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Police Pay Australia
Forces · independent comparison

Australia's eight police forces
compared, and how to choose

Each force runs its own recruiting site, and none of them compares itself with the others. This page does: pay, entry tests, training, super and retirement for all eight, from each force's own agreement and recruiting pages.

Updated 10 October 2026 12 min read Sources checked 10 October 2026 Independent, not advice

The short answer

Australia has eight police forces: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, NT and the AFP (which also polices the ACT). On base salary, WA Police pays the most to a first-year officer ($94,651), but loadings, shift allowances and super change the picture: Queensland pays 18% super, the AFP 15.4%, and Victoria still offers defined benefit super.

Police forces

8

6 states, NT and the AFP

Highest first-year base

$94,651

WA Police

Highest employer super

18%

Queensland

Beep test range

5.01–7.1

Victoria to NSW

Contents +
  1. 1All eight forces at a glance
  2. 2Size, super and retirement
  3. 3Why headline pay misleads
  4. 4Getting in: recruit pay and tests
  5. 5How to choose a force
  6. 6Already a police officer?
  7. 7Country and remote service
  8. 8Force profiles
  9. 9FAQs
  10. 10Sources

All eight forces at a glance

First-year pay, the beep test and the academy, side by side.

Here is each force's headline first-year salary, what that figure includes, its beep test standard and its academy. Every pay figure is read from our data file for that force, which is built from the current award or agreement. Click a force for its full profile.

Australian police forces: pay and entry, 2026

NSW Police Force

First-year pay
$92,576
What it includes
incl. 11.5% loading
Beep test
Level 7.1
Academy
Goulburn: 16 weeks online (unpaid), then 16 weeks on campus

Victoria Police

First-year pay
$84,060
What it includes
incl. 13% commuted penalty
Beep test
Level 5.01
Academy
Glen Waverley: 25 weeks, sworn in at week 12

Queensland Police Service

First-year pay
$78,505
What it includes
base; most add the 21% OSA
Beep test
Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7) minimum
Academy
Oxley or Townsville: about 8 months

Western Australia Police Force

First-year pay
$94,651
What it includes
base; flat shift pay on top
Beep test
Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)
Academy
Joondalup: 28 weeks

South Australia Police

First-year pay
$83,398
What it includes
base; shift allowances on top
Beep test
No beep test
Academy
Taperoo, Adelaide: about 6 months

Tasmania Police

First-year pay
$73,518
What it includes
base; up to +28% roster allowance
Beep test
Level 6.01 minimum
Academy
Rokeby, Hobart: 28 weeks

Northern Territory Police Force

First-year pay
$87,005
What it includes
base; +23% CA and 5% GPA after training
Beep test
Level 6.1
Academy
Berrimah, Darwin: 30 weeks

Australian Federal Police

First-year pay
$72,317
What it includes
base; +22% composite, $3,500 use-of-force
Beep test
Level 6.5
Academy
Barton, Canberra: 26 weeks

'calc' marks figures we calculated from the agreement's own rule; Queensland's pay is QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment schedule. 'unconfirmed' marks reported figures. South Australia uses a timed fit-for-duty circuit instead of a beep test. Standards with two figures are male / female.

The spread in first-year pay is real, but so is the spread in what the number means. NSW and Victoria build weekend and shift work into the salary; WA, Queensland, the NT and the AFP pay it on top. That's why the next table matters as much as this one.

