Police Overtime and Penalty Rates in Australia 2026

Weekday, 4 hours: 2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 2h × 2 + 2h × 2.5
The rule: Time and a half for the first 2 hours, then double time.

Weekday, 4 hours: 3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
The rule: Monday to Friday: time and a half for the first 3 hours, then double time.

Weekday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
The rule: Operationally available, OST-qualified non-commissioned officers get double time for all overtime, in recognition of their 'duty to act'.

Weekday, 4 hours: 3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: No public holiday overtime rate found
The rule: Time and a half for the first 3 hours, then double time (cl 13.3).

Weekday, 4 hours: Not confirmed
Weekend, 4 hours: Not confirmed
Public holiday, 4 hours: Not confirmed
The rule: Overtime rates are set in the Police Officers Award (cl 5.2), which was not retrieved, so no multiplier is given. ^unconfirmed

Weekday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
The rule: All overtime for Constables and Sergeants is paid at double time, with a 4-hour minimum on call-back.

Weekday, 4 hours: 4h × 1.5
Weekend, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 4h × 2.5
The rule: Under the 2022 agreement, overtime for Senior Sergeant and below is time and a half on weekdays, double time on weekends and double time and a half on public holidays, with a 4-hour minimum for pre-notified overtime and a 2-hour minimum double-time recall.

Weekday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Weekend, 4 hours: 4h × 2
Public holiday, 4 hours: 4h × 2
The rule: All overtime is paid at double time: the Overtime Rate is (base salary x 12/313)/40, twice the base hourly rate.

Force	Weekday, 4 hours	Weekend, 4 hours	Public holiday, 4 hours	The rule
NSW Police	2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2	2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2	2h × 2 + 2h × 2.5	Time and a half for the first 2 hours, then double time.
Victoria Police	3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2	4h × 2	4h × 2	Monday to Friday: time and a half for the first 3 hours, then double time.
QPS	4h × 2	4h × 2	4h × 2	Operationally available, OST-qualified non-commissioned officers get double time for all overtime, in recognition of their 'duty to act'.
WA Police	3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2	3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2	No public holiday overtime rate found	Time and a half for the first 3 hours, then double time (cl 13.3).
SAPOL	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Overtime rates are set in the Police Officers Award (cl 5.2), which was not retrieved, so no multiplier is given. ^unconfirmed
Tasmania Police	4h × 2	4h × 2	4h × 2	All overtime for Constables and Sergeants is paid at double time, with a 4-hour minimum on call-back.
NT Police	4h × 1.5	4h × 2	4h × 2.5	Under the 2022 agreement, overtime for Senior Sergeant and below is time and a half on weekdays, double time on weekends and double time and a half on public holidays, with a 4-hour minimum for pre-notified overtime and a 2-hour minimum double-time recall.
AFP	4h × 2	4h × 2	4h × 2	All overtime is paid at double time: the Overtime Rate is (base salary x 12/313)/40, twice the base hourly rate.

Queensland rates are for operationally available, OST-qualified non-commissioned officers (most front-line constables and sergeants). NT rates are from the 2022 Consent Agreement. SA multipliers aren't confirmed.

Three patterns stand out. Victoria Police and NT Police pay more for weekend overtime than for weekday overtime; elsewhere the day makes no difference to the multiplier. The NT pays double time and a half for every public holiday overtime hour, while NSW reaches double time and a half after two hours. And 3 forces (QPS, Tasmania Police, AFP) pay double time from the first minute, whatever the day.

The multiplier is only half the story: the hourly base it multiplies differs by 31% between the highest and lowest force.

The hourly rate your overtime is built on

Every force converts salary to an hourly rate differently. Some divisions are set in the agreement and others are our estimate where the agreement's divisor isn't confirmed. This table uses a first-year constable's base salary.

Overtime hourly base, first-year constable

First-year base: $83,028
Hourly base for overtime: $41.90
How it's worked out: Overtime is worked out on base salary (excluding the 11.5% loading) ÷ 52.14 weeks ÷ 38 hours.

First-year base: $84,060
Hourly base for overtime: $37.54
How it's worked out: Victorian salaries include a 13% commuted penalty. Overtime is on the base rate: salary ÷ 1.13 (÷ 1.164 for Inspector and above) ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.

First-year base: $78,505
Hourly base for overtime: $39.62
How it's worked out: Overtime is on base salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.

First-year base: $94,651
Hourly base for overtime: $45.36
How it's worked out: Annual × 12 ÷ 313 ÷ 80 (agreement cl 10.13 and 13.8)

First-year base: $83,398
Hourly base for overtime: $42.09
How it's worked out: Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38. SAPOL overtime multipliers sit in a separate award we haven't yet confirmed.

First-year base: $73,518
Hourly base for overtime: $37.10
How it's worked out: Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.

