Highest Paid Police Force in Australia (2026 Data)

Recruit rate: $74,309
First-year base: $94,651
First-year base rank: 1

Recruit rate: $74,619
First-year base: $87,005
First-year base rank: 2

Recruit rate: $61,187
First-year base: $84,060
First-year base rank: 3

Recruit rate: $71,872
First-year base: $83,398
First-year base rank: 4

Recruit rate: No annual rate
First-year base: $83,028
First-year base rank: 5

Recruit rate: $59,728 ^calc
First-year base: $78,505
First-year base rank: 6

Recruit rate: $61,801
First-year base: $73,518
First-year base rank: 7

Recruit rate: $69,698
First-year base: $72,317
First-year base rank: 8

Force	Recruit rate	First-year base	First-year base rank
WA Police	$74,309	$94,651	1
NT Police	$74,619	$87,005	2
Victoria Police	$61,187	$84,060	3
SAPOL	$71,872	$83,398	4
NSW Police	No annual rate	$83,028	5
QPS	$59,728 ^calc	$78,505	6
Tasmania Police	$61,801	$73,518	7
AFP	$69,698	$72,317	8

NSW pays academy students a weekly rate during one 16-week session, not an annual recruit salary. Queensland's recruit rate is calculated by us from its 70%-plus-allowance rule; its first-year rate is QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment rate.

WA Police's $94,651 is the highest first-year base in the country, and NT Police pays recruits the most ($74,619). At the other end, AFP has the lowest first-year base ($72,317) and Tasmania Police the second lowest ($73,518), but both pay large percentage allowances on top once you're rostered.

Once you're on the roster: the fairer first-year comparison

Base salary flatters forces that pay shift work per shift and understates forces that pay it as a percentage. Adding each force's standard front-line loading or composite gives a fairer view of what a new constable on a 24/7 general-duties roster actually earns.

First-year constable, front-line pay

Bright bar = base; full bar = with the standard roster loading, composite or fixed allowances. NSW, Victoria and WA pay extra per shift on top.

NT Police $111,366

23% Consolidated Allowance + 5% General Policing Allowance
SAPOL $102,580

23% Response Allowance (metro response roster only)
QPS $94,991

21% Operational Shift Allowance (OSA); night allowances on top
WA Police $94,651

No loading: flat dollar shift allowances per shift on top
Tasmania Police $94,103

28% shift and penalty allowance (24-hour roster)
Victoria Police $93,212

13% commuted penalty already inside the salary; hourly shift loadings on top
NSW Police $92,576

11.5% loading paid as salary; per-shift allowances on top
AFP $91,727

22% Core Composite + $3,500 Use of Force allowance

First-year take-home on a front-line roster

Front-line pay: $111,366
Take-home a fortnight: $3,277
Rank: 1

Front-line pay: $102,580
Take-home a fortnight: $3,047
Rank: 2

Front-line pay: $94,991
Take-home a fortnight: $2,849
Rank: 3

Front-line pay: $94,651
Take-home a fortnight: $2,840
Rank: 4

Front-line pay: $94,103
Take-home a fortnight: $2,826
Rank: 5

Front-line pay: $93,212
Take-home a fortnight: $2,802
Rank: 6

Front-line pay: $92,576
Take-home a fortnight: $2,786
Rank: 7

Front-line pay: $91,727
Take-home a fortnight: $2,764
Rank: 8

Force	Front-line pay	Take-home a fortnight	Rank
NT Police	$111,366	$3,277	1
SAPOL	$102,580	$3,047	2
QPS	$94,991	$2,849	3
WA Police	$94,651	$2,840	4
Tasmania Police	$94,103	$2,826	5
Victoria Police	$93,212	$2,802	6
NSW Police	$92,576	$2,786	7
AFP	$91,727	$2,764	8

2026-27 resident tax and Medicare levy; no HELP, overtime or per-shift allowances.

NT Police moves to the top ($111,366) because of 23% Consolidated Allowance + 5% General Policing Allowance. SAPOL is second ($102,580), but only for officers on the metropolitan response roster. WA Police drops from 1st on base to 4th because its shift pay isn't in a percentage: each night shift adds a flat $126.56 on top.

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Your first five years combined

Starting salary is a snapshot. What you earn across your first five sworn years, as you move up the increments, is a better guide to which force pays new officers the most. This adds up years one to five under each force's normal progression, without promotion.

