Governor General Salary: $709,017 a Year and How It Compares to the National Line
The governor general salary is set by law at $709,017. See how this figure compares to the national index of 100 and why it sits far above award and minimum wage benchmarks.
The governor general salary of $709,017 annually places it at an index of about 654, far above the national line of 100 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352).
What is the governor general salary?
The governor general salary is the annual pay set by law for the Governor-General of Australia, the Queen’s representative at the federal level. Unlike most workers, the Governor-General’s pay is not negotiated through an enterprise agreement or set by a modern award. Instead, it is fixed by the Governor-General Act 1974, which Parliament can amend. As of 29 June 2024, the salary is $709,017 per year, up from $495,000. That change came through the Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Act 2024.
Where does the governor general salary sit on the Salary Index?
The Salary Index measures gross annual pay against a national line of 100, which represents full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Average Weekly Earnings for May 2026, that line is $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 annualised. The governor general salary of $709,017 gives an index of roughly 654. That is more than six times the national average. For comparison, the national minimum wage sits at index 48.2, and the average for the professional, scientific and technical services industry is 114.7. You can see how the index works for more detail.
Why is the governor general salary so high?
The role carries significant constitutional responsibilities: assenting to bills, appointing ministers, commanding the defence forces, and representing Australia at official events. The salary is intended to reflect the stature and demands of the office, not the market rate for a typical job. It is also set to be independent of political bargaining – Parliament decides through legislation. The 2024 amendment raised the figure to $709,017, but it did not apply to the person holding office at the time (the then Governor-General continued on the old rate).
How does this compare to awards and the national minimum wage?
This is where the contrast is sharpest. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week ($52,255 annualised). That is an index of 48.2. Even the highest award classification – say, a senior professional under the Professional Employees Award – would be well under $150,000. The governor general salary is not covered by any award; it is a statutory salary. For most employees, pay is determined by the pay guides that apply to their industry, which set minimum rates above the national minimum wage. The Governor-General’s pay is in a completely different category.
What about allowances and super?
After leaving office, a former Governor-General receives a lifetime allowance equal to 60% of the salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court. A surviving spouse gets five-eighths of that. The Governor-General also has an Official Secretary whose pay is set by the Remuneration Tribunal. Superannuation is not the standard 12% guarantee; instead, the Act provides for a benefit calculated as if the Commonwealth had contributed enough to avoid a super guarantee shortfall, plus interest. This is a bespoke arrangement, not the same as the super that applies to employees under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.
Tax on the governor general salary
Like all Australian residents, the Governor-General pays income tax and the 2% Medicare levy. Using the 2026–27 tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. On $709,017, the tax (excluding Medicare) would be roughly $283,000, plus Medicare of about $14,180. Take-home would be around $411,800. But note that the Governor-General may also have deductions or other arrangements. The key point is that the salary is gross, and the usual tax rules apply.
How the governor general salary fits into the broader pay landscape
Australia’s pay system has many layers: the national minimum wage, modern awards, enterprise agreements, and individual contracts. The governor general salary sits outside all of those. It is a single figure set by Parliament. If you are looking at executive or senior public service roles, you might compare to the states or industries data on the Salary Index. For example, the ACT has the highest state index at 109.9, and mining leads industries at 154.7. But none come close to the Governor-General’s index of 654.
Why the governor general salary matters for understanding pay benchmarks
When people ask about the governor general salary, they are often trying to gauge where the top of the pay scale sits in Australia. It is a useful anchor: no other single role in the public service is paid at that level by legislation. It also highlights the difference between statutory pay and the award system that covers most workers. For a deeper dive into how pay is structured across different jobs, see the topics section.
Final thoughts
The governor general salary is $709,017 a year, a figure set by law and not by any award or minimum wage order. It is an outlier on the Salary Index, far above the national line of 100. While most Australians’ pay is shaped by awards, enterprise agreements, or the national minimum wage, the Governor-General’s pay is a matter of constitutional convention and parliamentary decision. Understanding that distinction helps make sense of Australia’s broader pay framework.
Questions people ask
Is the governor general salary set by an award or the national minimum wage?
No. The governor general salary is set by the Governor-General Act 1974, not by any modern award or the national minimum wage. Awards and the national minimum wage apply to employees under the Fair Work Act, whereas the Governor-General is a constitutional officer whose pay is determined by Parliament. The current figure of $709,017 is far above any award rate or the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour.
How does the governor general salary compare to the average Australian wage?
Using the Salary Index where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings ($108,352 annualised), the governor general salary of $709,017 gives an index of about 654. That means the Governor-General earns roughly 6.5 times the average full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For context, the national minimum wage index is 48.2, and the average for professional services is 114.7.
Does the Governor-General pay tax and receive superannuation?
Yes, the Governor-General is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy on the salary. However, superannuation is handled differently: the Act provides for a benefit based on what the Commonwealth would have contributed to avoid superannuation guarantee shortfalls, plus interest. This is not the standard 12% super guarantee that applies to most employees.