Working for the WA Police Force
the independent 2026 guide

The Western Australia Police Force covers all of Western Australia, from Perth's suburbs to the Kimberley, the Pilbara and the Nullarbor. About 7,286 officers and Aboriginal Police Liaison Officers are covered by its industrial agreement. That vast geography is why so much of the WA package is about country service: free housing, district allowances and an attraction payment for hard-to-fill towns.

Pay and conditions come from the Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024, registered by the WA Industrial Relations Commission on 13 May 2025 between the WA Police Union and the Commissioner. It consolidates the old Police Award 1965. The government described its shift allowance increases as the largest in more than 20 years.

Alongside sworn officers, WA has an Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer stream with its own pay scale, and Police Auxiliary Officers under a separate agreement. Specialist areas with allowances in the agreement include detectives and the Surveillance Unit, the Tactical Response Group, forensic services, Internal Affairs, Witness Protection, the Undercover Police Unit and officers at sea (a seagoing allowance).

WA quotes base salaries: there's no loading or composite built in for constables to senior sergeants. Even so, a probationary constable on $94,651 earns more base salary than a first-year officer in any other state, about $2,840 a fortnight after tax before shift allowances. Commissioned officers' salaries already include an allowance for hours beyond 40 a week and weekend work.

Recruit-in-Training

Pay points

1

Lowest

$74,309

Constable

Pay points

5

Lowest

$94,651

Highest

$102,263

First Class Constable

Pay points

2

Lowest

$107,977

Highest

$109,553

Senior Constable

Pay points

6

Lowest

$115,722

Highest

$124,558

Sergeant

Pay points

5

Lowest

$127,619

Highest

$135,005

Senior Sergeant

Pay points

5

Lowest

$142,174

Highest

$151,652

Inspector

Pay points

4

Lowest

$173,361

Highest

$185,897

Superintendent

Pay points

4

Lowest

$195,250

Highest

$207,787

Commander

Pay points

4

Lowest

$217,588

Highest

$230,124

Rank	Pay points	Lowest	Highest
Recruit-in-Training	1	$74,309	–
Constable	5	$94,651	$102,263
First Class Constable	2	$107,977	$109,553
Senior Constable	6	$115,722	$124,558
Sergeant	5	$127,619	$135,005
Senior Sergeant	5	$142,174	$151,652
Inspector	4	$173,361	$185,897
Superintendent	4	$195,250	$207,787
Commander	4	$217,588	$230,124

Source: WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024, cl 10.1. Sergeant and Senior Sergeant Officer-in-Charge scales and grandfathered Category A/B/C Sergeant scales pay more; see the salary guide.

Progression is slower than in NSW or Queensland: you move up one increment after each two years of satisfactory service. Constables move to the 3rd-year rate when they finish probation and reach the 5th-year rate of $102,263. The full scales, including OIC and APLO pay, are on the WA police salary guide.

Free tool

See your WA take-home pay

Pick your rank and year, add night, evening and weekend shifts at the agreement's flat rates, and see your fortnightly pay after 2026-27 tax.

Calculate my pay →

WA pays shift work as flat dollar amounts per shift, not percentages. That makes WA shift pay worth the same to a constable as to a sergeant, and easy to calculate.

Weekend day shift (Saturday or Sunday)

From 1 July 2026

$74.11

Afternoon shift

From 1 July 2026

$84.35

Evening shift

From 1 July 2026

$101.13

Night shift

From 1 July 2026

$126.56

Shift allowance (8-hour shift)	From 1 July 2026
Weekend day shift (Saturday or Sunday)	$74.11
Afternoon shift	$84.35
Evening shift	$101.13
Night shift	$126.56

Paid pro rata for 9, 10 and 12-hour shifts (a 10-hour shift is 1.25 times). Recruits-in-Training and commissioned officers generally don't receive them.

