Who sets these rates
Most South Australian public servants are paid under the South Australian Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026, approved by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 4 March 2026. It sets the Administrative Services (ASO), Operational Services (OPS), Professional Officer (PO) and other salaried streams in Appendix 2. School Services Officers in government schools and preschools are covered instead by the South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024.
The Salaried 2026 agreement sets three increases, each from the first full pay period on or after the date: 1 August 2025, 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027 (clause 7.2). The rates on this page are the 1 July 2026 column; the next increase is from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027. SSO rates last moved from the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, which is the final increase in the 2024 education staff agreement; that agreement's nominal life runs about 36 months from 25 March 2024, and no later SSO rate is published.
Across the schedule below, published salaries run from $57,853 to $164,221. Every figure on this page is transcribed from the instrument named beside it and was checked on 23 September 2026. Where a level could not be read from a primary source it is left out and listed further down rather than estimated.
SA public sector salary by level: ASO-1 to ASO-8 and SSO-1 to SSO-6
Administrative Services Officers (ASO) and School Services Officers (SSO) are the two South Australian classifications people search for most, so each level has its own section. ASO rates are from the Salaried 2026 agreement from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026; SSO rates are from the separate education staff agreement from the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026. Every salary links to the nearest take-home pay page.
ASO-1 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-1 pays $58,626 to $63,695 a year. Six increments, labelled by adult year of service.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-1 1st year adult | $58,626take-home on $60,000 |
| ASO-1 2nd year adult | $59,573take-home on $60,000 |
| ASO-1 3rd year adult | $60,603take-home on $60,000 |
| ASO-1 4th year adult | $61,720take-home on $60,000 |
| ASO-1 5th year adult | $62,665take-home on $65,000 |
| ASO-1 6th year adult | $63,695take-home on $65,000 |
ASO-2 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-2 pays $66,442 to $69,504 a year. Three increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-2 increment 1 | $66,442take-home on $65,000 |
| ASO-2 increment 2 | $68,254take-home on $70,000 |
| ASO-2 increment 3 | $69,504take-home on $70,000 |
ASO-3 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-3 pays $74,095 to $78,694 a year. Three increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-3 increment 1 | $74,095take-home on $75,000 |
| ASO-3 increment 2 | $76,390take-home on $75,000 |
| ASO-3 increment 3 | $78,694take-home on $80,000 |
ASO-4 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-4 pays $82,212 to $86,180 a year. Four increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-4 increment 1 | $82,212take-home on $80,000 |
| ASO-4 increment 2 | $83,995take-home on $85,000 |
| ASO-4 increment 3 | $85,776take-home on $85,000 |
| ASO-4 increment 4 | $86,180take-home on $85,000 |
ASO-5 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-5 pays $92,122 to $102,456 a year. Four increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-5 increment 1 | $92,122take-home on $90,000 |
| ASO-5 increment 2 | $95,410take-home on $95,000 |
| ASO-5 increment 3 | $98,937take-home on $100,000 |
| ASO-5 increment 4 | $102,456take-home on $100,000 |
ASO-6 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-6 pays $105,747 to $111,854 a year. Three increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-6 increment 1 | $105,747take-home on $105,000 |
| ASO-6 increment 2 | $108,800take-home on $110,000 |
| ASO-6 increment 3 | $111,854take-home on $110,000 |
ASO-7 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-7 pays $116,089 to $125,490 a year. Four increments.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-7 increment 1 | $116,089take-home on $115,000 |
| ASO-7 increment 2 | $119,294take-home on $120,000 |
| ASO-7 increment 3 | $122,333take-home on $120,000 |
| ASO-7 increment 4 | $125,490take-home on $125,000 |
