Detective pay and allowances
what each force really pays

If you're weighing up a move into a criminal investigation unit, the first thing to know is that "detective pay" means something different in every force. In NSW it's a separate pay scale. In Victoria it's a flat yearly sum that replaces overtime. Everywhere else except the AFP it's an allowance, either a fixed dollar amount or a percentage.

NSW Police

How detectives are paid

Separate Detective pay scale (Table 2b) plus Detectives' special allowance

Amount now

$8,073 a year over the matching general duties level ^calc

Where it's set

Award cl 38.1, Tables 2b, 7 and 9

Victoria Police

How detectives are paid

Commuted overtime (COT 2) paid in lieu of overtime and recall

Amount now

$14,157 (Constable, Senior Constable) or $19,217 (Sergeant, Senior Sergeant)

Where it's set

EA cl 47.2, Sch B

QPS

How detectives are paid

Detective Allowance: 4.5% of Sergeant pay point 1 (3.1)

Amount now

$5,317 a year, about $203.80 a fortnight (QPS official CUA rate from 1 July 2026)

Where it's set

CA 2025 cl 29; QPS CUA schedule

WA Police

How detectives are paid

Investigative skills allowance

Amount now

$3,341 a year

Where it's set

Agreement cl 17.2

SAPOL

How detectives are paid

Detective Attraction and Retention Allowance; CIB is also on the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance

Amount now

$10,682 a year (rate from 1 January 2024)

Where it's set

EA 2021 cl 25, cl 30, Sch 4

Tasmania Police

How detectives are paid

Detectives Allowance

Amount now

$6,586.34 a year

Where it's set

Police Award No. 2 of 2026

NT Police

How detectives are paid

Detectives Allowance: 5% of base salary

Amount now

About $6,027 at Senior Constable 6 ^calc

Where it's set

Consent Agreement 2022

AFP

How detectives are paid

None in the enterprise agreement

Where it's set

EA 2024-2027

Force	How detectives are paid	Amount now	Where it's set
NSW Police	Separate Detective pay scale (Table 2b) plus Detectives' special allowance	$8,073 a year over the matching general duties level calc	Award cl 38.1, Tables 2b, 7 and 9
Victoria Police	Commuted overtime (COT 2) paid in lieu of overtime and recall	$14,157 (Constable, Senior Constable) or $19,217 (Sergeant, Senior Sergeant)	EA cl 47.2, Sch B
QPS	Detective Allowance: 4.5% of Sergeant pay point 1 (3.1)	$5,317 a year, about $203.80 a fortnight (QPS official CUA rate from 1 July 2026)	CA 2025 cl 29; QPS CUA schedule
WA Police	Investigative skills allowance	$3,341 a year	Agreement cl 17.2
SAPOL	Detective Attraction and Retention Allowance; CIB is also on the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance	$10,682 a year (rate from 1 January 2024)	EA 2021 cl 25, cl 30, Sch 4
Tasmania Police	Detectives Allowance	$6,586.34 a year	Police Award No. 2 of 2026
NT Police	Detectives Allowance: 5% of base salary	About $6,027 at Senior Constable 6 calc	Consent Agreement 2022
AFP	None in the enterprise agreement	–	EA 2024-2027

Amounts are read from each force's data file, which records the clause and the date we read it. 'calc' marks a figure calculated by us from the agreement's rule. Queensland's figure is QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment rate from 1 July 2026.

The table only tells you half the story. A detective role usually means more day work and fewer rostered nights and weekends, so the shift allowances you earned in general duties can shrink. Some forces pay detectives overtime at better rates, and one pays none at all. The sections below take each force in turn, then put the numbers side by side after tax.

If you haven't started on the path yet, our guide on how to become a detective covers the years of service, courses and designation process in each force. This page is about the money once you get there.

NSW detectives are paid from Table 2b of the Crown Employees (Police Officers) Award 2024, not the general duties table. The base salaries in that table match general duties salaries one for one: Detective Level 1 has the same base as a Constable Level 4 ($92,422). The difference is in the "loaded" figure, which the award builds from three parts.

1. 1

   The 11.5% loading

   Same as GD

   Every non-commissioned officer gets the 11.5% loading paid as salary (cl 40). It compensates for weekends, shift work and recall, and replaces annual leave loading.

