Detective salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a detective is $111,800 per annum, before tax, up $23,000 since 2018.
Pay is set by the enterprise agreement or award of the police force you serve in, so rates differ between states and territories and between ranks. Shift penalties, overtime and public holiday work add to the base rate, and the detective designation itself usually carries an allowance on top of the police officer rate. Promotion to senior detective or sergeant lifts it further.
Roles that pay more than detective
The largest typical pay rise is $1,200 a year, moving into Intelligence Analyst.
- Intelligence Analyst+$1,200/yr
- Policy Officer+$1,200/yr
How to negotiate a higher detective salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time detective salary is $111,800; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Casework and client support and Legal research tend to command a premium over general detective experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Intelligence Analyst pays a typical $1,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Detective salary questions
How much do detectives earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a detective is $111,800 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is detective pay rising or falling?
The median detective salary is up $23,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than detective?
Intelligence Analyst pays a typical $1,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to detective.