ASO-8 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, ASO-8 pays $130,046 to $134,956 a year. Three increments — the top of the ASO stream.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| ASO-8 increment 1 | $130,046take-home on $130,000 |
| ASO-8 increment 2 | $132,500take-home on $135,000 |
| ASO-8 increment 3 | $134,956take-home on $135,000 |
SSO-1 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-1 pays $58,360 to $69,759 a year. Seven increments; the seventh is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-1 increment 1 | $58,360take-home on $60,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 2 | $61,383take-home on $60,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 3 | $63,195take-home on $65,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 4 | $64,856take-home on $65,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 5 | $66,525take-home on $65,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 6 | $68,335take-home on $70,000 |
| SSO-1 increment 7 (top tier) | $69,759take-home on $70,000 |
SSO-2 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-2 pays $73,478 to $80,950 a year. Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-2 increment 1 | $73,478take-home on $75,000 |
| SSO-2 increment 2 | $76,506take-home on $75,000 |
| SSO-2 increment 3 | $79,526take-home on $80,000 |
| SSO-2 increment 4 (top tier) | $80,950take-home on $80,000 |
SSO-3 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-3 pays $85,566 to $92,870 a year. Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-3 increment 1 | $85,566take-home on $85,000 |
| SSO-3 increment 2 | $88,598take-home on $90,000 |
| SSO-3 increment 3 | $91,624take-home on $90,000 |
| SSO-3 increment 4 (top tier) | $92,870take-home on $95,000 |
SSO-4 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-4 pays $98,271 to $104,058 a year. Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-4 increment 1 | $98,271take-home on $100,000 |
| SSO-4 increment 2 | $100,538take-home on $100,000 |
| SSO-4 increment 3 | $102,809take-home on $105,000 |
| SSO-4 increment 4 (top tier) | $104,058take-home on $105,000 |
SSO-5 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-5 pays $110,667 to $125,220 a year. Five increments; the fifth is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-5 increment 1 | $110,667take-home on $110,000 |
| SSO-5 increment 2 | $114,903take-home on $115,000 |
| SSO-5 increment 3 | $119,441take-home on $120,000 |
| SSO-5 increment 4 | $123,974take-home on $125,000 |
| SSO-5 increment 5 (top tier) | $125,220take-home on $125,000 |
SSO-6 salary 2026
From the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026, SSO-6 pays $130,413 to $139,147 a year. Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.
| Pay point | Annual salary and after tax |
|---|---|
| SSO-6 increment 1 | $130,413take-home on $130,000 |
| SSO-6 increment 2 | $133,908take-home on $135,000 |
| SSO-6 increment 3 | $137,901take-home on $140,000 |
| SSO-6 increment 4 (top tier) | $139,147take-home on $140,000 |
SA public sector pay scales
SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026, from 1 July 2026
Salaried employees of South Australian public sector agencies covered by the agreement, including the administrative, operational and professional streams.
Enterprise or certified agreement · the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026 · First and last increment of the level. Annual salary only — superannuation is paid on top.
Administrative Services Stream (ASO)
Appendix 2, Schedule 1.1. Clause 7.17 removed the age-based ASO-1 junior rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2025, so ASO-1 now starts at the first adult year.
| Classification | Salary range | Mid-band |
|---|---|---|
ASO-1Six increments, labelled by adult year of service.6 pay points
| $58,626 to $63,695 | $60,000 after tax |
ASO-2Three increments.3 pay points
| $66,442 to $69,504 | $70,000 after tax |
ASO-3Three increments.3 pay points
| $74,095 to $78,694 | $75,000 after tax |
ASO-4Four increments.4 pay points
| $82,212 to $86,180 | $85,000 after tax |
ASO-5Four increments.4 pay points
| $92,122 to $102,456 | $95,000 after tax |
ASO-6Three increments.3 pay points
| $105,747 to $111,854 | $110,000 after tax |
ASO-7Four increments.4 pay points
| $116,089 to $125,490 | $120,000 after tax |
ASO-8Three increments — the top of the ASO stream.3 pay points
| $130,046 to $134,956 | $135,000 after tax |
Management and senior specialist levels
Single-rate levels printed in the same schedule as the ASO stream. The agreement notes that there will be no new appointments to MAS 3 after it was approved.