2. 2

   Grade 3 special duties allowance

   $5,617

   Under cl 38.1 detectives get an allowance equal to the Grade 3 (5 years) special duties allowance: $5,617 a year from 1 July 2026 (Table 9). Officers in Grade 3 special duties roles start lower and work up to that rate over five years; detectives get it from the start and can't also claim a special duties allowance (cl 42.3).

3. 3

   Detectives' special allowance

   $2,456

   A further $2,456 a year from 1 July 2026 (Table 7), up from $2,339 in 2025 and $2,249 in 2024.

We checked this against the award. Detective Level 1's base of $92,422 × 1.115, plus $5,617 and $2,456, gives $111,124, matching the award's loaded figure of $111,124 to the dollar. So a detective earns $8,073 a year more than a general duties officer on the same base salary, before shift allowances and overtime.

Detective Level 1

Base

$92,422

Detective loaded figure

$111,124

General duties match

Constable Level 4

GD with 11.5% loading

$103,051

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 2

Base

$93,993

Detective loaded figure

$112,875

General duties match

Constable Level 5

GD with 11.5% loading

$104,802

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 3

Base

$103,399

Detective loaded figure

$123,363

General duties match

Senior Constable Level 1

GD with 11.5% loading

$115,290

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 4

Base

$109,661

Detective loaded figure

$130,345

General duties match

Senior Constable Level 2

GD with 11.5% loading

$122,272

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 5

Base

$115,928

Detective loaded figure

$137,333

General duties match

Senior Constable Level 3

GD with 11.5% loading

$129,260

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 6

Base

$119,058

Detective loaded figure

$140,823

General duties match

Senior Constable Level 4

GD with 11.5% loading

$132,750

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 7

Base

$125,281

Detective loaded figure

$147,761

General duties match

Senior Constable Level 5

GD with 11.5% loading

$139,688

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Level 8

Base

$127,704

Detective loaded figure

$150,463

General duties match

No general duties equivalent

Detective Sergeant Level 1

Base

$128,457

Detective loaded figure

$151,303

General duties match

Sergeant Level 1

GD with 11.5% loading

$143,230

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Sergeant Level 2

Base

$133,154

Detective loaded figure

$156,540

General duties match

Sergeant Level 2

GD with 11.5% loading

$148,467

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Sergeant Level 3

Base

$136,290

Detective loaded figure

$160,036

General duties match

Sergeant Level 3

GD with 11.5% loading

$151,963

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Sergeant Level 4

Base

$139,426

Detective loaded figure

$163,533

General duties match

Sergeant Level 4

GD with 11.5% loading

$155,460

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Sergeant Level 5

Base

$140,989

Detective loaded figure

$165,276

General duties match

Sergeant Level 5

GD with 11.5% loading

$157,203

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Senior Sergeant Level 1

Base

$144,118

Detective loaded figure

$168,765

General duties match

Senior Sergeant Level 1

GD with 11.5% loading

$160,692

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Senior Sergeant Level 2

Base

$146,411

Detective loaded figure

$171,321

General duties match

Senior Sergeant Level 2

GD with 11.5% loading

$163,248

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective Senior Sergeant Level 3

Base

$148,703

Detective loaded figure

$173,877

General duties match

Senior Sergeant Level 3

GD with 11.5% loading

$165,804

Detective premium

+$8,073

Detective level	Base	Detective loaded figure	General duties match	GD with 11.5% loading	Detective premium
Detective Level 1	$92,422	$111,124	Constable Level 4	$103,051	+$8,073
Detective Level 2	$93,993	$112,875	Constable Level 5	$104,802	+$8,073
Detective Level 3	$103,399	$123,363	Senior Constable Level 1	$115,290	+$8,073
Detective Level 4	$109,661	$130,345	Senior Constable Level 2	$122,272	+$8,073
Detective Level 5	$115,928	$137,333	Senior Constable Level 3	$129,260	+$8,073
Detective Level 6	$119,058	$140,823	Senior Constable Level 4	$132,750	+$8,073
Detective Level 7	$125,281	$147,761	Senior Constable Level 5	$139,688	+$8,073
Detective Level 8	$127,704	$150,463	No general duties equivalent	–	–
Detective Sergeant Level 1	$128,457	$151,303	Sergeant Level 1	$143,230	+$8,073
Detective Sergeant Level 2	$133,154	$156,540	Sergeant Level 2	$148,467	+$8,073
Detective Sergeant Level 3	$136,290	$160,036	Sergeant Level 3	$151,963	+$8,073
Detective Sergeant Level 4	$139,426	$163,533	Sergeant Level 4	$155,460	+$8,073
Detective Sergeant Level 5	$140,989	$165,276	Sergeant Level 5	$157,203	+$8,073
Detective Senior Sergeant Level 1	$144,118	$168,765	Senior Sergeant Level 1	$160,692	+$8,073
Detective Senior Sergeant Level 2	$146,411	$171,321	Senior Sergeant Level 2	$163,248	+$8,073
Detective Senior Sergeant Level 3	$148,703	$173,877	Senior Sergeant Level 3	$165,804	+$8,073