Size, super and retirement age

Australian police forces: careers and retirement

NSW Police

Workforce
≈18,400 authorised, ≈15,900 filled (Sep 2025)
Employer super
12% SG; PSS defined benefit closed 1988
Compulsory retirement
None found (historically 60)
Current agreement
2024 Award, to 30 Jun 2027

Victoria Police

Workforce
15,564 police FTE (Jun 2026)
Employer super
ESSS defined benefit (open)
Compulsory retirement
Not confirmed
Current agreement
2025 EA, to 31 May 2028

QPS

Workforce
Not in our data (≈1,180 sworn in 2025)
Employer super
18% employer
Compulsory retirement
60
Current agreement
2025 Certified Agreement, to 30 Jun 2028

WA Police

Workforce
≈7,286 officers and APLOs
Employer super
12% SG (GESB)
Compulsory retirement
Not verified
Current agreement
2024 Agreement, to 30 Jun 2027

SAPOL

Workforce
Full establishment (SAPOL, Jun 2026)
Employer super
10% or SG if higher (12%), unverified
Compulsory retirement
Not verified
Current agreement
2021 EA continuing; new deal proposed, not ratified

Tasmania Police

Workforce
1,479 officers (Jul 2026)
Employer super
12% SG (not confirmed for police)
Compulsory retirement
65 (voluntary from 55)
Current agreement
Police Award No. 2 of 2026

NT Police

Workforce
Not in our data
Employer super
12% SG believed (not confirmed)
Compulsory retirement
67 (voluntary from 55)
Current agreement
2025 Consent Agreement (text not published)

AFP

Workforce
ACT Policing 767 sworn (Jun 2025)
Employer super
15.4% employer
Compulsory retirement
None; may retire from 55
Current agreement
EA 2024-2027, to 9 Dec 2027

Workforce figures are each force's latest published measure and are not like for like. Where our sources couldn't confirm a figure, we say so.

Two things stand out. First, super varies more than salary. Queensland's 18% employer contribution and the AFP's 15.4% are worth thousands of dollars a year more than the 12% minimum, and Victoria's open defined benefit scheme pays a multiple of final salary that no accumulation fund guarantees. Second, retirement rules range from a compulsory 60 in Queensland to none at all at the AFP.

Over a 30-year career, the difference between 12% and 18% employer super can matter more than a few thousand dollars of starting salary.

Why headline pay misleads

Here's the same first-year figure turned into a fortnightly take-home amount, using 2026-27 tax rates with no HELP debt, shifts or overtime. It's sorted highest first, but read the last column before deciding anything.

First-year take-home pay by force, 2026-27 tax

WA Police

First-year pay
$94,651
Take-home a fortnight
$2,840
What's in the figure
base; flat shift pay on top

NSW Police

First-year pay
$92,576
Take-home a fortnight
$2,786
What's in the figure
incl. 11.5% loading

NT Police

First-year pay
$87,005
Take-home a fortnight
$2,640
What's in the figure
base; +23% CA and 5% GPA after training

Victoria Police

First-year pay
$84,060
Take-home a fortnight
$2,563
What's in the figure
incl. 13% commuted penalty

SAPOL

First-year pay
$83,398
Take-home a fortnight
$2,546
What's in the figure
base; shift allowances on top

QPS

First-year pay
$78,505
Take-home a fortnight
$2,418
What's in the figure
base; most add the 21% OSA

Tasmania Police

First-year pay
$73,518
Take-home a fortnight
$2,287
What's in the figure
base; up to +28% roster allowance

AFP

First-year pay
$72,317
Take-home a fortnight
$2,256
What's in the figure
base; +22% composite, $3,500 use-of-force

Take two examples. A Queensland First Year Constable on $78,505 base looks well behind NSW on $92,576, but most frontline Queensland officers receive the 21% Operational Shift Allowance, and they get 18% super against NSW's 12%. A Victorian on $84,060 also receives several annual allowances, worth thousands of dollars, that aren't in the salary. And a WA constable on $94,651 gets night shift pay as a flat amount per shift on top.

Compare like with like

Use the take-home pay calculator to add the roster you'd actually work in each force. It applies each force's own shift and overtime rules, such as NSW's Sergeant Level 5 shift formula and Victoria's ÷1.13 overtime base.

Free tool

What would you take home in each force?

Pick a force and pay point, add shifts and overtime, and see your fortnightly pay after 2026-27 tax.

Open the calculator →

Getting in: recruit pay and entrance tests

Every force pays you to train, but how much differs a lot, and so does the written testing you face before you get there.