Five-year earnings, current rates

Pay points, years 1 to 5: Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4 → Level 5
Total base, 5 years: $444,897
Total front-line, 5 years: $496,060

Pay points, years 1 to 5: Point 1 (Level 1) → Point 2 (Level 1) → Point 3 (Level 1) → Point 4 (Level 1) → Point 5 (Level 2)
Total base, 5 years: $457,904
Total front-line, 5 years: $503,664

Pay points, years 1 to 5: 1.1 → 1.2 → 1.3 → 1.4 → 1.5
Total base, 5 years: $423,765
Total front-line, 5 years: $512,756

Pay points, years 1 to 5: 1st year of service → 2nd year of service → 3rd year of service → 4th year of service → 5th year of service & thereafter
Total base, 5 years: $489,007
Total front-line, 5 years: $489,007

Pay points, years 1 to 5: In-between increments not published

Pay points, years 1 to 5: Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4 → Level 5
Total base, 5 years: $392,118
Total front-line, 5 years: $501,911

Pay points, years 1 to 5: Constable 1 (graduation to end of 12 months) → Constable 2 (probationer to 24 months) → Constable 3 → Constable 4 → Constable 1/C 5
Total base, 5 years: $452,774 ^calc
Total front-line, 5 years: $579,551

Pay points, years 1 to 5: 2.4 → 3.1 → 3.2 → 3.3 → 3.4
Total base, 5 years: $391,788
Total front-line, 5 years: $495,481

Force	Pay points, years 1 to 5	Total base, 5 years	Total front-line, 5 years
NSW Police	Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4 → Level 5	$444,897	$496,060
Victoria Police	Point 1 (Level 1) → Point 2 (Level 1) → Point 3 (Level 1) → Point 4 (Level 1) → Point 5 (Level 2)	$457,904	$503,664
QPS	1.1 → 1.2 → 1.3 → 1.4 → 1.5	$423,765	$512,756
WA Police	1st year of service → 2nd year of service → 3rd year of service → 4th year of service → 5th year of service & thereafter	$489,007	$489,007
SAPOL	In-between increments not published	–	–
Tasmania Police	Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4 → Level 5	$392,118	$501,911
NT Police	Constable 1 (graduation to end of 12 months) → Constable 2 (probationer to 24 months) → Constable 3 → Constable 4 → Constable 1/C 5	$452,774 ^calc	$579,551
AFP	2.4 → 3.1 → 3.2 → 3.3 → 3.4	$391,788	$495,481

Uses today's pay rates for all five years (future pay rises would add to every force). Front-line totals apply the standard roster loading or composite each year; Victoria's flat allowances are held at Constable 1 values and the AFP's Use of Force allowance at today's rate. NT Constable 2 rates are calculated by us; Queensland rates are QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment schedule. SA publishes only the lowest and highest increment of each rank.

First five years, front-line pay combined

Bright bar = base; full bar = with roster loadings.

NT Police $579,551 ^calc
QPS $512,756
Victoria Police $503,664
Tasmania Police $501,911
NSW Police $496,060
AFP $495,481
WA Police $489,007

NT Police leads over five years ($579,551), ahead of QPS ($512,756) and Victoria Police ($503,664). On base salary alone the five-year leader is WA Police ($489,007). Progression rules matter: WA pays the same rate for your first two years and then steps up each year to its 5th-year rate, while NSW, Queensland and Tasmania move up every year, subject to competencies and assessments.

The highest-paid sergeants and inspectors

If you plan to make a career of it, senior pay matters more than starting pay. At the top of the sergeant scale the order changes again, and inspector pay has its own leader.

Senior pay by force

Sergeant top, base: $139,008 ^calc
With 24/7 roster loading: $177,930
Inspector entry: No equivalent published

Sergeant top, base: $135,363
With 24/7 roster loading: $166,496
Inspector entry: $168,670

Sergeant top, base: $132,185 ^calc
With 24/7 roster loading: $164,766
Inspector entry: No equivalent published

Sergeant top, base: $133,671
With 24/7 roster loading: $161,742
Inspector entry: $179,870

Sergeant top, base: $125,625
With 24/7 roster loading: $160,800
Inspector entry: $170,026

Sergeant top, base: $140,989
With 24/7 roster loading: $157,203
Inspector entry: $178,719

Sergeant top, base: $149,358
With 24/7 roster loading: $149,358
Inspector entry: $170,644

Sergeant top, base: $135,005
With 24/7 roster loading: $135,005
Inspector entry: $173,361

Force	Sergeant top, base	With 24/7 roster loading	Inspector entry
NT Police	$139,008 ^calc	$177,930	No equivalent published
SAPOL	$135,363	$166,496	$168,670
AFP	$132,185 ^calc	$164,766	No equivalent published
QPS	$133,671	$161,742	$179,870
Tasmania Police	$125,625	$160,800	$170,026
NSW Police	$140,989	$157,203	$178,719
Victoria Police	$149,358	$149,358	$170,644
WA Police	$135,005	$135,005	$173,361

Sergeants in day or specialist roles may not get the roster loading. Victoria's sergeant figure includes its 13% commuted penalty. AFP figures are the top of the team leader/sergeant broadband (Band 7.3), our mapping. NT sergeant rates are calculated by us.