Loaded figures are from the award. General duties matches pair each detective level with the general duties point on the same base salary. Detective Level 8 has no general duties equivalent: it sits above the top of Senior Constable.

Two features stand out. Detective Level 8 ($127,704 base) has no general duties twin, so a long-serving detective can go past the top of Senior Constable ($125,281 base) without promotion. And because the Grade 3 allowance is built in from day one, a newly designated detective gets the full five-year rate straight away.

Victoria Police detectives up to Senior Sergeant don't claim overtime in the usual way. Instead they receive commuted overtime, known as COT 2, "in lieu of overtime and recall" under cl 47.2 of the 2025 enterprise agreement. It's paid whether or not you work the hours, and it doesn't rise if you work more.

What COT 2 covers is "overtime worked in the normal flow of work" (cl 47.10). Planned organisational exercises, such as counter-terrorism or emergency drills, are paid separately (cl 47.11). If approved hours run past 12 in a stretch, an excessive-hours payment at the ordinary hourly rate applies until you get an 8-hour break, and the agreement requires the employer to reduce excessive hours (cl 47.12 to 47.16).

The rates step up each June under the agreement. From 1 June 2027 COT 2 becomes $14,723 for Constables and Senior Constables and $19,986 for Sergeants and Senior Sergeants. Members without Operational Readiness status get a slightly lower rate: $13,752 and $18,668 from 1 June 2026. COT 1 applies to temporary investigative assignments of up to six months and to Tactical Intelligence Officers.

The break-even point

The question every Victorian investigator asks is whether COT beats claiming overtime. We worked it out from the agreement's overtime basis: the base hourly rate is the ordinary rate ÷ 1.13 (to strip out the commuted penalty) ÷ 52.14 weeks ÷ 38 hours. Weekday overtime is time and a half for the first 3 hours, then double time; weekends and public holidays are double time.

Senior Constable point 12 ($118,945)

Base hourly rate

$53.13 ^calc

COT 2 a year

$14,157

Overtime hours COT 2 equals at 1.5×

178 hours ^calc

At 2×

133 hours ^calc

Sergeant point 6 ($149,358)

Base hourly rate

$66.71 ^calc

COT 2 a year

$19,217

Overtime hours COT 2 equals at 1.5×

192 hours ^calc

At 2×

144 hours ^calc

Rank and point	Base hourly rate	COT 2 a year	Overtime hours COT 2 equals at 1.5×	At 2×
Senior Constable point 12 ($118,945)	$53.13 calc	$14,157	178 hours calc	133 hours calc
Sergeant point 6 ($149,358)	$66.71 calc	$19,217	192 hours calc	144 hours calc

Calculated by us: COT 2 ÷ (base hourly rate × multiplier). Real overtime is a mix of 1.5× and 2× hours, so the true break-even sits between the two columns.

Put simply: a Senior Constable detective would need to work somewhere between 133 and 178 hours of paid overtime a year, about 3 to 4 hours a working week, to earn the same as COT 2. Ask the unit what overtime its detectives really work before you assume either way. Whatever the answer, COT gives you certainty, which matters if you're borrowing (see police home loans).

COT 2 is a fixed price for your overtime. Whether it's a good deal depends on how many hours your unit really works.

The QPS Certified Agreement 2025 pays a Detective Allowance of 4.5% of the fortnightly salary for Sergeant pay point 1, which is 3.1 in the pay table (cl 29.2). Because it's tied to a Sergeant's rate, every detective gets the same dollar amount whatever their own rank. QPS's official CPI Uplift Adjustment schedule puts it at $5,317 a year from 1 July 2026, about $203.80 a fortnight on the agreement's 365.25-day year.