Recruit pay and entrance tests

NSW Police

Recruit pay while training
No salary (see note)
Entrance test
No separate written police entrance exam

Victoria Police

Recruit pay while training
$61,187
Entrance test
Victoria Police Entrance Exam

QPS

Recruit pay while training
$59,728 calc
Entrance test
QPS Entrance Assessment (QPSea)

WA Police

Recruit pay while training
$74,309
Entrance test
No written entrance exam

SAPOL

Recruit pay while training
$71,872
Entrance test
SAPOL Recruitment Test

Tasmania Police

Recruit pay while training
$61,801
Entrance test
Online suitability (psychometric) testing

NT Police

Recruit pay while training
$74,619
Entrance test
Cognitive assessment

AFP

Recruit pay while training
$69,698
Entrance test
AFP online testing (SHL)

NSW pays no annual recruit salary: the first 16 weeks of its degree are unpaid, then recruits are employed at about $1,360 a week during 16 weeks at Goulburn. NT recruit pay rises after 4 months.

Three patterns are worth knowing. NSW is the only force where part of the training is unpaid, because it's delivered as a university degree. WA has no written exam at all, relying on a psychological evaluation and a panel. And Victoria charges a $284 exam fee but exempts many applicants, including degree holders and people with a strong ATAR.

Fitness standards differ just as much. The beep test ranges from Level 5.01 in Victoria to Level 7.1 in NSW, and some forces add grip strength, agility runs, bag carries or a swim. Tasmania also measures waist and BMI. The force profiles list every component.

How to choose a police force: five questions

Most people choose the force where they already live, and that's often right: you'll be posted near family and you know the area. But if you're willing to move, or you live near a border, these five questions help you decide.

  1. 1

    Where will you actually work?

    Location

    Every force can post you anywhere in its state or territory, and some (the NT especially) make that a condition of entry. Check the force's country service rules and incentives before you apply, not after.

  2. 2

    What does the package pay on your likely roster?

    Money

    Compare take-home pay on the shifts you'd really work, plus employer super. A lower base with a 21% shift allowance and 18% super can beat a higher base on 12%.

  3. 3

    Can you afford the training?

    Cash flow

    NSW's first 16 weeks are unpaid. Recruit pay elsewhere ranges from $59,728 to $74,619 a year. If you have a mortgage or children, that gap matters.

  4. 4

    Can you meet the entry bar now?

    Entry

    Education rules, exam fees, beep test levels and swim tests differ. Pick a force whose standard you can meet within your timeline, or build a plan to reach the higher one.

  5. 5

    Where do you want to be in 10 years?

    Career

    Look at progression speed (NSW now reaches top senior constable in about 10 years; WA's increments are every 2 years), specialist units and retirement rules.

If you're unsure, shortlist two forces and apply to the one with the next intake. Many applicants underestimate how long recruitment takes: three to four months in WA, about six months in Victoria, longer elsewhere.

Already a police officer? Transfer and lateral routes

There's no automatic transfer between Australian forces, but most run shortened courses that recognise your experience. For overseas officers, the visa route is often the deciding factor.

Transfer and lateral entry by force

NSW

Route for serving officers
Professional Mobility Program: 12 weeks paid, rank recognised up to Senior Constable
Overseas officers
No overseas lateral pathway found

Victoria

Route for serving officers
No lateral transfer; prior service recognised through a tailored training plan
Overseas officers
AU, NZ and UK service recognised; must already have residency

Queensland

Route for serving officers
PACE: 20 weeks, $20,000 relocation incentive
Overseas officers
Labour agreement for international police, incl. UK and NZ

WA

Route for serving officers
13-week transition course, 6 months' probation
Overseas officers
UK, Ireland (and NZ): subclass 186 visa, service recognised up to Constable 5th year

SA

Route for serving officers
15-week transition course, up to $10,000 relocation
Overseas officers
UK, Ireland, Guernsey, Canada and NZ; visa costs reimbursed

Tasmania

Route for serving officers
Accelerated Training Program: 12 weeks; rank doesn't transfer
Overseas officers
Australia and NZ service only

NT

Route for serving officers
Accelerated Recruitment Program; pay set by completed years
Overseas officers
Australia and NZ; NT doesn't sponsor visas

AFP

Route for serving officers
Skilled Police Program currently closed
Overseas officers
Australian citizens only

Summarised from each force's data file. Terms change often; check the force's own page before you resign anywhere.

