SES Band 1 salary: what it is and how it compares to awards and the national minimum wage

What is the SES Band 1 salary?

The term "SES Band 1 salary" refers to the base salary for the first level of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the Australian Public Service (APS). The SES is the top tier of the APS, comprising senior leaders who manage large teams, programs, or policy areas. Band 1 is the entry level of the SES, sitting above the Executive Level 2 (EL 2) classification.

Unlike most Australian workers, SES Band 1 employees are not covered by a modern award or the national minimum wage. Instead, their salaries are set through individual workplace arrangements or enterprise agreements negotiated between the agency and the employee. This makes the SES Band 1 salary different from the award-based pay structures that apply to many other public servants and private sector workers.

Awards versus the national minimum wage

To understand where the SES Band 1 salary sits, it helps to first look at the two main pay benchmarks in Australia: the national minimum wage and modern awards.

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, annualised to $52,255. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year, the national minimum wage scores 48.2. That means a full-time worker on the minimum wage earns less than half of the average full-time worker.

Modern awards set minimum pay rates for specific industries and occupations. For example, the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour, and award minima rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026. Award rates are generally higher than the national minimum wage but still well below the average. The pay guides on this site show how different awards compare to the index.

The SES Band 1 salary is far above both the national minimum wage and typical award rates. Even the highest APS classification below SES – EL 2 – had a base salary of $156,255 from March 2024 under the Treasury Enterprise Agreement. SES Band 1 starts above that level.

Historical SES Band 1 salary data

The most recent public data on SES Band 1 salaries comes from the Australian Public Service Commission's 2018 remuneration report. In 2018, the median base salary for SES Band 1 was $196,609, up 3.8% from $189,353 in 2017. The 5th percentile was $168,861 and the 95th percentile was $233,094. These figures are now several years old, and current salaries are likely higher due to annual increases and enterprise agreement adjustments.

Using the 2018 median of $196,609, the salary index would be approximately 181 – meaning SES Band 1 earned 81% more than the average full-time worker at that time. However, because the data is from 2018 and the index base is May 2026, this is only a rough historical comparison.

How SES Band 1 compares to other benchmarks

To give context, consider the following:

• National minimum wage (2026): $52,255 per year, index 48.2
• Average full-time earnings (May 2026): $108,352 per year, index 100
• APS 6 top step (March 2026): $127,521 per year, index 117.7
• EL 2.1 (March 2024): $156,255 per year, index 144.2
• SES Band 1 median (2018): $196,609 per year, index ~181

Even the lowest SES Band 1 salary in 2018 ($168,861) was well above the average. The gap between SES and other APS classifications is significant and reflects the higher responsibilities and expectations of senior executives.

Why SES Band 1 salary is not in awards

The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database covers minimum rates for employees under modern awards, but SES Band 1 is not an award classification. The APS has its own enterprise agreements and individual contracts, which are not part of the national industrial relations system for most purposes. This means there is no single public document that lists a current SES Band 1 salary for all agencies.

Some agencies publish salary ranges in their enterprise agreements or annual reports, but these vary. For example, the Treasury Enterprise Agreement (Appendix A) shows base salaries up to EL 2 but does not include SES. The states page on this site shows how average earnings differ across Australia, but SES salaries are not tied to a specific state.

Take-home pay considerations

If we apply the 2026–27 resident tax rates to a hypothetical SES Band 1 salary of, say, $200,000 (for illustration only), the take-home pay after tax and Medicare levy would be approximately $138,000. This estimate ignores HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, and other deductions. The superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830, so most SES Band 1 employees would receive the full 12% on their salary.

Where to find more information

For the most current SES Band 1 salary figures, you would need to consult individual APS agency websites or the Australian Public Service Commission. The topics section of this site covers related pay topics, and how the index works explains the methodology behind the Salary Index. If you are comparing a specific job offer or classification, remember that SES salaries are negotiated and can vary significantly between agencies.

In summary, the SES Band 1 salary is a high-level executive pay grade that sits well above the national minimum wage and most award rates. It is not set by awards, and current public data is limited. The historical median from 2018 suggests an index around 181, but precise current figures are uncertain.