The agreement printed its dollar figures on the original pay rates, before the 2025 CPI uplift lifted salaries. QPS's uplifted schedule settles how that works: the allowance follows the uplifted Sergeant 3.1 rate ($118,127), and $5,317 is 4.5% of it. If a March 2027 CPI uplift lifts salaries again, the allowance should move with them.

That last comparison is the one that matters most in Queensland. If you're moving from an OSA roster to a Monday-to-Friday investigative role, you could give up more in OSA than you gain in detective allowance. If your CIB still runs a qualifying shift roster, you may keep both. See QPS pay for the full table and OSA rules.

Western Australia

WA pays an investigative skills allowance of $3,341 a year from 1 July 2026 (cl 17.2), up from $3,220 in 2025, paid as part of your income. It goes to detectives and probationary detectives, and also to Internal Affairs, the Gold Stealing Detection Unit, the Surveillance Unit and Security Operations Division. Internal Affairs investigators also have a separate allowance of 10% of base salary (cl 17.10).

Officers working in plain clothes for five or more consecutive days also get a civilian clothing allowance of $1,299 a year (cl 17.5). For comparison, a general duties officer on nights earns $126.56 for each 8-hour night shift (cl 16.1), so fewer than 27 night shifts a year would match the investigative skills allowance.

South Australia

SA pays the most generous flat sum: a Detective Attraction and Retention Allowance of $10,682 a year from 1 January 2024 (EA cl 25, Schedule 4). It's paid to officers who have completed the Detective Training Course and hold a permanent detective position, continues on all paid leave, and replaces the award's out-of-pocket and plain clothes allowances. The 2021 agreement doesn't schedule a later rate, and whether it has risen since isn't confirmed.

CIB, Major Crime and the other areas listed in Schedule 2 are also on the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance, which is paid in lieu of shift and weekend penalties. Metropolitan response teams get the 23% Response Allowance instead. So moving from response to CIB changes two things at once.

Response Allowance, 23% (response teams)

Per year

$27,035 ^calc

Flexible Shiftwork Allowance, 18.5% (CIB and listed areas)

Per year

$21,745 ^calc

Roster allowance you give up moving to CIB

Per year

−$5,289 ^calc

Detective Attraction and Retention Allowance

Per year

+$10,682

Net change before tax

Per year

+$5,393 ^calc

SA Senior Constable, top increment ($117,542)	Per year
Response Allowance, 23% (response teams)	$27,035 calc
Flexible Shiftwork Allowance, 18.5% (CIB and listed areas)	$21,745 calc
Roster allowance you give up moving to CIB	−$5,289 calc
Detective Attraction and Retention Allowance	+$10,682
Net change before tax	+$5,393 calc

Uses SAPOL's published top Senior Constable rate from 1 January 2026 and the EA percentages. Overtime is paid separately under both allowances.

Tasmania

Tasmania Police pays designated Detective Constables and Sergeants in CIB and listed units a Detectives Allowance of $6,586.34 a year (award cl 9.7, as consolidated in March 2026). It's CPI-indexed each year on March-to-March figures, so a newer rate may already apply. Officers who aren't designated but are attached to investigative areas get $3,183.90. There's a separate plain clothes expense allowance ($3,091.81 a year at the regular rate); whether it's paid alongside the detectives allowance isn't stated in our data, so ask your payroll or the Police Association of Tasmania.

The bigger number in Tasmania is the shift and penalty allowance: 28% of salary for 24-hour rotating rosters, falling to 15% for rosters with limited afternoon and weekend work. On a Constable Level 13(ii) salary of $107,420, that gap is $13,965 a year ^calc, more than the detectives allowance, so your CIB roster decides whether you come out ahead.

Northern Territory

NT detectives at Senior Sergeant and below, qualified and designated as detectives and working in units the Commissioner gazettes, get a Detectives Allowance of 5% of base salary (Consent Agreement 2022 cl 18). At Senior Constable 6 ($120,539, a rate we estimated from the 2025 agreement) that's about $6,027 a year. The NT's plain clothes allowance was $2,305 a year when the 2022 agreement was certified; it's CPI-indexed and the current figure isn't published in what we read.