Worked example: a probationary constable on nights

Say you work four 8-hour night shifts and two weekend day shifts each fortnight. That adds $17,016 a year to your $94,651 base, for $111,667 gross. After tax you'd take home about $3,285 a fortnight, $445 more than on base salary alone. Overtime is on top: the agreement sets the hourly rate at annual salary ÷ 313 × 12 ÷ 80, which is $45.36 for a first-year constable, so time and a half is $68.04 an hour.

A WA night shift is worth $126.56 whether you're a probationary constable or a senior sergeant.

Country service

Housing is fully subsidised in the 56 Schedule G towns, including Port Hedland, Halls Creek, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Laverton, Meekatharra and Wyndham. The recruiting site also lists a one-off regional attraction payment (amount not published), district and locality allowances, extra annual leave, travel concessions, an air-conditioning subsidy and relocation costs, though not every location gets every incentive.

District allowance follows the WA public sector scheme. New public-sector rates from 1 July 2026 include $12,020 a year for the most remote grade (Fitzroy Crossing, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Wyndham), but whether those flow to police is not confirmed. Detectives receive an investigative skills allowance of $3,341 a year, and covert units receive 40% to 55% of base salary in lieu of shift and overtime pay.

WA has no formal education requirement and no written exam, which makes it one of the more accessible forces to apply to.

The process has three stages and takes about three to four months, which is quick by Australian standards. Final-stage costs (first aid, medical, vision, bankruptcy check, fingerprints and DNA) are reimbursed.

1. 1

   Online application

   With ID, licence history and photos of visible tattoos and piercings.

2. 2

   Stage 1: initial assessments

   Integrity check, tattoo review, psychological evaluation and the Physical Performance Evaluation (PPE).

3. 3

   Stage 2: panel interview

   Assesses teamwork, drive and integrity, analytical and problem solving, adaptability and judgement, and communication; followed by a holistic review panel.

4. 4

   Stage 3: final assessments

   Health and medical (P58 standard), vision, full background and integrity check, fingerprints and DNA, and a bankruptcy check. Final-stage costs (first aid, medical, vision, bankruptcy check, fingerprints/DNA) are reimbursed.

5. 5

   Selection pool

   Placement is not guaranteed; you must confirm your physical ability before recruit school. The 3 stages take about 3-4 months.

The Stage 2 panel assesses teamwork, drive and integrity, problem solving, adaptability and judgement, and communication. Prepare real examples for each with our WA police interview guide, and read the full how to become a police officer in WA walkthrough. Because there is no written test, our WA police entrance exam page focuses on the psychological evaluation.

WA's fitness test sits in Stage 1, alongside the integrity check and psychological evaluation. It has six parts, with separate male and female standards for the beep test and agility run.

Illinois Agility Test

Standard

20 seconds or less (male) / 22 seconds or less (female)

Sit-ups

Standard

Minimum 1

Push-ups

Standard

Minimum 10, on toes

Grip strength

Standard

30 kg

Bag lift and carry

Standard

35 kg

Beep test

Standard

Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)

Test	Standard	Notes
Illinois Agility Test	20 seconds or less (male) / 22 seconds or less (female)
Sit-ups	Minimum 1
Push-ups	Minimum 10, on toes
Grip strength	30 kg
Bag lift and carry	35 kg
Beep test	Level 7.01 (male) / 6.01 (female)

Medical to standard 'P58'. Vision unaided at least 6/9 in the better eye and 6/18 in the other; contact lens wearers corrected to 6/6 binocular or 6/9 each eye; peripheral vision at least 70 degrees each side.

The male beep standard of 7.01 is close to NSW's Level 7.1, and higher than Victoria's Level 5.01. The 35 kg bag lift and carry is unusual among Australian forces, so practise it. You must also confirm you're still physically able before recruit school starts. Our WA police fitness test guide has a full plan.

Guide

Train for the WA PPE

The beep test, Illinois agility run, bag carry and strength tests explained, with male and female standards and a plan to pass.