| Classification | Salary range | Mid-band |
|---|---|---|
| MAS 1Single rate. | $114,204 | $115,000 after tax |
| MAS 2Single rate. | $127,823 | $130,000 after tax |
| MAS 3Single rate. Closed to new appointments. | $137,297 | $135,000 after tax |
| SS/SM 1Single rate. | $144,421 | $145,000 after tax |
| SS/SM 2Single rate. | $153,887 | $155,000 after tax |
Professional Officers (PO)
Appendix 2, Schedule 1.13. Bottom and top increment of each level only. PO-1 has separate entry points for a three-year degree ($73,533) and a four-year degree ($76,643).
| Classification | Salary range | Mid-band |
|---|---|---|
| PO-1From the three-year-degree entry point to the 5th increment. | $73,533 to $89,764 | $80,000 after tax |
| PO-21st to 6th increment. | $94,769 to $109,787 | $100,000 after tax |
| PO-31st to 4th increment. | $111,870 to $119,994 | $115,000 after tax |
| PO-41st to 4th increment. | $122,752 to $133,635 | $130,000 after tax |
| PO-51st to 4th increment. | $136,746 to $149,562 | $145,000 after tax |
| PO-6Single rate. | $164,221 | $165,000 after tax |
Operational Services Stream (OPS)
Appendix 2, Schedule 1.11. Bottom and top increment of each level only.
| Classification | Salary range | Mid-band |
|---|---|---|
| OPS-11st to 6th adult year. | $57,853 to $63,695 | $60,000 after tax |
| OPS-2Increments 1 to 3. | $66,441 to $69,504 | $70,000 after tax |
| OPS-3Increments 1 to 3. | $74,095 to $78,694 | $75,000 after tax |
| OPS-4Increments 1 to 4. | $82,212 to $86,180 | $85,000 after tax |
| OPS-5Increments 1 to 3. | $88,149 to $94,236 | $90,000 after tax |
| OPS-6Increments 1 to 3. | $97,292 to $102,456 | $100,000 after tax |
| OPS-7Increments 1 to 3. | $105,747 to $111,854 | $110,000 after tax |
School Services Officers — Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024, from 1 May 2026
School Services Officers in South Australian government schools and preschools, employed by the Department for Education. Not covered by the Salaried 2026 agreement.
Enterprise or certified agreement · the first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026 · First and last increment of the level. The top increment of each SSO level is criteria-based: the department's rate sheet says it is "only applicable to those with relevant qualifications who have completed the top tier increment process".
School Services Officers (SSO)
Schedule 1.6 of the South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024. The department's rate sheet calls the increments "tiers".
| Classification | Salary range | Mid-band |
|---|---|---|
SSO-1Seven increments; the seventh is criteria-based.7 pay points
| $58,360 to $69,759 | $65,000 after tax |
SSO-2Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.4 pay points
| $73,478 to $80,950 | $75,000 after tax |
SSO-3Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.4 pay points
| $85,566 to $92,870 | $90,000 after tax |
SSO-4Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.4 pay points
| $98,271 to $104,058 | $100,000 after tax |
SSO-5Five increments; the fifth is criteria-based.5 pay points
| $110,667 to $125,220 | $120,000 after tax |
SSO-6Four increments; the fourth is criteria-based.4 pay points
| $130,413 to $139,147 | $135,000 after tax |
These are the standard per-annum rates for School Services Officers with leave conditions. The department also publishes loaded variants — a 16% loading version, the same spread over 52 weeks, and a casual rate — which are not reproduced here.
