5. Additional information

The following section provides information on remuneration outcomes by employment instrument, by sex and by employment category.

5.1 Employment Instrument

An APS employee may have their employment terms and conditions set by one of the following primary employment instruments:

  • Enterprise Agreements (EA);
  • Public Service Act Determinations (PSAD);
  • Common Law Agreements (CLA); or
  • Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA).

An Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA) may be used to vary the terms and conditions of an EA. This is subject to the employee being better off overall than they would be if they remained on the terms provided by the EA.

Most employees in the non-SES classifications are employed under an EA. Very small numbers of employees at these levels are covered by PSADs, CLAs or AWAs. There has been a decrease from 2014 to 2015 in the proportion of employees on PSADs, while the proportion of employees on CLAs remains the same. There are 100 AWAs remaining in the APS.

As at 31 December 2015, IFAs were in place for 3,164 APS employees representing 2.3% of the workforce. This is down from 3,535 employees, or 2.5% of the workforce in 2014. At the non-SES classifications, IFAs were used most commonly at the EL 2 level with 1,424 in place, representing 12.6% of the total number of EL 2s. This was down from 1,742, or 14.9% in 2014.

Table 5.1 demonstrates that the most commonly used primary employment instrument at the SES levels was a PSAD.

Table 5.2 shows for the non-SES classifications, PSADs tended to deliver a lower median Base Salary compared with other employment instruments. At the non-SES classifications, PSADs are used as a short-term interim instrument during periods of structural change, such as machinery of government changes. CLAs provided the highest median Base Salary at the non-SES classifications. However, CLAs are rarely used at the non-SES classification levels. The EL 2 classification has the highest use of CLAs out of the non-SES classifications, with 0.7% of EL 2 employees covered by a CLA.

At the SES classifications, Table 5.2 shows that the employment instrument that provided the highest median value was AWAs.

Table 5.1: Employees by employment instrument and classification
Classification Primary Secondary
EA AWA PSAD CLA IFA
n % n % n % n % n %
Graduate 1,158 99.9 . . . . 1 0.1 . 0.0
APS 1 804 100.0 . . . . . . 3 0.4
APS 2 3,260 99.9 . . 1 0.0 4 0.1 4 0.1
APS 3 15,423 99.6 . . 56 0.4 14 0.1 87 0.6
APS 4 29,111 99.8 . . 41 0.1 29 0.1 98 0.3
APS 5 19,728 99.5 1 0.0 78 0.4 28 0.1 135 0.7
APS 6 30,451 99.3 2 0.0 187 0.6 33 0.1 495 1.6
EL 1 24,643 99.4 10 0.0 73 0.3 56 0.2 894 3.6
EL 2 11,188 98.7 29 0.3 44 0.4 74 0.7 1,424 12.6
SES 1 123 6.5 33 1.7 1,484 78.2 257 13.6 18 0.9
SES 2 27 5.1 23 4.4 405 76.7 73 13.8 6 1.1
SES 3 6 5.3 2 1.8 93 82.3 12 10.6 . 0.0
Total 135,922 97.7 100 0.1 2,462 1.8 581 0.4 3,164 2.3
Table 5.2: Base Salary by primary employment instrument and classification
  Employment instrument Base Salary
Employees n P5 $ Q1$ Median $ Q3 $ P95 $
Graduate EA 1,158 53,652 57,513 60,158 63,236 69,456
AWA 0 . . . . .
PSAD 0 . . . . .
CLA 1 60,857 60,857 60,857 60,857 60,857
APS 1 EA 804 39,144 43,216 47,736 48,533 49,697
AWA 0 . . . . .
PSAD 0 . . . . .
CLA 0 . . . . .
APS 2 EA 3,260 48,525 51,308 54,588 55,096 56,435
AWA 0 . . . . .
PSAD 1 48,697 48,697 48,697 48,697 48,697
CLA 4 57,400 59,647 62,822 64,489 65,228
APS 3 EA 15,423 55,553 59,933 61,512 62,492 62,560
AWA 0 . . . . .
PSAD 56 51,004 51,009 51,009 59,503 75,451
CLA 14 47,660 67,744 79,104 86,323 88,395
APS 4 EA 29,111 62,493 67,004 69,239 69,239 70,144
AWA 0 . . . . .
PSAD 41 56,821 63,096 65,648 69,221 79,557
CLA 29 68,910 71,661 80,591 95,368 107,279
APS 5 EA 19,728 69,395 72,856 74,451 75,208 76,624
AWA 1 71,386 71,386 71,386 71,386 71,386
PSAD 78 69,218 72,458 75,419 78,773 87,476
CLA 28 87,404 98,808 114,900 132,863 159,702
APS 6 EA 30,451 78,842 85,301 86,923 89,217 90,369
AWA 2 83,376 83,376 83,451 83,525 83,525
PSAD 187 78,673 85,178 92,979 92,979 103,832
CLA 33 100,275 106,285 150,848 170,100 211,186
EL 1 EA 24,643 101,278 106,301 108,382 108,796 115,778
AWA 10 102,136 102,685 107,697 118,187 126,488
PSAD 73 95,944 103,550 106,500 111,702 118,163
CLA 56 192,945 204,649 210,765 217,063 283,388
EL 2 EA 11,188 122,032 131,524 133,905 137,700 151,000
AWA 29 123,762 132,053 135,799 152,190 188,665
PSAD 44 123,922 132,680 134,543 145,832 198,508
CLA 74 140,169 184,960 249,420 307,311 434,209
SES 1 EA 123 157,590 162,925 176,800 195,000 235,982
AWA 33 190,583 210,967 211,383 222,263 227,184
PSAD 1,484 161,200 173,432 181,006 192,321 210,967
CLA 257 155,035 178,330 190,000 205,288 219,713
SES 2 EA 27 193,440 193,953 230,215 259,000 281,595
AWA 23 211,851 239,579 259,533 280,415 300,226
PSAD 405 209,700 223,411 232,096 247,460 267,800
CLA 73 186,669 222,889 232,357 257,357 300,000
SES 3 EA 6 249,703 278,760 299,292 320,000 337,500
AWA 2 363,618 363,618 371,004 378,389 378,389
PSAD 93 275,000 293,097 312,000 335,683 370,580
CLA 12 288,249 297,467 324,667 353,010 542,640