AFP and ACT Policing

The AFP Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 has no detective or investigator allowance. AFP investigators on the operations pattern receive the 22% Core Composite like other operational staff, and the detective designation is a professional qualification rather than a pay step. In the AFP, extra pay comes from moving up the broadband, not from being designated. See AFP salary and AFP promotion.

Here's what each force's detective payment adds to take-home pay for a mid-career officer, using 2026-27 resident tax rates and the Medicare levy. We've used a Senior Constable-level salary in each force so the comparison is roughly like for like.

NSW Police

Salary used

Senior Constable L3, incl. 11.5% loading ($129,260)

Detective extra a year

$8,073

Extra take-home a year

$5,326

Per fortnight

$205

Victoria Police

Salary used

Senior Constable point 12 ($118,945)

Detective extra a year

$14,157

Extra take-home a year

$9,627

Per fortnight

$370

QPS

Salary used

Senior Constable 2.10 ($118,127)

Detective extra a year

$5,317

Extra take-home a year

$3,616

Per fortnight

$139

WA Police

Salary used

Senior Constable top increment ($124,558)

Detective extra a year

$3,341

Extra take-home a year

$2,272

Per fortnight

$87

SAPOL

Salary used

Senior Constable top increment ($117,542)

Detective extra a year

$10,682

Extra take-home a year

$7,264

Per fortnight

$279

Tasmania Police

Salary used

Constable Level 13(ii) ($107,420)

Detective extra a year

$6,586

Extra take-home a year

$4,479

Per fortnight

$172

NT Police

Salary used

Senior Constable 6 ($120,539)

Detective extra a year

$6,027 ^calc

Extra take-home a year

$4,098 ^calc

Per fortnight

$158

AFP

Salary used

No detective allowance in the agreement

Force	Salary used	Detective extra a year	Extra take-home a year	Per fortnight
NSW Police	Senior Constable L3, incl. 11.5% loading ($129,260)	$8,073	$5,326	$205
Victoria Police	Senior Constable point 12 ($118,945)	$14,157	$9,627	$370
QPS	Senior Constable 2.10 ($118,127)	$5,317	$3,616	$139
WA Police	Senior Constable top increment ($124,558)	$3,341	$2,272	$87
SAPOL	Senior Constable top increment ($117,542)	$10,682	$7,264	$279
Tasmania Police	Constable Level 13(ii) ($107,420)	$6,586	$4,479	$172
NT Police	Senior Constable 6 ($120,539)	$6,027 calc	$4,098 calc	$158
AFP	No detective allowance in the agreement	–	–	–

Calculated by us with 2026-27 resident tax rates, the 2% Medicare levy and no HELP debt. Shows the allowance or scale difference only; shift allowances and overtime you gain or lose are not included. NSW compares Detective Level 5 with Senior Constable Level 3, which share a base salary.

At these salaries most officers are in the 30% bracket, so the marginal rate including Medicare is 32%. A NSW detective keeps about $5,326 of the $8,073 premium, a Victorian Senior Constable detective about $9,627 of COT 2, and an SA detective about $7,264 of the $10,682 allowance.

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Model your own detective pay

Pick your force and pay point, add the detective allowance or COT under other allowances, and set your roster to see your real fortnightly take-home.

Open the take-home calculator →

Many detective roles are mostly day work, with on-call and recall instead of a fixed 24/7 rotation. For some people that's the attraction. But in most forces your general duties pay was boosted by shift allowances, and those depend on the hours you're rostered, not your title.

NSW Police

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Per-shift allowance on the Sergeant L5 base: a 10-hour B (night) shift is worth about $84.44 ^calc (cl 50)

Detective pay that replaces it

$8,073 premium; the 11.5% loading stays

Victoria Police

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Shift loadings on some rosters, plus paid overtime and recall

Detective pay that replaces it

COT 2 of $14,157 to $19,217; the 13% commuted penalty stays in salary

QPS

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

21% Operational Shift Allowance if you leave a qualifying roster ($24,807 at Senior Constable 2.10) ^calc

Detective pay that replaces it

Detective Allowance of about $5,317 a year

WA Police

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Night shift allowance of $126.56 per 8-hour shift (cl 16.1), plus evening allowances