Read the fitness guide →

Entry-level recruits train for 28 weeks at the WA Police Academy in Joondalup, about 30 km north of the Perth CBD, and are paid the whole time.

The Recruit-in-Training rate is the highest recruit pay of the large forces: $74,309 against $61,187 in Victoria. Regional recruits get free on-site accommodation and can ask to be placed in their home district for their first four to six years, under a $15.6 million 2025-26 Budget measure; about 10% of Academy trainees come from regional WA.

After graduation you serve 18 months as a probationary constable. Our WA Police Academy guide covers what to expect at Joondalup.

WA launched Australia's first overseas police recruitment campaign in October 2022, aimed at the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, with a target of 750 officers over five years. Applications were listed as open when we checked.

Eligible services

International transition

UK and Republic of Ireland (the FAQ also lists New Zealand)

Experience

International transition

More than 2 years 8 months' operational service with probation complete (minimum 3 years by visa nomination)

Break in service

International transition

No more than 18 months

Age

International transition

Under 55 at visa nomination

Visa

International transition

Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 (labour agreement); family can be included; 2–6 months processing

Training

International transition

13-week paid transitional course at Joondalup, then 6 months' probation

Pay and rank

International transition

3–5 years' service = Constable 2nd to 5th year; 5+ years = Constable 5th year and eligible to test for First Class or Senior Constable; up to 9 years recognised

Requirement	International transition
Eligible services	UK and Republic of Ireland (the FAQ also lists New Zealand)
Experience	More than 2 years 8 months' operational service with probation complete (minimum 3 years by visa nomination)
Break in service	No more than 18 months
Age	Under 55 at visa nomination
Visa	Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 (labour agreement); family can be included; 2–6 months processing
Training	13-week paid transitional course at Joondalup, then 6 months' probation
Pay and rank	3–5 years' service = Constable 2nd to 5th year; 5+ years = Constable 5th year and eligible to test for First Class or Senior Constable; up to 9 years recognised

Relocation dollar amounts are not published. Early campaign figures (1,556 applications in year one; first squad of 30 in September 2023) come from media statement summaries.

For a UK officer with five or more years' service, that means starting on $102,263 in WA. Interstate and NZ officers do the same 13-week course and 6 months' probation, with recruitment taking up to four months. Former WA officers can be exempted from the Academy and reappointed at a rank and salary that recognises prior service.

WA's early ranks are time-based, with study and assessments at each step. Sergeant and above is by merit selection.

1. 1

   Constable (years 1–5)

   Years 1–5

   $94,651 rising to $102,263. Probationary for the first 18 months.

2. 2

   First Class Constable

   Year 5

   After 5 years with all studies and assessments complete. From $107,977.

3. 3

   Senior Constable

   Year 9

   After a further 4 years (9 in total), with studies and assessments. From $115,722 to $124,558.

4. 4

   Sergeant, Senior Sergeant and commissioned ranks

   Merit

   Merit selection. Base Sergeant tops out at $135,005; Inspector starts at $173,361. Commissioned officers are recommended for permanent appointment after 3 years.

Running a country station pays noticeably more. The Country Officer-in-Charge scales are below; they include an allowance for hours beyond 40 a week.

Sergeant (Schedule H OIC Country)

Pay points

5

Lowest

$149,156

Highest

$156,539

Sergeant (Country OIC Category A)

Pay points

5

Lowest

$150,827

Highest

$158,211

Sergeant (Country OIC Category B)

Pay points

5

Lowest

$152,731

Highest

$160,114

Sergeant (Country OIC Category C)

Pay points

5

Lowest

$155,282

Highest

$162,663

Senior Sergeant (Schedule H OIC Country)

Pay points

5

Lowest

$163,708

Highest

$173,188

Country OIC scale	Pay points	Lowest	Highest
Sergeant (Schedule H OIC Country)	5	$149,156	$156,539
Sergeant (Country OIC Category A)	5	$150,827	$158,211
Sergeant (Country OIC Category B)	5	$152,731	$160,114
Sergeant (Country OIC Category C)	5	$155,282	$162,663
Senior Sergeant (Schedule H OIC Country)	5	$163,708	$173,188

Details of WA's promotion exams weren't verified. See the WA police promotion guide.