5.2 Remuneration Data by Sex

This section provides information on the key remuneration components based on sex by classification level.

Table 5.3 provides data on the median Base Salary for women, as a proportion of the median Base Salary for men. In 2015, the Base Salary for women, as a proportion of the median Base Salary for men, was 100% or higher at eight classifications. The figures varied from 97.6% at the Graduate classification to 100.4% at the APS 1 and APS 5 classifications.

In 2015, there were no significant differences between the sexes at the median values of each classification level across the three key remuneration components: Base Salary, TRP and TR. Across the 5th to 95th percentiles, the greatest variation was at the SES 3 level, with some deviation towards women at the 5th percentile and towards men at the 95th percentile.

Table 5.3: Median Base Salary comparison by sex
Classification Median Base Salary
Men Women Women as % of Men
Source: Table 5.4
Graduate 60,857 59,400 97.6
APS 1 47,567 47,736 100.4
APS 2 54,588 54,588 100.0
APS 3 61,512 61,512 100.0
APS 4 69,209 69,239 100.0
APS 5 74,331 74,643 100.4
APS 6 86,844 86,943 100.1
EL 1 108,382 108,013 99.7
EL 2 133,905 133,905 100.0
SES 1 181,990 181,006 99.5
SES 2 233,539 230,000 98.5
SES 3 312,000 312,000 100.0
Table 5.4: Base Salary by classification and sex
Classification Sex Employees n P5 $ Q1 $ Median $ Q3 $ P95 $
Graduate Men 604 53,897 57,965 60,857 63,236 69,036
Women 554 53,652 57,450 59,400 63,236 69,456
APS1 Men 394 39,925 43,306 47,567 48,613 49,697
Women 410 38,015 43,216 47,736 48,533 49,697
APS2 Men 1,137 48,254 50,903 54,588 55,096 56,435
Women 2,128 48,667 51,589 54,588 55,096 56,435
APS3 Men 5,473 55,252 59,933 61,512 62,492 62,560
Women 10,019 55,553 59,933 61,512 62,492 62,560
APS4 Men 9,023 62,493 66,904 69,209 69,239 70,144
Women 20,158 62,493 67,220 69,239 69,239 70,144
APS5 Men 8,011 69,395 72,856 74,331 75,208 76,624
Women 11,823 69,389 72,856 74,643 75,389 76,624
APS6 Men 13,673 78,896 85,648 86,844 89,217 91,186
Women 16,999 78,764 85,301 86,943 89,217 90,454
EL1 Men 12,419 101,278 106,545 108,382 108,796 115,974
Women 12,363 101,278 106,301 108,013 108,929 115,778
EL2 Men 6,444 122,743 132,053 133,905 139,311 154,640
Women 4,891 120,128 130,637 133,905 137,379 148,251
SES 1 Men 1,071 159,650 175,075 181,990 196,162 217,122
Women 826 159,125 170,418 181,006 194,763 211,700
SES 2 Men 338 208,711 226,566 233,539 253,928 281,573
Women 190 208,711 220,631 230,000 247,167 268,239
SES 3 Men 76 272,659 293,097 312,000 350,041 408,617
Women 37 275,000 298,264 312,000 334,000 353,010