Detective pay that replaces it

$3,341 investigative skills allowance

SAPOL

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

23% Response Allowance replaced by the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance

Detective pay that replaces it

$10,682 detective allowance

Tasmania Police

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Shift and penalty allowance of up to 28%, falling to 21% or 15% on lighter rosters

Detective pay that replaces it

$6,586.34 detectives allowance

NT Police

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Night shift allowance of 15% for each night shift worked

Detective pay that replaces it

5% of base salary

AFP

Shift pay a general duties officer may give up

Nothing specific: the 22% Core Composite applies to operational staff either way

Detective pay that replaces it

None

Force	Shift pay a general duties officer may give up	Detective pay that replaces it
NSW Police	Per-shift allowance on the Sergeant L5 base: a 10-hour B (night) shift is worth about $84.44 calc (cl 50)	$8,073 premium; the 11.5% loading stays
Victoria Police	Shift loadings on some rosters, plus paid overtime and recall	COT 2 of $14,157 to $19,217; the 13% commuted penalty stays in salary
QPS	21% Operational Shift Allowance if you leave a qualifying roster ($24,807 at Senior Constable 2.10) calc	Detective Allowance of about $5,317 a year
WA Police	Night shift allowance of $126.56 per 8-hour shift (cl 16.1), plus evening allowances	$3,341 investigative skills allowance
SAPOL	23% Response Allowance replaced by the 18.5% Flexible Shiftwork Allowance	$10,682 detective allowance
Tasmania Police	Shift and penalty allowance of up to 28%, falling to 21% or 15% on lighter rosters	$6,586.34 detectives allowance
NT Police	Night shift allowance of 15% for each night shift worked	5% of base salary
AFP	Nothing specific: the 22% Core Composite applies to operational staff either way	None

The honest answer is that some officers take a pay cut to become a detective, especially in Queensland and Tasmania where the shift allowance is a large percentage of salary. Others come out ahead, especially in NSW and SA where the detective premium is large and fixed. Use the overtime calculator to compare what your current roster pays with what the detective role would.

How an allowance is treated for super and overtime can change its real value by thousands of dollars over a career. The agreements are explicit in some places and silent in others.

NSW Police

Overtime base

Base plus the Grade 3 special duties allowance, excluding the 11.5% loading: $98,039 a year at Detective Level 1 (award Table 2b)

Leave

Not stated in the clauses we read

Super

Overtime is worked on base plus allowances that attract super (cl 52.4.1); the Grade 3 amount is in that base and the detectives' special allowance isn't, which indicates the first attracts super. Confirm on your payslip

Victoria Police

Overtime base

Not applicable: COT 2 replaces overtime and recall in the normal flow of work (cl 47.2, 47.10)

Leave

The agreement doesn't say

Super

Victorian police are in the ESSS defined benefit scheme; whether COT counts toward final average salary isn't confirmed here

QPS

Overtime base

Detectives get double time for all overtime

Leave

Paid on all forms of paid leave (cl 29.5)

Super

Clause 29 is silent; QPS pays 18% employer super on ordinary time earnings

WA Police

Overtime base

Fortnightly salary ÷ 80 × 1.5 or 2 (cl 13.8)

Leave

Not stated in our data

Super

Paid 'as a part of the Employee's income' (cl 17.2); super treatment not stated

SAPOL

Overtime base

Not part of salary for overtime (cl 25)

Leave

Continues on all paid leave (cl 25)

Super

Not part of salary for super (cl 25)