WA gives six weeks of annual leave, an extra week in the North West, and three paid "rest days" a year in recognition of the demands of policing.

Annual leave

What the agreement says

240 hours (6 weeks) a year on full pay, calendar-year basis, plus 40 hours a year for service in the North West (cl 30.1). Annual leave loading is 18.75% on a maximum of 5 weeks, paid in December, capped at 17.5% of 5 weeks' salary of a public service Level 8.1 (cl 30.9). Leave can be accumulated only with written permission (cl 30.4).

Illness and injury leave

What the agreement says

The Employer may grant paid illness or injury leave of up to 168 days in a calendar year, and further periods on the recommendation of the Health, Welfare and Safety divisional superintendent (cl 38.5). No certificate is needed for 5 days a year (maximum 3 consecutive), plus up to 10 further single days on a health practitioner certificate (cl 38.3).

Long service leave

What the agreement says

520 hours (13 weeks) after 10 years' continuous service (appointed on or after 10 Jan 1995; 7 years if appointed earlier), then 520 hours for each further 7 years (cl 33.1).

Parental leave

What the agreement says

52 weeks' parental leave, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid (cl 35). The partner's 1 week of leave at the birth is taken from the partner's own leave or as unpaid leave, not as extra paid leave (cl 35.25).

Rest days

What the agreement says

3 paid 'rest days' a year, credited on 31 March in recognition of the rigours of policing, provided the annual leave balance at the previous 31 December was not over 240 hours; must be used within 12 months and is not paid out (cl 31).

Leave type	What the agreement says
Annual leave	240 hours (6 weeks) a year on full pay, calendar-year basis, plus 40 hours a year for service in the North West (cl 30.1). Annual leave loading is 18.75% on a maximum of 5 weeks, paid in December, capped at 17.5% of 5 weeks' salary of a public service Level 8.1 (cl 30.9). Leave can be accumulated only with written permission (cl 30.4).
Illness and injury leave	The Employer may grant paid illness or injury leave of up to 168 days in a calendar year, and further periods on the recommendation of the Health, Welfare and Safety divisional superintendent (cl 38.5). No certificate is needed for 5 days a year (maximum 3 consecutive), plus up to 10 further single days on a health practitioner certificate (cl 38.3).
Long service leave	520 hours (13 weeks) after 10 years' continuous service (appointed on or after 10 Jan 1995; 7 years if appointed earlier), then 520 hours for each further 7 years (cl 33.1).
Parental leave	52 weeks' parental leave, including 560 hours (14 weeks) paid (cl 35). The partner's 1 week of leave at the birth is taken from the partner's own leave or as unpaid leave, not as extra paid leave (cl 35.25).
Rest days	3 paid 'rest days' a year, credited on 31 March in recognition of the rigours of policing, provided the annual leave balance at the previous 31 December was not over 240 hours; must be used within 12 months and is not paid out (cl 31).

Source: WA Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024, cl 30-38.

Leave loading is 18.75% on up to five weeks, paid in December. The illness and injury leave provision is unusually flexible: up to 168 days a year at the employer's discretion, which matters because, as far as we can tell, WA police sit outside the ordinary workers' compensation scheme. More in the WA police leave guide.

WA officers receive the 12% Superannuation Guarantee, normally into GESB, the WA public sector fund, or a fund of your choice. We found no police-specific top-up and no open defined benefit scheme for new officers.

GESB Super or West State Super (default), or a fund of choice

Status

Open

Notes

WA public sector employees have had choice of fund since 30 March 2012; officers who don't choose are defaulted to GESB (GESB Super or West State Super), per WA Treasury's choice-of-fund brochure (September 2026).