Top sergeant base

$149,358

Victoria Police

Top sergeant with loading

$177,930

NT Police

Top inspector entry

$179,870

QPS

Victoria Police pays the highest base at the top of the sergeant scale, helped by the penalty component already inside its salaries. With roster loadings, NT Police leads. For inspectors, QPS ($179,870) and NSW Police ($178,719) are close at the top; neither the NT nor the AFP tables we read include an inspector-equivalent rate.

Total package: pay plus employer super

Employer super is part of what each force pays you, even though you don't see it until later. Queensland's 18% and the AFP's 15.4% change the ranking noticeably.

First-year package: front-line pay plus employer super

Victoria is excluded because its officers are in a defined benefit scheme that can't be shown as a yearly amount.

NT Police $121,807

12% SG minimum (not confirmed)
SAPOL $112,587

12% (inferred; not confirmed)
QPS $109,122

18% of ordinary time earnings
WA Police $106,009

12% Superannuation Guarantee
AFP $105,314

15.4% (composite counts)
Tasmania Police $102,925

12% SG minimum (not confirmed)
NSW Police $102,540

12% (accumulation; reported)

Packages including employer super

Employer super: 12% SG minimum (not confirmed)
First-year package: $121,807
Top-sergeant package: $194,611

Employer super: 15.4% (composite counts)
First-year package: $105,314
Top-sergeant package: $189,601

Employer super: 18% of ordinary time earnings
First-year package: $109,122
Top-sergeant package: $185,803

Employer super: 12% (inferred; not confirmed)
First-year package: $112,587
Top-sergeant package: $182,740

Employer super: 12% SG minimum (not confirmed)
First-year package: $102,925
Top-sergeant package: $175,875

Employer super: 12% (accumulation; reported)
First-year package: $102,540
Top-sergeant package: $174,121

Employer super: 12% Superannuation Guarantee
First-year package: $106,009
Top-sergeant package: $151,206

Force	Employer super	First-year package	Top-sergeant package
NT Police	12% SG minimum (not confirmed)	$121,807	$194,611
AFP	15.4% (composite counts)	$105,314	$189,601
QPS	18% of ordinary time earnings	$109,122	$185,803
SAPOL	12% (inferred; not confirmed)	$112,587	$182,740
Tasmania Police	12% SG minimum (not confirmed)	$102,925	$175,875
NSW Police	12% (accumulation; reported)	$102,540	$174,121
WA Police	12% Superannuation Guarantee	$106,009	$151,206

Super calculated on base salary, except the AFP, where the 22% composite counts for super under the EA. SA, Tasmania and NT employer rates are the 12% Superannuation Guarantee minimum, not confirmed as the force's rate.

With super included, NT Police leads for first-year officers ($121,807), and NT Police at the top of the sergeant scale ($194,611). Queensland gains the most from super: its $14,131 first-year employer contribution is the largest of any force. For super schemes force by force, see each force's profile on our forces hub.

Remote and regional postings: where the biggest pay is

The highest police pay in Australia isn't in any capital city. Remote and hard-to-fill postings come with incentives that can dwarf the differences between forces. Here's what a constable in their first years could earn with each force's biggest remote, regional or housing incentive, from the incentives in our data.

First-year pay in a remote posting

Remote incentive: Housing allowance $33,184 a year (if you provide your own housing)
First-year pay with it: $144,550
How we worked it out: Front-line pay + housing allowance. The allowance isn't limited to remote postings; the remote CRIA is extra and not included

Remote incentive: Remote loading 45% on the APY Lands, Yalata and Oodnadatta
First-year pay with it: $120,927
How we worked it out: Base + 45% loading (in lieu of penalties and overtime)

Remote incentive: Country station allowance 37%
First-year pay with it: $117,519
How we worked it out: Constable Level 6 ($85,780, the minimum paid at these stations) + 37%, in lieu of overtime and shift pay

Remote incentive: Area Allowance $13,906 a year in listed communities
First-year pay with it: $108,897
How we worked it out: Base + OSA + Area Allowance

