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6. Historical data

Section 6 provides historical data on the:

  • median Base
    Salary for all classifications since 2004;
  • percentage change in median Base Salary for all classifications since 2005; and
  • percentage change in median Total Reward by classification since 2004.

When considering the historical data, changes in methodology over the reported period needs to be taken into account. Prior to 2010, when all agencies were required to provide remuneration data, participation in the APS Remuneration surveys was voluntary. While agency participation rates consistently increased over the decade, the composition of the agencies that participated could vary between years. In 2011, the data collection changed from being managed by a private contractor to being the responsibility of the Australian Public Service Commission. Changes in the collection and treatment of data have occurred across the entire period in which the APS remuneration data has been reported on.

There has been a significant increase in sample size from between 22,000 to 29,000 records reported in the years prior to 2009, to 120,000 records in 2009. In 2011, the Report moved from a sample methodology to census. That is since 2011, all relevant records submitted have been reported on in the APS Remuneration Reports.

Over the last decade, median Base Salaries have consistently increased, though the increase in 2014 was smaller than previous years. The greatest increase in median Base Salary was reported in 2009, with increases of 6.4% at the non-SES classifications, 6.2% at the SES classifications and an overall increase of 6.4%. The smallest increase in median Base Salaries was in 2014, with increases of 0.1% at the non-SES classifications, 0.2% at the SES and a 0.1% overall increase.

The greatest increase in median Total Reward was recorded in 2012, with increases of 6.5% at the non-SES classifications, 4.9% at the SES classifications and an overall increase of 6.5%. Consistent with median Base Salaries, the smallest year-to-year increase in median Total Reward was in 2014, with increases of 0.3% at the non-SES classifications, 1.0% at the SES classifications and an overall increase of 0.3%.

Figure 6.1: Median Base Salary by classification: Graduate to EL 1, 2005-14

 

Source: Table 6.1

Figure 6.2: Median Base Salary by classification: EL and SES, 2005-14

 

Source: Table 6.1

Table 6.1: Median Base Salary by classification: 2004-14
Classification 2004 $ 2005 $ 2006 $ 2007 $ 2008 $ 2009 $ 2010 $ 2011 $ 2012 $ 2013 $ 2014 $

Source: 2004–2010 APS Remuneration Surveys and 2011–2014 APS Remuneration Reports
Graduate 40,000 41,000 43,412 45,902 49,753 51,370 53,040 55,162 56,944 59,407 60,158
APS 1 32,893 33,935 35,371 36,040 37,371 40,659 41,148 41,151 43,944 45,263 47,004
APS 2 37,807 39,028 40,300 40,786 43,682 47,680 49,233 50,471 52,998 54,588 54,588
APS 3 42,452 43,923 45,345 46,542 49,000 52,327 54,577 56,215 59,677 61,512 61,512
APS 4 47,301 48,944 50,833 52,812 55,343 58,949 61,299 63,243 66,923 69,038 69,239
APS 5 52,018 53,931 56,400 58,825 61,000 64,728 67,017 68,092 72,487 74,331 74,331
APS 6 60,421 62,775 65,519 68,000 70,580 74,969 77,824 79,555 84,478 86,844 86,844
EL 1 74,787 77,767 80,921 84,875 88,270 93,826 97,275 99,378 104,825 108,013 108,013
EL 2 92,072 96,063 100,000 105,299 110,400 117,127 120,840 124,140 130,460 133,777 133,905
SES 1 116,543 122,000 127,945 135,000 141,651 149,987 158,277 164,586 172,000 178,330 178,617
SES 2 145,296 151,108 159,856 168,422 178,276 189,633 200,726 209,318 221,266 229,949 230,000
SES 3 179,883 187,500 198,994 211,000 226,000 248,000 261,910 273,383 282,931 300,000 302,000
Table 6.2: Percentage change in median Base Salary by classification group: 2005-14
Classification 2005 % 2006 % 2007 % 2008 % 2009 % 2010 % 2011 % 2012 % 2013 % 2014 %
Source: 2004–2010 APS Remuneration Surveys and 2011–2014 APS Remuneration Reports
Grad, APS1 - APS 3 3.3 3.7 2.6 6.0 7.1 3.9 2.8 5.8 3.1 0.2
APS4 - APS6 3.7 4.3 4.0 4.1 6.3 3.8 2.4 6.1 2.9 0.1
EL 4.2 4.1 5.1 4.4 6.2 3.5 2.3 5.4 2.9 0.0
Non-SES 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.6 6.4 3.7 2.4 5.9 2.9 0.1
SES 4.5 5.1 5.5 5.2 6.2 5.6 4.1 4.7 3.8 0.2
All 3.9 4.2 4.2 4.6 6.4 3.8 2.5 5.8 2.9 0.1
Table 6.3: Percentage change in median TR by classification group: 2005-14
Classification 2005 % 2006 % 2007 % 2008 % 2009 % 2010 % 2011 % 2012 % 2013 % 2014 %
Source: 2004–2010 APS Remuneration Surveys and 2011–2014 APS Remuneration Reports
Grad, APS1 - APS 3 3.9 4.3 2.6 6.8 6.2 4.6 3.2 6.4 3.8 0.1
APS4 - APS6 3.4 4.5 4.7 4.3 5.3 3.6 3.1 6.7 3.3 0.3
EL 4.5 3.9 5.4 4.7 3.6 3.0 2.5 6.2 3.0 0.4
Non-SES 3.9 4.3 4.5 5.0 5.0 3.7 3.0 6.5 3.3 0.3
SES 2.9 5.4 5.5 4.2 2.6 2.2 3.1 4.9 2.8 1.0
All 3.9 4.3 4.6 4.9 4.9 3.6 3.0 6.5 3.3 0.3

Figure 6.3: Percentage change in median Base Salary by classification group: 2005-14

 

Source: Table 6.2

Figure 6.4: Percentage change in median TR by classification group: 2005-14

 

Source: Table 6.3

Last reviewed: 
29 March 2018