How progression between pay points works
Each ASO level has between three and six increments. ASO-1 is the only level labelled by year of service (1st to 6th year adult); every other level numbers its increments. The gap between increments varies from $404 (the last ASO-4 step) to $3,527 (ASO-5 increment 2 to 3), so the bigger movement is between levels, which in South Australia happens by appointment to a position classified at the higher level rather than by time served.
Because the ASO levels do not overlap, the top of one level is always below the bottom of the next: the top of ASO-4 is $86,180 and the bottom of ASO-5 is $92,122, a gap of $5,942. The same holds between ASO-5 ($102,456) and ASO-6 ($105,747).
School Services Officers progress through numbered increments, but the top increment of every SSO level is not automatic. The Department for Education's rate sheet says the top tier is only applicable to those with relevant qualifications who have completed the top tier increment process.
The age-based ASO-1 rates for employees aged 20 and under were removed from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2025 (clause 7.17 of the Salaried 2026 agreement); the ASO-1 table now starts at the 1st year adult increment.
Superannuation on top of the band
Neither agreement states an employer superannuation percentage. The Department for Education says superannuation is paid to Super SA as the default fund, and that employees have been able to choose their own fund since 30 November 2022. Without a published above-guarantee rate, treat the Superannuation Guarantee as the floor and check your own agency's arrangement before comparing an SA public sector offer with another state.
The Superannuation Guarantee minimum is 12.0% from 1 July 2025, so a public sector employer contribution above that rate is real money you should count when you compare offers. Our superannuation calculator and superannuation guide work through the difference over a career.
What the band is worth after tax
The salaries above are gross. To check a payslip you need the figure after income tax, the Medicare levy and any study loan repayment. The mid-band link in each row opens the nearest published take-home page, and the calculators below take your exact salary:
- Income tax calculator — tax and Medicare levy on an exact salary.
- Take-home pay calculator — weekly, fortnightly and monthly net pay.
- Fortnightly pay calculator — most public service payrolls pay fortnightly, and the classification tables above are published as fortnightly rates.
- Pay rise calculator — what an increment or an agreement increase is worth in the hand.
- Salary sacrifice calculator — public sector employers commonly offer packaging; this shows the tax effect.
- Understanding your payslip — how a classification and pay point appear on the payslip itself.
What this page does not cover
These are the rates we could not read from a primary source. Nothing here is estimated in their place:
- Every PO and OPS increment between the bottom and top of each level — only the two end points were transcribed, so the page shows the range and not the steps.
- Other salaried streams in Appendix 2 of the Salaried 2026 agreement (technical, legal, medical scientist, allied health and so on), which have their own schedules.
- The 1 July 2027 column of the Salaried 2026 agreement. It is published, but it is not in force until the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027 and is not tabled here.
- The loaded, 52-week and casual SSO variants on the Department for Education's rate sheet.
- An employer superannuation percentage — neither agreement states one.
- SA Health nurses and SA teachers, who are on their own agreements (see the nurse and teacher pages).
SA public sector pay questions
How these figures were put together▼
Every salary is transcribed from the instrument named in the sources list, at the effective date shown on each table. No figure is averaged, indexed forward or taken from a job advertisement.
Ranges are the bottom and top of the published band unless the table says otherwise. Where a schedule reports actual salaries rather than a rate table, the range shown is the 5th to 95th percentile and the median is shown beside it.
Mid-band links point at the nearest published take-home page, which steps in $5,000 increments, so the after-tax figure it shows is close to but not identical to the mid-band salary. Use a calculator for your exact pay point.
Sources & References
- 1South Australian Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026 (ET-26-00776) (from first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026)— South Australian Employment Tribunal
- 2South Australian School and Preschool Education Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024 (ET-24-00640) (from first full pay period on or after 1 May 2026)— South Australian Employment Tribunal
- 3School Services Officer pay rates, effective 8/05/2026 (from 8 May 2026)— Department for Education (SA)
- 4Public sector employees pay rates, effective 3/07/2026 (from 3 July 2026)— Department for Education (SA)
Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.