APS Remuneration Survey
The APS Remuneration Survey (the Survey) is the source of data for the APS Remuneration Report (the Report), an annual snapshot of remuneration across the Australian Public Service. The Report's findings provide a breakdown of remuneration across classification levels as well as illustrating the changes from year to year. This data is also used to create Individual Agency Reports that compare each agency's remuneration profile with the overall APS results. Individual Agency Reports are provided to agency heads or to someone the agency head (or an authorised delegate) has granted access.
Remuneration Survey resources, including the updated Data specifications, are available below.
View the previous Remuneration Reports.
Important dates
Important dates for the APS remuneration survey
| Date | Task |
|---|---|
| 31 December 2021 | Date of Effect |
| 22 February 2022 | Remuneration data submission due date. |
It is appreciated if data files are submitted prior to the due date.
Please note that the collection of Remuneration Survey data is independent of and in addition to the collection of APSED data.
Changes to the Remuneration Survey from 2020 to 2021
On 13 August 2021 the Government published the Performance Bonus Guidance – Principles governing performance bonus use in Commonwealth entities and companies (the Guidance). For the purposes of the Guidance a performance bonus covers ‘at risk’, variable and one off payments or incentives based on performance.
Certain agencies have provisions in their Enterprise Agreements to pay employees at the top of their classification a fixed value (percentage of salary or cash) in recognition of ineligibility for progression subject to satisfactory or better performance. These type of payments have historically been reported in Item 21. Under the new Performance Bonus Guidance this payment is no longer considered a ‘performance bonus’ and must instead be reported in Item 31.
All payments that continue to meet the eligibility criteria of a genuine performance bonus (as defined under the Guidance) are to be reported in Item 21.
The new Performance Bonus Guidance webpage.
Item 15: Since the 2019 Remuneration Survey values have been included to distinguish between the intent of Public Service Act (PSA) Determinations:
- PSAa: a PSA Determination (s24(1)) used to make pay increases on top of an Enterprise Agreement that has passed its nominal expiry date, and
- PSAb: all other types of PSA Determinations (s24(1) & s24(3)).
For more information visit the Workplace Relations webpage.
Item 26: The name of this item has changed to better reflect the type of allowances reported against it. Any payments previously reported in Item 26 should continue to be reported here.
This year there will be a short accompanying survey regarding SES remuneration packaging and impacts of the Government’s wage deferral decision on non-SES employees’ remuneration. A link will be sent in January to input your agency’s response.
Machinery of Government changes
If you have any questions regarding your Agency’s reporting as a result of Machinery of Government changes contact remuneration@apsc.gov.au.
Sending data to the Commission
Remuneration Survey data must be sent to the Commission securely.
If your agency is on GovLink (a Commonwealth secure Virtual Private Network) you may email data to the Commission as all emails between GovLink agencies are encrypted automatically in transition.
You can check if your agency is using GovLink by searching the list here: http://govlink.sge.net/UserList.aspx
If your agency is not on GovLink, please use the secure method used to upload APSED movement and snapshot files. This is via the GovTeams platform, a digital collaboration service that allows data files to be uploaded and shared in a secure manner to the Commission. If you require an invitation for this GovTeams community, please email remuneration@apsc.gov.au.
Remuneration Survey resources
Remuneration Survey Data Specifications
The Remuneration Survey Data Specifications outline the procedure for completing the Survey and detail the data items to be reported on.
Remuneration Survey FAQs
If you have a question that is not covered in the Remuneration Survey FAQs, please contact remuneration@apsc.gov.au.
Excel spreadsheet template
A spreadsheet has been developed to assist agencies without an automated HR information system. If you would like a copy of this macro-enabled workbook please contact remuneration@apsc.gov.au.
Column header template
The template below can be used to assist you with viewing raw data. It shows the name and number of each data item, and is colour-coded to show fields that are related to each other. If you fill out one of these coloured fields you must also complete any other field with the corresponding colour. The fields that are shaded yellow must contain a value for all employees. The template prints on to one A4 landscape page.
The second tab in the template can be copied and pasted directly over your data to assist you while completing the data file.
List of allowances
This document lists all the known allowances and in which Data Item each allowance should go. It also shows some allowances that are 'out of scope' and should not be reported.
If you have a question regarding an allowance that is not covered in this list please contact remuneration@apsc.gov.au
Remuneration Survey Business Validation Rules
The Remuneration Survey Business Validation Rules (the Validation Rules) outline the parameters used to process and validate data received from agencies for the Remuneration Survey. Data validation ensures that the data received meets the data specifications (see above), and also confirms that data is assigned to the appropriate categories. The purpose of sharing the Validation Rules is to ensure improved data quality and to help streamline the remuneration reporting process in the current and future cycles.
The Commission applies various data-checking processes to the data, comparing data received in the Remuneration Survey against employee information collected through APS Employment Database reporting. To reduce discrepancies and the number of queries sent to agencies, the Commission encourages all agencies to apply the Validation Rules to their Remuneration Survey data prior to submitting to the Commission.
If you have any questions about the Validation Rules or how they should be applied to your agency’s data, please contact remuneration@apsc.gov.au.
Privacy
Information collected for the Commission must be treated in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) of the Privacy Act 1988 (the Privacy Act) and compliance with these APPs is the responsibility of each agency. In particular, agencies are required to advise employees that they are disclosing employees' information to the Commission. To assist agencies in ensuring that they comply with the Privacy Act when providing APS employment information, the Commission has prepared the collection notice.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Remuneration Survey please contact the project team at remuneration@apsc.gov.au.