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Police Officer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a police officer is $133,100 per annum, before tax, up $27,600 since 2018.
What you take home depends mostly on the enterprise agreement covering your state or territory force, which sets the salary bands by rank and classification. Shift penalties and overtime add a meaningful amount for general duties officers, because much of the roster falls on nights, weekends and public holidays. Specialist areas and promoted ranks pay more again, and allowances apply for some roles.
How to negotiate a higher police officer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time police officer salary is $133,100; 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 Emergency response tend to command a premium over general police officer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- 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."
Police Officer salary questions
How much do police officers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a police officer is $133,100 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is police officer pay rising or falling?
The median police officer salary is up $27,600 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.