Gold State Super

Status

Closed

Notes

Defined benefit scheme, closed to new members in December 1995 (WA Treasury brochure).

Scheme	Status	Notes
GESB Super or West State Super (default), or a fund of choice	Open	WA public sector employees have had choice of fund since 30 March 2012; officers who don't choose are defaulted to GESB (GESB Super or West State Super), per WA Treasury's choice-of-fund brochure (September 2026).
Gold State Super	Closed	Defined benefit scheme, closed to new members in December 1995 (WA Treasury brochure).

That makes WA's super the least generous of the four big forces: Queensland pays 18%, and Victoria's defined benefit scheme can pay 7.5 times final salary. The higher WA base salary partly offsets this, but over a 30-year career the gap compounds. The default insurance cover for new officers in GESB wasn't verified.

Retirement age: Not verified. We couldn't confirm a compulsory retirement age for WA police. Model your super in the WA police super guide.

WA police have historically fallen outside the ordinary workers' compensation scheme (our inference from the purpose of the 2021 reforms, not confirmed). Instead, an injured officer relies on paid illness and injury leave, employer-paid work-related medical and hospital costs, and since 2021 a dedicated compensation scheme for medical retirement.

Lump sum for work-related medical retirement

Amount (2021 figures)

Impairment payment plus up to 12 months' salary, capped at $239,179

Enhanced cap in certain circumstances

Amount (2021 figures)

Up to $418,563

Vocational support and retraining

Amount (2021 figures)

$16,743

Existing in-service and post-service medical entitlements

Amount (2021 figures)

Kept

Police Amendment (Compensation Scheme) Act 2021	Amount (2021 figures)
Lump sum for work-related medical retirement	Impairment payment plus up to 12 months' salary, capped at $239,179
Enhanced cap in certain circumstances	Up to $418,563
Vocational support and retraining	$16,743
Existing in-service and post-service medical entitlements	Kept

These are 2021 figures, indexed each year to WA workers' compensation amounts; current values weren't found.

Because the scheme is less familiar than WorkCover, get advice from the WA Police Union early if you're injured. Read our WA police workers comp guide and medical retirement guide. If you need support now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or 000 in an emergency.

The headlines in WA are about money and numbers: the last pay rise of the current deal, a new wages policy for the next one, and a political fight over whether police numbers are falling.

2 July 2026

What happened

Public-sector district allowance rates improved from 1 Jul 2026

Detail

The CPSU/CSA reported new District Allowance rates operative 1 Jul 2026 for the public sector, including a new Grade 6 of $12,020 for Fitzroy Crossing, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Wyndham. Whether police receive them is not confirmed.

1 July 2026

What happened

Final 3.75% pay rise under the 2024 Agreement

Detail

The last scheduled increase took effect: Probationary Constable now $94,651 and Recruit-in-Training $74,309. No further increase is scheduled before the agreement expires on 30 Jun 2027.

26 May 2026

What happened

New Public Sector Wages Policy Statement covers police

Detail

The 2026 statement applies to WA Police Force agreements, sets no fixed percentage cap and makes retrospective pay discretionary. The next police agreement is due after the current one expires on 30 Jun 2027.

18 March 2026

What happened

Opposition claims police numbers have fallen

Detail

Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort claimed headcount fell from 7,360 (Apr 2025) to 7,341 (Jan 2026) with Academy intakes falling. Political claim from a public summaries; not verified.

1 July 2025

What happened

4% pay rise under the 2024 Agreement

Detail

The second increase took effect (Probationary Constable $91,230).

26 May 2025

What happened

$15.6m for regional recruits

Detail

The 2025-26 Budget funded free on-site Academy accommodation for regional recruits and home-district placement for their first 4-6 years; about 10% of Academy trainees are from regional WA.

13 May 2025

What happened

2024 Agreement registered

Detail

The WAIRC registered the Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 ([2025] WAIRC 00286), with increases back-dated to 1 Jul 2024.