Table 5.5: Total Remuneration Package by classification and sex
Classification Sex Employees n P5 $ Q1 $ Median $ Q3 $ P95 $
Graduate Men 604 62,466 66,981 70,981 72,974 78,820
Women 554 62,084 66,297 68,548 72,974 78,820
APS1 Men 394 46,073 50,574 55,371 57,210 60,065
Women 410 45,172 50,284 55,680 56,986 59,694
APS2 Men 1,137 56,109 59,534 63,581 65,129 68,063
Women 2,128 56,293 59,725 63,581 65,233 68,330
APS3 Men 5,473 64,108 70,236 72,291 75,008 80,268
Women 10,019 64,117 69,734 72,116 74,422 77,866
APS4 Men 9,023 72,117 78,773 80,077 82,741 85,696
Women 20,158 72,117 78,804 80,229 82,741 84,627
APS5 Men 8,011 80,433 85,778 86,813 89,904 94,062
Women 11,823 80,200 85,778 87,712 89,874 93,388
APS6 Men 13,673 91,376 100,218 101,895 106,285 110,649
Women 16,999 90,984 99,749 102,683 106,285 110,014
EL1 Men 12,419 117,059 124,884 126,718 129,560 138,959
Women 12,363 116,875 124,377 127,787 129,914 138,823
EL2 Men 6,444 143,876 154,526 158,739 167,173 187,660
Women 4,891 142,376 153,867 158,707 165,264 180,587
SES 1 Men 1,071 210,554 228,588 241,987 251,667 271,134
Women 826 207,755 223,624 237,551 247,471 266,305
SES 2 Men 338 267,125 285,773 301,653 314,136 348,235
Women 190 259,796 281,775 295,662 310,598 333,175
SES 3 Men 76 337,950 369,492 391,133 416,453 507,318
Women 37 352,472 386,662 397,528 404,373 429,130
Table 5.6: Total Reward by classification and sex
Classification Sex Employees n P5 $ Q1 $ Median $ Q3 $ P95 $
Graduate Men 604 62,466 66,981 70,981 72,974 78,820
Women 554 62,084 66,297 68,548 72,974 78,820
APS1 Men 394 46,073 50,574 55,592 57,427 60,065
Women 410 45,172 50,284 55,680 56,986 59,746
APS2 Men 1,137 56,109 59,667 64,306 65,233 68,146
Women 2,128 56,293 59,738 64,161 65,294 68,330
APS3 Men 5,473 64,108 70,236 72,291 75,632 81,467
Women 10,019 64,117 69,808 72,116 74,516 78,553
APS4 Men 9,023 72,117 78,804 80,395 82,741 85,733
Women 20,158 72,117 78,815 80,395 82,741 84,654
APS5 Men 8,011 80,433 86,174 87,150 90,261 95,323
Women 11,823 80,374 85,910 87,791 90,191 93,826
APS6 Men 13,673 91,415 100,252 102,323 106,285 111,057
Women 16,999 91,033 99,833 102,788 106,285 110,260
EL1 Men 12,419 117,063 125,008 126,972 130,135 140,337
Women 12,363 116,875 124,377 127,787 130,293 139,480
EL2 Men 6,444 144,854 155,865 159,460 168,063 193,108
Women 4,891 142,900 154,212 159,374 167,042 184,006
SES 1 Men 1,071 210,640 229,257 242,422 252,491 271,588
Women 826 208,633 224,013 238,092 249,038 268,252
SES 2 Men 338 269,986 287,397 301,881 317,833 368,065
Women 190 259,796 282,372 297,067 312,063 334,908
SES 3 Men 76 337,950 369,772 394,204 419,040 507,318
Women 37 355,470 387,300 399,284 410,307 435,869