For UK officers, WA and SA offer the most direct sponsored routes, and Queensland pays the largest relocation incentive. Victoria is an option if you already have permanent residency.

Country and remote service: where the money is

Every force struggles to fill country stations, and most pay for it. The incentives are some of the largest amounts in Australian police pay.

NSW remote incentive

$36,000

in total over 5 years

QLD Area Allowance

$13,906

a year, named communities (2026)

NT housing allowance

$33,184

a year, taxable

WA free housing

56 towns

Schedule G

Beyond cash, look at housing (rent-free in Tasmania's country stations and WA's Schedule G towns, 3% of salary in NSW regional police housing), guaranteed or preferred transfers after tenure, and extra leave. Queensland also gives extra pay points if you stay on at a hard-to-fill location. The force profiles break these down.

Check the conditions

Incentives usually come with a minimum stay, apply only at listed locations, and may stop if you leave early. Get the terms in writing before you nominate.

Read the full profile for each force

Each profile covers pay, every recruiting step, the fitness test, the academy, lateral entry, ranks and promotion, allowances, leave, super, injury cover, recent news, a fair list of pros and cons, and what we couldn't confirm.

NSW NSW Police Force First-year pay $92,576 · beep Level 7.1 · 12% SG; PSS defined benefit closed 1988 VIC Victoria Police First-year pay $84,060 · beep Level 5.01 · ESSS defined benefit (open) QLD Queensland Police Service First-year pay $78,505 · beep Level 5 shuttle 7 (5/7) minimum · 18% employer WA Western Australia Police Force First-year pay $94,651 · beep Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female) · 12% SG (GESB) SA South Australia Police First-year pay $83,398 · fit-for-duty circuit · 10% or SG if higher (12%), unverified TAS Tasmania Police First-year pay $73,518 · beep Level 6.01 minimum · 12% SG (not confirmed for police) NT Northern Territory Police Force First-year pay $87,005 · beep Level 6.1 · 12% SG believed (not confirmed) AFP Australian Federal Police First-year pay $72,317 · beep Level 6.5 · 15.4% employer

We are independent: not a police force, union or government body. Every figure comes from the force's own agreement, award or recruiting site, and each profile lists its sources and the date we checked them.

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Frequently asked questions

Which Australian police force pays the most?

It depends what you count. On first-year base salary, WA Police is highest at $94,651. NSW's $92,576 includes an 11.5% loading. The NT adds a 23% Consolidated Allowance and 5% General Policing Allowance after training, and Queensland adds a 21% shift allowance for most frontline officers. Super ranges from 12% to 18%.

Which police force is easiest to join in Australia?

No force is easy, but entry bars differ. Victoria and WA set no minimum education requirement, and WA has no written exam. Victoria has the lowest beep test standard of the large forces (level 5.01). NSW is the most demanding on paper: an ATAR of 50 or equivalent, a degree and a beep test of 7.1.

Which police forces recruit UK officers?

WA, Queensland and South Australia run visa-sponsored routes for UK officers, and Victoria recognises UK service for applicants who already have residency. NSW's transfer program is for Australian and NZ officers only. The AFP requires Australian citizenship. Each force's rules on service length, age and visas differ; see the force profiles.

How many police officers are there in Australia?

We don't publish a national total because the forces count differently (authorised strength, posts filled, FTE or headcount) and some figures aren't in our sources. As examples, NSW has an authorised strength of about 18,400, Victoria employed 15,564 police FTE at June 2026, and WA's agreement covers about 7,286 officers and liaison officers.

