guarantee, currently 12%) is paid on top of these earnings.

Award rates vs negotiated salaries

Police salaries are typically set through enterprise agreements negotiated between police unions and state governments. These agreements specify pay scales for different ranks (constable, senior constable, sergeant, etc.) and include allowances for shift work, overtime, and specialist duties. Some officers may also have individual flexibility arrangements. The median figure from the ABS gives a useful benchmark, but actual salaries can be higher or lower depending on experience and location. For example, a constable in their first year will earn less than the median, while a senior sergeant with many years of service will earn more.

How the national minimum wage applies

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour (from 1 July 2026) applies only to employees not covered by an award or registered agreement. Because police are covered by state awards or agreements, the national minimum does not directly apply to them. However, if a police officer were somehow award-free (which is extremely unlikely), the national minimum would be the backstop. Also, the award backstop rule ensures that no ongoing classification in a modern award can fall below the national minimum, but that rule does not apply to state awards. Junior, apprentice, and supported wage rates are not relevant for police, who are adult employees.

For more information on how minimum wages work in different situations, see our Rate tables and How the figures work pages.

Summary

Police salary in Australia is determined by state-based awards and agreements, not by the national minimum wage. The median full-time police salary of $2,560 per week is a useful guide but is not a legal minimum. If you are a police officer or employer, check the relevant state award or enterprise agreement for the exact pay rates that apply.