First-year base: $87,005
Hourly base for overtime: $43.91
How it's worked out: Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38 using the 2022 agreement's multipliers; the 2025 agreement's overtime changes aren't published.

First-year base: $72,317
Hourly base for overtime: $34.66
How it's worked out: The AFP agreement sets the Overtime Rate at (base salary × 12/313) ÷ 40, which equals double the ordinary hourly rate. We use that formula.

Force	First-year base	Hourly base for overtime	How it's worked out
NSW Police	$83,028	$41.90	Overtime is worked out on base salary (excluding the 11.5% loading) ÷ 52.14 weeks ÷ 38 hours.
Victoria Police	$84,060	$37.54	Victorian salaries include a 13% commuted penalty. Overtime is on the base rate: salary ÷ 1.13 (÷ 1.164 for Inspector and above) ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.
QPS	$78,505	$39.62	Overtime is on base salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.
WA Police	$94,651	$45.36	Annual × 12 ÷ 313 ÷ 80 (agreement cl 10.13 and 13.8)
SAPOL	$83,398	$42.09	Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38. SAPOL overtime multipliers sit in a separate award we haven't yet confirmed.
Tasmania Police	$73,518	$37.10	Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38.
NT Police	$87,005	$43.91	Overtime is estimated on salary ÷ 52.14 ÷ 38 using the 2022 agreement's multipliers; the 2025 agreement's overtime changes aren't published.
AFP	$72,317	$34.66	The AFP agreement sets the Overtime Rate at (base salary × 12/313) ÷ 40, which equals double the ordinary hourly rate. We use that formula.

Overtime hourly base, first-year constable

The ordinary hourly rate each force's overtime multiplier is applied to.

WA Police $45.36
NT Police $43.91
SAPOL $42.09
NSW Police $41.90
QPS $39.62
Victoria Police $37.54
Tasmania Police $37.10
AFP $34.66

AFP has the lowest hourly base ($34.66) and WA Police the highest ($45.36). The AFP's base is low because its first-year salary is the lowest and its formula spreads a fortnight's pay over 80 hours, but it pays double time from the first hour, so its Overtime Rate is $69.31. WA's first-year salary is the highest base salary nationally, with no loading built in, even after the agreement's 313-day formula.

WA: the agreement's own formula

The WA agreement sets the hourly rate as annual salary × 12 ÷ 313 ÷ 80 (cl 10.13), and overtime as that rate × 1.5 or × 2 (cl 13.8). We use that formula here. It gives a lower hourly figure than dividing by 52.14 weeks and 38 hours, which some calculators use.

Worked example: a four-hour weekday overtime shift in every force

A first-year constable is held back four hours after a weekday shift. Here's what each force pays.

Four hours of weekday overtime, first-year constable

Hourly base: $39.62
Multipliers: 4h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $316.96
After tax: $215.53

Hourly base: $37.10
Multipliers: 4h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $296.83
After tax: $201.84

Hourly base: $45.36
Multipliers: 3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $294.84
After tax: $200.49

Hourly base: $41.90
Multipliers: 2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $293.32
After tax: $199.46

Hourly base: $34.66
Multipliers: 4h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $277.25
After tax: $188.53

Hourly base: $43.91
Multipliers: 4h × 1.5
Gross for 4 hours: $263.46
After tax: $179.15

Open the overtime calculator →

Hourly base: $37.54
Multipliers: 3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2
Gross for 4 hours: $244.03
After tax: $165.94

Force	Hourly base	Multipliers	Gross for 4 hours	After tax
QPS	$39.62	4h × 2	$316.96	$215.53
Tasmania Police	$37.10	4h × 2	$296.83	$201.84
WA Police	$45.36	3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2	$294.84	$200.49
NSW Police	$41.90	2h × 1.5 + 2h × 2	$293.32	$199.46
AFP	$34.66	4h × 2	$277.25	$188.53
NT Police	$43.91	4h × 1.5	$263.46	$179.15
Victoria Police	$37.54	3h × 1.5 + 1h × 2	$244.03	$165.94

After tax = the extra take-home pay those four hours add on top of front-line pay, under 2026-27 rates (marginal 32% for most). SA is left out because its multipliers aren't confirmed. NT figures use the 2022 agreement's multipliers on the current base.

Four hours of weekday overtime, before tax

First-year constable, each force's own hourly base and multipliers.

QPS $317
Tasmania Police $297
WA Police $295
NSW Police $293
AFP $277
NT Police $263
Victoria Police $244

QPS pays the most for these four hours ($316.96), followed by Tasmania Police ($296.83) and WA Police ($294.84). Double time from the first hour is worth a lot: in Queensland it turns a lower base into one of the best overtime rates in the country. Victoria Police pays least on a weekday ($244.03), because its hourly base strips out the built-in penalty and the first three hours are at time and a half; at the weekend all four hours are double time.