Tasmania Police

Overtime base

Double time at the normal salary rate

Leave

Not stated in our data

Super

Not stated in our data

NT Police

Overtime base

Ordinary rate × 1.5, 2 or 2.5

Leave

Not stated in our data

Super

Not stated in our data

Force	Overtime base	Leave	Super
NSW Police	Base plus the Grade 3 special duties allowance, excluding the 11.5% loading: $98,039 a year at Detective Level 1 (award Table 2b)	Not stated in the clauses we read	Overtime is worked on base plus allowances that attract super (cl 52.4.1); the Grade 3 amount is in that base and the detectives' special allowance isn't, which indicates the first attracts super. Confirm on your payslip
Victoria Police	Not applicable: COT 2 replaces overtime and recall in the normal flow of work (cl 47.2, 47.10)	The agreement doesn't say	Victorian police are in the ESSS defined benefit scheme; whether COT counts toward final average salary isn't confirmed here
QPS	Detectives get double time for all overtime	Paid on all forms of paid leave (cl 29.5)	Clause 29 is silent; QPS pays 18% employer super on ordinary time earnings
WA Police	Fortnightly salary ÷ 80 × 1.5 or 2 (cl 13.8)	Not stated in our data	Paid 'as a part of the Employee's income' (cl 17.2); super treatment not stated
SAPOL	Not part of salary for overtime (cl 25)	Continues on all paid leave (cl 25)	Not part of salary for super (cl 25)
Tasmania Police	Double time at the normal salary rate	Not stated in our data	Not stated in our data
NT Police	Ordinary rate × 1.5, 2 or 2.5	Not stated in our data	Not stated in our data

Where a cell says "not stated", that doesn't mean the answer is no. It means the clause we read doesn't settle it. Your payslip will show whether super is calculated on the allowance, and your police association can confirm the rule. Our police super guide explains why it matters most in defined benefit schemes, where final salary drives the whole benefit.

Detectives buy and maintain their own work clothes, and most agreements recognise that, either inside the detective allowance or as a separate payment.

NSW Police

Clothing payment

Plain clothes allowance $1,259 a year (higher in cold and snow areas)

Detectives get it?

No, built into the detective scale (cl 65)

Victoria Police

Clothing payment

Civilian clothing allowance $3,786.50 (male) or $4,146.91 (female) a year, being equalised by 1 June 2027

Detectives get it?

Yes: the agreement's example is detectives (cl 105)

QPS

Clothing payment

Plain clothes allowance 4% of Sergeant pay point 1

Detectives get it?

No: detectives get the 4.5% detective allowance instead (cl 29)

WA Police

Clothing payment

Civilian clothing allowance $1,299 a year for 5+ consecutive days in plain clothes

Detectives get it?

Yes, if the condition is met (cl 17.5)

SAPOL

Clothing payment

Award plain clothes and out-of-pocket allowances

Detectives get it?

No, replaced by the detective allowance

Tasmania Police

Clothing payment

Plain clothes expense allowance $3,091.81 a year (regular)

Detectives get it?

Not confirmed

NT Police

Clothing payment

Plain clothes allowance $2,305 a year (2022 figure, CPI-indexed)

Detectives get it?

Not confirmed

Force	Clothing payment	Detectives get it?
NSW Police	Plain clothes allowance $1,259 a year (higher in cold and snow areas)	No, built into the detective scale (cl 65)
Victoria Police	Civilian clothing allowance $3,786.50 (male) or $4,146.91 (female) a year, being equalised by 1 June 2027	Yes: the agreement's example is detectives (cl 105)
QPS	Plain clothes allowance 4% of Sergeant pay point 1	No: detectives get the 4.5% detective allowance instead (cl 29)
WA Police	Civilian clothing allowance $1,299 a year for 5+ consecutive days in plain clothes	Yes, if the condition is met (cl 17.5)
SAPOL	Award plain clothes and out-of-pocket allowances	No, replaced by the detective allowance
Tasmania Police	Plain clothes expense allowance $3,091.81 a year (regular)	Not confirmed
NT Police	Plain clothes allowance $2,305 a year (2022 figure, CPI-indexed)	Not confirmed

Clothing allowances are taxable income. If you spend money on clothing that is genuinely protective or a compulsory uniform you may be able to claim it, but ordinary suits and business clothes usually aren't deductible even if you only wear them for work. See police uniform and laundry deductions for the ATO's rules.

For most people the decision is about the work, not the money. But you should go in knowing whether your pay will rise or fall. Run through this before you apply.

We only state what we've read in an agreement, award or official page. These are the gaps that affect detective pay, and who can fill them.

• SA: whether the $10,682 detective allowance has risen since 1 January 2024. SA's new enterprise agreement is under negotiation. The Police Association of South Australia can confirm the current rate.
• NT: the current CPI-indexed plain clothes allowance, and whether the 2025 Consent Agreement changed the detectives allowance. The NT Police Association has the agreement.
• Victoria: whether COT counts as salary for ESSS super. ESSSuper and The Police Association Victoria can confirm.
• Tasmania: whether the plain clothes expense allowance is paid on top of the detectives allowance. Ask the Police Association of Tasmania.