Australian Border Force salary: how it compares to awards and the national minimum wage
See where the Australian Border Force salary sits on the Salary Index. Compare recruit and officer pay to award rates and the national minimum wage.
The Australian Border Force recruit salary of $66,839 (APS3) sits at index 61.7, well above the national minimum wage (index 48.2) but below the national ordinary-time average (index 100).
What is the Australian Border Force salary?
The Australian Border Force salary refers to the pay rates for officers employed by the Australian Border Force (ABF), a federal law enforcement agency. Most ABF staff are covered by the Australian Public Service (APS) Enterprise Agreement, not a modern award. The ABF also runs a recruit training program that pays a fixed salary during the 12-month training period.
On the Salary Index, a score of 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings – $108,352 a year from May 2026. The national minimum wage sits at index 48.2 ($52,255). The ABF recruit salary of $66,839 (APS3 level, as at May 2025) lands at index 61.7. That is above the national minimum wage but below the national average.
How the Australian Border Force salary compares to award rates
Most Australian workers are covered by a modern award that sets minimum pay, allowances, and penalty rates. The Fair Work Commission publishes the Modern Awards Pay Database, which includes minimum rates for hundreds of classifications. For example, the entry-level award floor is $25.74 per hour (index 48.2). The ABF recruit salary works out to about $32.13 per hour (based on a 38-hour week), which is 25% above the award floor.
However, the ABF does not use a modern award. Its enterprise agreement sets base salaries for each APS classification. The Treasury enterprise agreement (Appendix A – Base salaries) shows the following rates from 12 March 2026:
- APS3.1: $74,307 (index 68.6)
- APS3.2: $78,645 (index 72.5)
- APS5.1: $93,312 (index 86.1)
- APS6.1: $105,260 (index 97.1)
- EL1.1: $137,301 (index 126.7)
- EL2.1: $167,708 (index 154.8)
These are base salaries before super (15.4% for ABF) and before penalty rates for shift work. The ABF recruit salary is lower than the standard APS3.1 because it is a training rate. After completing the program, officers move to the appropriate classification level.
The national minimum wage vs the ABF salary
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, or $52,255 per year (index 48.2). That is the legal floor for employees not covered by an award or agreement. The ABF recruit salary of $66,839 is about 28% higher. Even the lowest APS classification (APS1.1 at $57,497) is above the national minimum wage.
It is important to note that the national minimum wage applies to a small share of workers. Most are covered by a modern award or an enterprise agreement that pays more. The ABF enterprise agreement is a good example of a workplace-specific pay structure that rewards experience and responsibility.
Superannuation and tax considerations
The ABF pays 15.4% superannuation, above the 12% super guarantee that applies from 1 July 2026. The super guarantee maximum contribution base is $270,830. For an ABF recruit earning $66,839, the employer super contribution is about $10,293 per year. That is $1,600 more than the 12% minimum.
For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates (excluding Medicare levy of 2%) are:
- Nil up to $18,200
- 15% from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% from $45,001 to $135,000
- 37% from $135,001 to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
An ABF recruit on $66,839 would pay about $9,000 in income tax plus $1,337 Medicare levy, leaving a take-home of roughly $56,500 per year (before any salary sacrifice or HELP deductions). That is well above the national minimum wage take-home of about $44,500.
How the Salary Index helps you compare
The Salary Index converts any annual gross salary into a simple number: your salary divided by the national ordinary-time earnings ($108,352) times 100. This lets you see where a pay figure sits against the national line. For example:
- National minimum wage: index 48.2
- ABF recruit: index 61.7
- APS3.1 officer: index 68.6
- National average: index 100
- Mining industry average: index 154.7
You can also compare by states or industries. For instance, the average salary in the ACT (index 109.9) is above the national line, while Tasmania (index 88.6) is below. The ABF has offices in several states, but its pay is set federally.
Awards vs enterprise agreements: why it matters
The writing angle for this guide is awards versus the national minimum wage. The ABF example shows that many workers are not on award rates at all. Enterprise agreements can set pay above awards, and sometimes above the national average. The ABF recruit salary is a training rate – after training, officers move to higher APS levels that approach or exceed the national average.
If you are considering a career with the Australian Border Force, understand that the starting salary is below the national average but comes with strong super, job security, and progression. The pay guides on Salary Index can help you compare similar roles in federal law enforcement and public service.
Questions people ask
What is the Australian Border Force salary on the Salary Index?
The Australian Border Force recruit salary for a recruit in training is $66,839 (APS3 level, as at May 2025). On the Salary Index, that equals index 61.7 – well above the national minimum wage (index 48.2) but below the national average (index 100). After training, an APS3.1 officer earns $74,307 (index 68.6) or higher at APS3.2 ($78,645 (index 72.5).
Is the Australian Border Force salary covered by a modern award?
No. The Australian Border Force is covered by an enterprise agreement (the APS Enterprise Agreement), not a modern award. The Fair Work Commission sets modern award minimums for many industries, but ABF employees have their own agreement that sets higher rates than the national minimum wage. For example, the national minimum wage is $52,255 annualised (index 48.2), while an ABF recruit starts at $66,839 (index 61.7).
How does the Australian Border Force salary compare to the national minimum wage?
The Australian Border Force recruit salary of $66,839 is about 28% above the national minimum wage of $52,255. The national minimum wage applies to employees not covered by an award or agreement. ABF employees are covered by an enterprise agreement that provides higher pay, plus 15.4% super (above the 12% super guarantee). After tax and Medicare, an ABF recruit takes home roughly $1,000 per week, compared to the national minimum wage take-home of about $800 per week.