For your own hours and pay point, the police overtime calculator applies the same rules, and each force's salary page (for example Queensland police salary) has every pay point.

Free tool

Work out your own overtime

Pick your force, pay point and hours, and see the gross and after-tax value of your overtime using your force's multipliers.

Four hours of overtime on a weekend or public holiday

Weekend and public holiday overtime changes the order again. The same first-year constable doing four hours of overtime:

Four hours of overtime by day, first-year constable (gross)

Weekday: $293.32
Saturday or Sunday: $293.32
Public holiday: $377.13

Weekday: $244.03
Saturday or Sunday: $300.35
Public holiday: $300.35

Weekday: $316.96
Saturday or Sunday: $316.96
Public holiday: $316.96

Weekday: $294.84
Saturday or Sunday: $294.84
Public holiday: No PH rate found

Weekday: Not confirmed
Saturday or Sunday: Not confirmed
Public holiday: Not confirmed

Weekday: $296.83
Saturday or Sunday: $296.83
Public holiday: $296.83

Weekday: $263.46
Saturday or Sunday: $351.28
Public holiday: $439.10

Weekday: $277.25
Saturday or Sunday: $277.25
Public holiday: $277.25

Force	Weekday	Saturday or Sunday	Public holiday
NSW Police	$293.32	$293.32	$377.13
Victoria Police	$244.03	$300.35	$300.35
QPS	$316.96	$316.96	$316.96
WA Police	$294.84	$294.84	No PH rate found
SAPOL	Not confirmed	Not confirmed	Not confirmed
Tasmania Police	$296.83	$296.83	$296.83
NT Police	$263.46	$351.28	$439.10
AFP	$277.25	$277.25	$277.25

Queensland figures assume an operational NCO (double time throughout). Victoria pays double time for all weekend and public holiday overtime. WA has no public-holiday overtime rate in the agreement text we read.

NT, public holiday

$439

4 hours at 2.5×, first-year constable

NSW, public holiday

$377

2 hours at 2×, then 2.5×

Victoria, weekend

$300

all 4 hours at double time

NT Police has the best-paid public holiday overtime in our data ($439.10 for four hours). In NSW, overtime on a public holiday is double time for the first two hours and double time and a half after that, on top of the time and a half paid for the ordinary hours of a public holiday shift.

The same four hours at the top of the senior constable scale

Overtime grows with your salary, so experienced officers earn far more per overtime hour. Here's the same weekday shift for an officer at the top of each force's senior constable (or equivalent) scale.

Four hours of weekday overtime, top of senior constable

Base salary: $118,127
Hourly base: $59.62
Gross for 4 hours: $476.94
After tax: $290.93

Base salary: $125,281
Hourly base: $63.23
Gross for 4 hours: $442.59
After tax: $269.98

Base salary: $107,420
Hourly base: $54.21
Gross for 4 hours: $433.71
After tax: $264.56

Base salary: $111,861 ^calc
Hourly base: $53.61
Gross for 4 hours: $428.86
After tax: $261.60

Base salary: $124,558
Hourly base: $59.69
Gross for 4 hours: $388.00
After tax: $263.84

Base salary: $120,539 ^calc
Hourly base: $60.83
Gross for 4 hours: $365.01
After tax: $222.65

Base salary: $118,945
Hourly base: $53.12
Gross for 4 hours: $345.30
After tax: $234.81

Force	Base salary	Hourly base	Gross for 4 hours	After tax
QPS	$118,127	$59.62	$476.94	$290.93
NSW Police	$125,281	$63.23	$442.59	$269.98
Tasmania Police	$107,420	$54.21	$433.71	$264.56
AFP	$111,861 ^calc	$53.61	$428.86	$261.60
WA Police	$124,558	$59.69	$388.00	$263.84
NT Police	$120,539 ^calc	$60.83	$365.01	$222.65
Victoria Police	$118,945	$53.12	$345.30	$234.81

Senior constable top figures are base salary (NSW's excludes the loading). Queensland, NT and AFP figures carry the same calculated-by-us status as their pay points. SA is excluded because its multipliers aren't confirmed.

QPS leads here ($476.94), ahead of NSW Police ($442.59). Forces that pay double time from the first hour gain most as the base grows. After tax the gap narrows further: senior constables whose pay with loadings is above $135,000 pay 37% plus Medicare on overtime, so they keep about 61 cents in each overtime dollar rather than 68.

Shift allowances and loadings: what one night shift is worth

An 8-hour weekday night shift, 10pm to 6am, for a first-year constable. This is ordinary time, not overtime.