Can I transfer between Australian police forces?

There is no automatic transfer. Most forces run a shortened course for serving officers: NSW's 12-week Professional Mobility Program, Queensland's 20-week PACE, WA's 13-week transition course, SA's 15-week course and Tasmania's 12-week Accelerated Training Program. Pay recognition for your service varies a lot between them.

Do you get paid while training at a police academy?

In every force except during NSW's first, online session. Recruit pay ranges from $59,728 in QPS (our calculation) to $74,619 in NT Police, with WA close behind at $74,309. NSW pays about $1,360 a week during its 16 weeks at Goulburn, and Victorian recruits move to full constable pay when sworn in at week 12.

What is the retirement age for police in Australia?

It varies and isn't always set. Our sources give 60 in Queensland, 65 in Tasmania and 67 in the NT. The AFP has no compulsory age (you may retire from 55), and we found none in the NSW Police Act. Victoria, WA and SA weren't confirmed.

Evidence

Sources and how we checked them

Every figure on this page comes from the sources below, read on 10 October 2026. Pay rates and rules change when new agreements are made, so check the source for the date you're reading this. Where we couldn't confirm something from an official source, the page says so instead of guessing. Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy.

  1. Crown Employees (Police Officers - 2024) Award — NSW Police pay and conditions
  2. NSW Police Force: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  3. Victoria Police (Police Officers, Protective Services Officers, Police Reservists and Police Recruits) Enterprise Agreement 2025 — Victoria Police pay and conditions
  4. Victoria Police: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  5. Queensland Police Service Certified Agreement 2025 (QIRC CB/2025/116) — QPS pay and conditions
  6. Queensland Police Service: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  7. Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 — WA Police pay and conditions
  8. Western Australia Police Force: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  9. South Australia Police Enterprise Agreement 2021 (read with the Police Officers Award) — SAPOL pay and conditions
  10. South Australia Police: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  11. Police Award No. 2 of 2026 (Consolidated) — Tasmania Police pay and conditions
  12. Tasmania Police: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  13. Northern Territory Police Force Consent Agreement 2025 — NT Police pay and conditions
  14. Northern Territory Police Force: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training
  15. Australian Federal Police Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 (FWC AE526995) — AFP pay and conditions
  16. Australian Federal Police: recruiting — eligibility, process, fitness and training

Related guides

Police take-home pay calculator → Any force and rank after 2026-27 tax, with shifts and overtime. AI police mock interview → Practise panel questions for any force and get scored feedback.

Forces

More in this series

Force profiles NSW Police Force: the independent guide Pay, the ADAP and Goulburn, fitness, remote incentives, promotion, EPSS and super for NSW Police. Force profiles Victoria Police: the independent guide Pay and allowances, the entrance exam, 25-week academy, ESSS defined benefit super and PSOs. Force profiles Queensland Police Service: the independent guide Pay with the 21% OSA, 18% super, double-time overtime, PACE for experienced police and rural incentives. Force profiles WA Police Force: the independent guide Pay, flat shift allowances, the 28-week Joondalup academy, UK and NZ transition and regional housing. Force profiles South Australia Police (SAPOL) Pay, loadings, country incentives, recruiting, the transition program for UK and interstate officers, and the proposed new EA. Force profiles Tasmania Police Award pay to 2027, the 28% shift allowance, 37% country stations, the fitness test, the 28-week academy and accelerated entry. Force profiles Northern Territory Police The 5/4/3/3 deal, 23% consolidated allowance, housing allowance, remote incentives, ACPO and PPSO pathways and accelerated entry. Force profiles Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing National policing, ACT Policing and PSOs: bands, the 22% composite, 15.4% super, recruiting, the AFP College and progression.
See every forces guide →

General information, not advice. This guide explains published rules and rates. It doesn't consider your personal circumstances and isn't financial, legal, tax or credit advice. Confirm anything you rely on with your force, your police association, the ATO or a licensed professional.