Australian Public Service Enterprise Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000124)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Australian Public Service Enterprise Award covers employees of Australian Government agencies who are engaged under the Public Service Act 1999. This is the safety net award for APS employees, covering roles across all Commonwealth departments and agencies -- from administrative officers and policy advisers to IT staff and customer service officers. If you work for an Australian Government department and are not covered by an enterprise agreement, this award sets your minimum pay and conditions.
This award does NOT cover employees of government business enterprises, parliamentary departments (covered by MA000145), or statutory agencies with their own specific awards. Many APS employees are actually covered by agency-level enterprise agreements that sit above this award, but the award rates serve as the absolute minimum floor.
How classification levels work
The APS uses a standardised classification structure from APS Level 1 (entry-level administrative support) through to APS Level 6 (senior technical or policy roles), plus Executive Level 1 and 2 (management roles) and SES (Senior Executive Service) bands. Your classification is determined by the work level standards for your role, including the complexity of work, level of supervision, and degree of responsibility.
What about irregular and intermittent employees?
Instead of the term "casual," the APS uses "irregular and intermittent" to describe employees engaged on an as-needed basis. These employees receive a loading on top of the base hourly rate to compensate for not receiving paid leave and other entitlements available to ongoing employees.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
| APS Level | Typical Duties | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Irregular/Intermittent Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APS 1 | Mail handling, data entry, reception | $978.00 | $25.74 | $32.18 |
| APS 2 | Administrative support, records management | $1,026.80 | $27.02 | $33.78 |
| APS 3 | Team support, procurement, HR admin | $1,075.60 | $28.31 | $35.39 |
| APS 4 | Case management, project support, senior admin | $1,139.20 | $29.98 | $37.48 |
| APS 5 | Policy officer, program officer, analyst | $1,190.40 | $31.33 | $39.16 |
| APS 6 | Senior policy adviser, team leader, senior analyst | $1,262.00 | $33.21 | $41.51 |
| EL 1 | Section manager, senior specialist | $1,448.80 | $38.13 | $47.66 |
| EL 2 | Branch manager, director | $1,684.00 | $44.32 | $55.40 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Irregular/intermittent rate = hourly rate x 1.25.
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate.
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Day Workers)
| When you work | Penalty | APS 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday (ordinary hours) | Base rate (100%) | $28.31/hr |
| Saturday (all day) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Sunday (all day) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday | 250% | $70.78/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Fri) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Overtime -- Saturday (all day) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Overtime -- Sunday (all day) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
Shiftworkers
| When you work | Penalty | APS 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Day shift | Base rate (100%) | $28.31/hr |
| Night shift | 115% | $32.56/hr |
| Continuous night shift | 125% | $35.39/hr |
| Saturday | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Sunday | 200% | $56.62/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday | 250% | $70.78/hr |
| Overtime -- first 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Overtime -- after 3 hours (Mon-Sat) | 200% | $56.62/hr |
Irregular and Intermittent Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | APS 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours | 125% (loading) | $35.39/hr |
| Saturday and Sunday (all day) | 150% | $42.47/hr |
| Public holiday or additional holiday (all day) | 275% | $77.85/hr |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the ordinary hours for APS employees?
Ordinary hours for day workers are 7 hours 36 minutes per day (or 7.6 hours), totalling 38 hours per week. The standard bandwidth for ordinary hours is 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday, though individual agencies may have different arrangements through workplace agreements. Shiftworkers may have ordinary hours rostered across any day of the week.
2. Do APS employees get penalty rates for working on public holidays?
Yes. APS employees who work on a public holiday or additional holiday receive 250% of their base rate. Australia has national public holidays (New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Queen's Birthday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day) plus state and territory-specific holidays. APS employees also receive "additional holidays" as declared by the employer.
3. What is the difference between day workers and shiftworkers?
Day workers have their ordinary hours rostered within the standard bandwidth (typically 7:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Friday). Shiftworkers are rostered to work outside this bandwidth on a regular basis, including evening, night, and weekend shifts. Shiftworkers receive shift penalty loadings on top of their base rate -- for example, 115% for night shifts and 125% for continuous night shifts -- which day workers do not receive.
4. Are overtime meal allowances available?
Yes. When you work overtime that extends beyond your ordinary hours by more than one hour, you are generally entitled to a meal allowance. The exact amount is adjusted annually and is outlined in the award. You are also entitled to a rest break of at least 30 minutes before starting overtime if you have already worked a full day, and a further meal allowance for every additional 4 hours of overtime.
5. Can APS irregular and intermittent employees work on weekends?
Yes. Irregular and intermittent employees can be engaged to work on weekends. Weekend work for these employees attracts a 150% rate for Saturday and Sunday work. Public holidays attract 275% of the base rate. These rates are calculated on the base hourly rate, not on the loaded hourly rate.
Check Your Rate
Not sure if you are being paid correctly? Use our free pay rate calculator to check your exact rate based on your APS classification level, employment type, and shift pattern.
Enter your details and get an instant breakdown of what you should be earning -- including shift loadings, overtime, and weekend penalties. Every result cites the specific award clause so you can verify it yourself.
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Home > Awards > Australian Public Service Enterprise Award (MA000124)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.