Extra pay for one 8-hour night shift, first-year constable

Extra pay for the shift: $67.55
How it's worked out: B shift: 17.5% × Sergeant L5 rate $48.25/h × 8h (award cl 50)

Extra pay for the shift: $73.39 ^est.
How it's worked out: 18.5% × 3h (22:00–01:00) + 23.5% × 5h (01:00–06:00) of the ordinary hourly rate (our estimate of that rate: $42.42)

Extra pay for the shift: $79.24
How it's worked out: LNOSA 25% of base × 8h (4+ hours fall between 2am and 6am), on top of the 21% OSA

Extra pay for the shift: $126.56
How it's worked out: Flat night shift allowance per 8-hour shift (cl 16.1)

Extra pay for the shift: $84.18 ^est.
How it's worked out: Late night loading 25% × 8h (shift finishing after 2.30am); hourly rate estimated

Extra pay for the shift: $0 extra
How it's worked out: Nothing extra: the 28% shift and penalty allowance covers it

Extra pay for the shift: $52.69 ^est.
How it's worked out: Night Shift Allowance 15% of base × 8h; hourly rate estimated

Extra pay for the shift: $59.28
How it's worked out: Night Shift Allowance $9.88/h × 6h (00:00–06:00), on top of the 22% composite

Force	Extra pay for the shift	How it's worked out
NSW Police	$67.55	B shift: 17.5% × Sergeant L5 rate $48.25/h × 8h (award cl 50)
Victoria Police	$73.39 ^est.	18.5% × 3h (22:00–01:00) + 23.5% × 5h (01:00–06:00) of the ordinary hourly rate (our estimate of that rate: $42.42)
QPS	$79.24	LNOSA 25% of base × 8h (4+ hours fall between 2am and 6am), on top of the 21% OSA
WA Police	$126.56	Flat night shift allowance per 8-hour shift (cl 16.1)
SAPOL	$84.18 ^est.	Late night loading 25% × 8h (shift finishing after 2.30am); hourly rate estimated
Tasmania Police	$0 extra	Nothing extra: the 28% shift and penalty allowance covers it
NT Police	$52.69 ^est.	Night Shift Allowance 15% of base × 8h; hourly rate estimated
AFP	$59.28	Night Shift Allowance $9.88/h × 6h (00:00–06:00), on top of the 22% composite

est. = our estimate because the hourly divisor isn't confirmed in the agreement. These amounts are on top of salary and, where relevant, the loading or composite. NSW's allowance uses the Sergeant Level 5 salary for everyone (award cl 50).

Extra pay for one 8-hour night shift

On top of salary and any loading or composite. Tasmania pays nothing extra because its 28% allowance already covers nights.

WA Police $126.56
SAPOL $84.18
QPS $79.24
Victoria Police $73.39
NSW Police $67.55
AFP $59.28
NT Police $52.69

Two systems sit side by side. Percentage loadings paid every fortnight (Queensland's 21% OSA, Tasmania's 28%, the NT's 23% Consolidated Allowance, SA's 23% Response Allowance and the AFP's 22% composite) cover most shift and weekend work, with a smaller night top-up in some forces. Per-shift allowances (NSW, WA and Victoria) pay only for the shifts you actually work.

WA's flat amounts are the simplest: $84.35 for an afternoon shift, $101.13 for an evening shift and $126.56 for a night shift, per 8 hours, pro rata for longer shifts. NSW pays 10%, 15% or 17.5% of the Sergeant Level 5 hourly rate depending on start time, so a NSW night is worth the same dollar amount to a probationary constable as to a senior sergeant.

Percentage loadings (QLD, TAS, NT, SA, AFP)

✓Paid every fortnight, whether or not you work a night that week
✓Easier to show a lender as regular income
✓Grow automatically with every pay rise

Per-shift allowances (NSW, VIC, WA)

✕Only paid for shifts you actually work
✕Pay drops in weeks with fewer nights or weekends
✕NSW's is fixed to one salary, so it's the same for every rank

Weekend and public holiday pay when it isn't overtime

Weekend day shifts

Weekend ordinary-hours pay

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: Covered by the 11.5% loading; day shifts starting 06:00–09:59 attract no shift allowance

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: 39.36% of the ordinary hourly rate (07:00–18:00); 45.22% of the ordinary hourly rate (18:00–01:00); 57.76% of the ordinary hourly rate (01:00–07:00). About $133.58 for an 8-hour Saturday day shift (our estimate)

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: Covered by the 21% OSA for OSA officers; non-OSA weekend penalties are in the award and weren't checked

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: $74.11 per 8-hour weekend day shift, pro rata for longer shifts

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: Covered by the 23% Response Allowance on the Response Extended Hours Roster (or the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance in listed specialist areas); award weekend rates weren't retrieved

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: No separate weekend rate: covered by the shift and penalty allowance (28% on a 24-hour roster)

8-hour Saturday or Sunday day shift: No separate weekend penalty in our data; the 23% Consolidated Allowance is understood to cover shift and weekend work (our interpretation)