5.3 Employment Category

APS employees may be engaged on either an ongoing or non-ongoing basis. Casual employees (non-ongoing and employed for duties that are irregular or intermittent) have been excluded from this report. Table 5.7 provides detail on the Base Salary by employment category and classification.

The classification with the highest proportion of non-ongoing employees is the APS 1 classification, where 23.9% of employees are employed on a non-ongoing basis. The APS 2, APS 3 and SES 3 levels have non-ongoing employee populations of between 10.6% and 12.3%. All other classifications have fewer than 5.9% of employees employed on a non-ongoing basis.

The number of non-ongoing employees reported at 31 December 2015 was higher than 31 December 2014.

Figure 5.1 shows that, with the exception of the Graduate classification, the median Base Salary for employees engaged on an ongoing basis was consistently higher than non-ongoing employees for non-SES employees. As engagement on a non‑ongoing basis is time limited, there is generally not the same time available for these employees to move through a salary scale. Hence the trend of higher median Base Salaries for non-SES employees engaged on an ongoing basis is expected.

Figure 5.1: Median Base Salary by employment category and classification

Chart: median base salary

 Table 5.7: Base Salary by employment category and classification
Classification Employees P5 Q1 Median Q3 P95 Average
OG n NOG n OG $ NOG $ OG $ NOG $ OG $ NOG $ OG $ NOG $ OG $ NOG $ OG $ NOG $
Note: OG = Ongoing employees
NOG = Non-ongoing employees
Graduate 1,156 3 53,652 59,400 57,513 59,400 60,158 62,603 63,236 62,603 69,456 62,603 60,439 61,535
APS 1 612 192 39,144 36,886 46,872 39,925 48,533 42,409 48,613 44,996 49,697 47,787 46,991 42,644
APS 2 2,876 389 49,321 46,191 53,225 48,254 55,096 49,747 55,096 50,892 56,435 53,922 54,057 49,657
APS 3 13,588 1,905 56,069 53,904 60,871 55,561 61,970 56,069 62,492 58,463 62,560 61,275 61,220 56,958
APS 4 27,461 1,720 63,838 59,368 67,909 62,112 69,239 62,493 69,239 64,889 70,144 69,326 68,403 63,636
APS 5 18,936 899 70,090 67,312 72,856 69,080 74,451 71,053 75,389 73,360 76,624 76,172 74,389 71,460
APS 6 29,609 1,064 79,276 74,321 85,418 77,602 86,923 82,508 89,217 86,545 90,983 89,217 87,029 82,426
EL 1 24,058 724 101,278 93,974 106,545 99,723 108,382 104,260 108,796 109,001 115,778 115,974 108,237 105,572
EL 2 10,962 373 122,743 111,677 131,778 125,178 133,905 131,869 138,137 138,369 151,097 175,829 136,359 135,248
SES 1 1,850 47 159,125 142,064 173,200 175,000 181,006 190,000 195,474 195,600 213,219 220,000 185,041 187,129
SES 2 510 18 208,711 200,000 223,066 228,552 232,500 251,660 250,535 287,500 273,859 350,000 237,911 260,282
SES 3 101 12 275,000 284,520 293,097 293,097 312,000 325,041 335,683 369,721 367,719 408,617 317,998 335,759
Total 131719 7346
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