13 December 2024

What happened

Police accept 12.75% pay offer

Detail

The WAPU Board accepted the Government's third offer: 12.75% over 3 years and, in the Government's words, the largest increase in police shift allowances in more than 20 years.

Date	What happened	Detail
2 July 2026	Public-sector district allowance rates improved from 1 Jul 2026	The CPSU/CSA reported new District Allowance rates operative 1 Jul 2026 for the public sector, including a new Grade 6 of $12,020 for Fitzroy Crossing, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Wyndham. Whether police receive them is not confirmed.
1 July 2026	Final 3.75% pay rise under the 2024 Agreement	The last scheduled increase took effect: Probationary Constable now $94,651 and Recruit-in-Training $74,309. No further increase is scheduled before the agreement expires on 30 Jun 2027.
26 May 2026	New Public Sector Wages Policy Statement covers police	The 2026 statement applies to WA Police Force agreements, sets no fixed percentage cap and makes retrospective pay discretionary. The next police agreement is due after the current one expires on 30 Jun 2027.
18 March 2026	Opposition claims police numbers have fallen	Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort claimed headcount fell from 7,360 (Apr 2025) to 7,341 (Jan 2026) with Academy intakes falling. Political claim from a public summaries; not verified.
1 July 2025	4% pay rise under the 2024 Agreement	The second increase took effect (Probationary Constable $91,230).
26 May 2025	$15.6m for regional recruits	The 2025-26 Budget funded free on-site Academy accommodation for regional recruits and home-district placement for their first 4-6 years; about 10% of Academy trainees are from regional WA.
13 May 2025	2024 Agreement registered	The WAIRC registered the Western Australia Police Force Industrial Agreement 2024 ([2025] WAIRC 00286), with increases back-dated to 1 Jul 2024.
13 December 2024	Police accept 12.75% pay offer	The WAPU Board accepted the Government's third offer: 12.75% over 3 years and, in the Government's words, the largest increase in police shift allowances in more than 20 years.

The Opposition's headcount claim and early international campaign figures are unverified.

For applicants, the key date is December 2026, when bargaining for the replacement agreement is due to start. If you join in 2027, your pay rises will depend on that deal.

A fair read, based on the agreement and the evidence above.

If starting pay and a straightforward entry process matter most, WA is hard to beat. If long-term super matters more, compare Queensland and Victoria on the forces comparison hub.

We'd rather tell you what's unknown than guess.

Public holiday pay rate

What it means for you

No public-holiday penalty found in the agreement

Who can confirm

WA Police Union

Units for on-call, close-call and standby

What it means for you

$9.28 / $13.87 / $18.41, unit not stated

Who can confirm

WA Police Union, the agreement text

Regional attraction payment amounts

What it means for you

Not published

Who can confirm

WA Police Force recruitment

New district allowance rates for police

What it means for you

Public-sector rates rose 1 Jul 2026; police flow-on unconfirmed

Who can confirm

WA Police Union

Default GESB product and insurance

What it means for you

Not verified

Who can confirm

GESB

Current medical-retirement caps

What it means for you

Only 2021 figures known

Who can confirm

WA Police Force HR

Compulsory retirement age

What it means for you

Not verified

Who can confirm

WA Police Force HR

Promotion exam system

What it means for you

Details not verified

Who can confirm

WA Police Force

Open question	What it means for you	Who can confirm
Public holiday pay rate	No public-holiday penalty found in the agreement	WA Police Union
Units for on-call, close-call and standby	$9.28 / $13.87 / $18.41, unit not stated	WA Police Union, the agreement text
Regional attraction payment amounts	Not published	WA Police Force recruitment
New district allowance rates for police	Public-sector rates rose 1 Jul 2026; police flow-on unconfirmed	WA Police Union
Default GESB product and insurance	Not verified	GESB
Current medical-retirement caps	Only 2021 figures known	WA Police Force HR
Compulsory retirement age	Not verified	WA Police Force HR
Promotion exam system	Details not verified	WA Police Force

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