Remote incentive: Remote incentive $36,000 over 5 years, $8,000 in year 1 (Special Remote $31,000 over 5 years)
First-year pay with it: $100,576
How we worked it out: Loaded salary + year-1 Remote incentive

Force	Remote incentive	First-year pay with it	How we worked it out
NT Police	Housing allowance $33,184 a year (if you provide your own housing)	$144,550	Front-line pay + housing allowance. The allowance isn't limited to remote postings; the remote CRIA is extra and not included
SAPOL	Remote loading 45% on the APY Lands, Yalata and Oodnadatta	$120,927	Base + 45% loading (in lieu of penalties and overtime)
Tasmania Police	Country station allowance 37%	$117,519	Constable Level 6 ($85,780, the minimum paid at these stations) + 37%, in lieu of overtime and shift pay
QPS	Area Allowance $13,906 a year in listed communities	$108,897	Base + OSA + Area Allowance
NSW Police	Remote incentive $36,000 over 5 years, $8,000 in year 1 (Special Remote $31,000 over 5 years)	$100,576	Loaded salary + year-1 Remote incentive

Eligibility, tenure and location rules apply to every incentive. Most remote postings also include free or subsidised housing, which isn't counted. NSW and Queensland figures can combine with other allowances; SA's and Tasmania's loadings replace overtime and penalties.

NSW's remote incentive is the biggest cash incentive ($36,000 over five years, $8,000 of it in year 1), taking a probationary constable to about $100,576 in year 1 before shift allowances. Other forces add remote pay as a percentage: 45% in SA's far north, 37% at designated Tasmanian country stations. In the NT, the Consolidated Remote Incentive Allowance adds a percentage that rises with years at the location (Years 1/2/3: Special Category 5/5/5%; Group A 5/5/5%; Group B 6/12/12%; Tennant Creek 11/18/18%), though the salary it's calculated on isn't stated in our source.

Housing changes the maths

WA provides fully subsidised housing in 56 country towns, and Victoria pays a $1,481 remote allowance at listed stations. The AFP's remote Protective Service Officer roles at Exmouth and Pine Gap pay a $45,000 Remote Defence Capability Payment plus a $10,970 Remote Localities Allowance. WA's regional attraction payment and district allowances for police aren't published, so we can't include them.

What forces and unions say, and what the data shows

Pay claims are part of bargaining, so it helps to test them against the numbers.

Claims our data supports

✓The NT Government has described NT constables as the highest paid nationally. On our front-line measure for a first-year constable, NT Police ranks 1st of eight.
✓Queensland's 18% employer super is the highest percentage of any force.
✓WA has the highest first-year base salary ($94,651).

Claims that need context

✕The AFP Association says the AFP is the lowest-paid force. That's true on first-year base salary, but its composite and 15.4% super lift its package above 2 other forces.
✕Recruiting pages quote different things: NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the NT quote figures with loadings or allowances; WA and SA quote base pay.
✕Reports of percentage pay rises don't always mean the pay table rose that much: Victoria's tables rise 3% a year, with the rest of its deal paid as new allowances.

None of this makes one force "best". It means that whichever force you're looking at, you should ask what the quoted figure includes and which roster it assumes.

How the ranking could change in the next year

Pay dates are staggered, so the ranking moves through the year. These are the next changes in our data; proposed and inferred changes are marked unconfirmed.

Upcoming pay changes

Next change: 1 December 2026
What it is: 3% increase to all award salaries from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026 (already in the award table).

Next change: 9 December 2026
What it is: Final EA increase of 2.7%.

Next change: 1 January 2027
What it is: PROPOSED, not ratified: 4% from the first full pay period on or after 1 Jan 2027 under the new enterprise agreement announced by PASA on 16 Sep 2026. ^unconfirmed

Next change: March 2027
What it is: March 2027 Brisbane CPI decides CUA period 2: if it exceeds 2.5%, the difference (capped at 1%) is added to the 1 Jul 2026 increase and back-paid.

Next change: 1 June 2027
What it is: Final scheduled increase under the 2025 agreement: Schedule A rates rise 3.0% (e.g. Constable 1 to $86,582, Recruit to $63,023), and allowances step up, including the last phase of the Operational Readiness Allowance (Constable 1 to $3,632) and General Duties Allowance (Constable 1 to $1,816).

Next change: 30 June 2027
What it is: Nominal expiry of the 2024 Agreement.

Next change: 1 July 2027
What it is: A 5% rise from the first full pay period on/after 1 Jul 2027 is inferred, not gazetted. ^unconfirmed